Abe’s Farm
We saved the best for the last in our trip to Pampanga by ending with one of the best meals we have ever had at Abe’s Restaurant.
Abe’s Restaurant is owned by, who else, Abe. In addition to carrying the namesake of its owner, the word “Abe” means “friend” in Kapampangan.
Located forty-five minutes in light traffic from Marquee Mall, Abe’s Restaurant offers not only the best food, but it provides you with one of the best ambiances to dine in.
Table of Contents
Directions
For the most part, the roads to Abe’s restaurant are in fair condition. There are a few bad patches that require you to slow down as the potholes are a bit deep.
The only things you have to contend with are the tricycles scattered all over the place. Not only are they excruciatingly slow, they hog the road and refuse to let others overtake.
So if you decide on heading out to Abe’s Restaurant, it’s best to add at least another half hour to your estimate.
The restaurant itself is at the foