Whether you’re a guest at Timberland Highlands Resort, or you’re simply in the area (being so near great bike and nature trails which work up quite an appetite), you won’t have to stress yourself over where to eat.
At the Ridge Cafe, you can dine in comfort and style inside the restaurant, or take a spot in its al fresco dining area to take in the view as you eat.
Ridge Cafe at Daytime
Ridge Cafe at Night
Elegant and comfy interiors
Al fresco dining with a view
I’ve shared in my previous blog posts about its buffet offers here and here, but a new question arises: what to eat when you’re not keen on an all-you-can-eat setup?
Don’t worry: Ridge Cafe’s got you well-covered with its ala carte offerings, such as:
Sandwiches and Burgers
Snack on these sammies, all served with your choice between homemade potato fries or mixed greens.
Chicken Quesadilla (Php350). Chicken fajitas, cheddar cheese, pico de gallo and sour cream encased in a toasted tortilla.
Club Sandwich (Php400). Grilled chicken, sliced tomatoes, cheddar cheese, bacon and egg in between layers of white bread.
Beef Burger (Php400). Angus beef burger topped with bacon, Emmenthal cheese, lettuce. caramelized onions and pickles in a sesame seed brioche bun
Pumped Up (Php500). Angus beef burger topped with jalapeno cream cheese, lettuce, sliced tomatoes, crispy onion rings, cheddar cheese and bacon, then drizzled with BBQ sauce and encased in a sesame seed brioche bun.
Pasta, Noodles and Salads
Sate your hunger with filling noodle dishes, from pastas served with garlic bread to Pinoy merienda classics, or go for a helping of healthy greens.
Spaghetti & Meatballs (Php350). The popular spaghetti variant among kids.
Pesto (Php300). Fettuccini noodles tossed in freshly made pesto sauce made with bail, garlic, pine nuts and parmesan cheese.
Beef Mami (Php300). A rainy day staple made with beef brisket, boiled egg, Chinese cabbage and carrot sticks on a bed of egg noodles and beef broth.
Caesar Salad(Php350). Romaine lettuce tossed with grilled chicken, bacon, tomatoes and croutons then doused with Caesar salad dressing.
Sushi
Don’t miss the chance to munch on some freshly made sushi rolls.
California Maki (Php250). Crabstick, mango and cucumber slivers wrapped in rice- and tobiko-covered nori.
Torched Salmon (Php300). Nigiri made crabstick, spring onions, tempura flakes topped with torched salmon doused in goma dare sauce.
Mains
Choose from a wide variety of viands – which include Pinoy ulams and international dishes – for your lunch or dinner.
Deep-fried Chicken Cutlets (Php350). Breaded fillet of chicken served with white rice, Asian slaw and tonkatsu sauce.
Kare-Kare (Php500). Ox-tail and tripe stewed with veggies in peanut sauce and served with shrimp paste.
Salmon Steak (Php550). Grilled salmon steak with seasonal veggies on a bed of lemon butter sauce.
Chicken Tenders (Php300). Breaded chicken breast served with French fries and honey mustard sauce.
Fish & Chips (Php390). Beer-battered cream dory fillet deep-fried until golden brown served with tartar sauce and french fries.
Desserts
Cap your meal with these sweet delights!
Moist Chocolate Cake (Php200).
Strawberry Cheesecake (Php230).
Halo-Halo (Php130).
Apricot Creme Brulee (Php200).
As you can see, there’s no need to worry about how to soothe your hunger pangs as you embark on your mountain adventure in San Mateo, Rizal. Simply hie yourself off to Ridge Cafe!
Ridge Cafe also offers buffet meals including:
Top of the Morning Buffet: intercontinental breakfast menu and classic Pinoy almusal at Php650 net per person (weekends from 7am to 10am)
Arabic Dinner Buffet: an exciting curation of Arabic, Mediterranean and South Asian cuisines with free-flowing iced tea at Php980+ per person (Saturdays, from 6pm to 9pm)
Filipino Buffet: favorite Filipino dishes with free-flowing iced tea at Php980+ per person (Sundays, lunch from 11.30am to .30pm | dinner from 6pm to 9pm)
Would you like to give in to your flights of fancy and embark on an exciting journey?
A journey among extraordinary flavors, that is. 🙂
Well, head on then to Ridge Cafe at Timberland Highlands Resort up in the mountains of San Mateo, Rizal. Here, you can escape the hustle and bustle of the city to enjoy the fresh mountain air as you dine in style, thanks to its opulent interiors and al fresco area overlooking the metro.
Ridge Cafe from outside
Dine in with style
Al fresco with a view
Overlooking the metro
Here, your tastebuds can certainly go on a flavor tour, thanks to its recently unveiled Arabic Dinner Buffet.
Expanding gastronomic possibilities in the Rizal area
Every Saturday, from 6m to 9pm, you can eat your fill of flavorful and nutritious viands that boast of having Arabic, Mediterranean and South Asian origins, as well as free-flowing iced tea, all for just Php980++.
This exciting culinary curation is the brainchild of Timberland Highlands Resort’s new Executive Chef, Ranuka Hettiarachchi, who sought to include healthy Mediterranean dishes in Ridge Cafe’s buffet, as well as providing guests with vegan and vegetarian diets with suitable options.
Timberland Highlands Resort’s Executive Chef Ranuka Hettiarachchi
A preview to the Arabic Dinner
Also, given that restaurants offering Arabic food are not that common in the Rizal area, local residents now have a new convenient destination if they want to expand their food horizons.
Representing exotic flavors from the Mediterranean and Arabic regions
Ridge Cafe’s Arabic Dinner Buffet presents travel-hungry foodies with the opportunity to enjoy signature dishes of regions such as Greece, the Middle East, Egypt and South Asia, all cohesively curated and mouthwateringly presented in their respective stations.
Carnivores will be (quite understandably!) drawn to the carving station where beautifully roasted beef striploin and leg of lamb take pride of place, accompanied by roasted veggies and a variety of sauces to choose from.
Roasted Beef Striploin
Roasted Beef Slices
Roasted Leg of Lamb
Roasted Lamb Slices
Those seeking healthier fare can always go to the cold section and check out the fresh salads comprised of crisp greens and veggies as well as filling proteins.
Grilled Chicken Salad.
Red Kidney Beans Salad.
Then diners can hop from station to station to sample distinct tastes from various countries in a virtual food trip across the Mediterranean, Gulf and Indian subcontinent with these flavorful offerings:
Beef Shawarma. Middle Eastern dish wherein meat is cut into thin slices, stacked and roasted on a vertical rotating rotisserie, then shaved off and placed in pita along with veggies, cheese and garlic sauce.
Vegetable Samosa. Also known as singara, it is an Indian baked pastry filled with a savory filling of mashed spiced veggies.
Hummus. Yummy dip made with chickpeas, tahini, lemon and spices.
Pita. Greek flatbread that goes well with hummus and other Mediterranean dishes.
Chicken Biryani. Savory Indian dish in which succulent chicken pieces are simmered with aromatics in a saffron-infused Basmati rice.
Roasted Chicken in Mushroom Sauce. Roasted chicken prepared Mediterranean-style and made more flavorful with herbs and spices.
Mixed Vegetable Au Gratin. With this dish of cheese sauce covered baked vegetables, who says eating your veggies can’t be a decadent experience?
Beef Kofta Stew. Meatballs made of spiced minced beef stewed in a rich red sauce.
Pork Souvlaki. Flavorful grilled pork skewers which are staples in many a Greek taverna.
Chicken Kebab. Spiced and marinated chicken skewers popular in Middle Eastern cuisines.
Mixed Grilled Seafood. Fuss-free yet packed with flavor, here’s a new way to enjoy the sea’s bounty.
Tzatziki, Tabouleh and other Middle Eastern sauces enhances flavors and mouthfeel of various dishes.
Dessert lovers can also look forward to sampling the popular desserts from these regions as well as their favorite sweets in the dessert station.
Om-Ali. Egyptian bread pudding made with puff pastry, milk and nuts.
Gulab-jamun. Indian dessert which consist of soft balls made from milk solids and flour, then deep-fried and soaked in a light sugar syrup.
Classic Desserts: Cookies and Cakes
Dessert Station
While you can always take this journey by yourself, it’s best to experience it with family and friends!
Ridge Cafe also offers other buffet meals including:
Top of the Morning Buffet: intercontinental breakfast menu and classic Pinoy almusal favorites at Php650 net per person (weekends from 7am to 10am)
Filipino Buffet: favorite Filipino dishes with free-flowing iced tea at Php980+ per person (lunch from 11.30am to .30pm | dinner from 6pm to 9pm)
Jellybeans in the City 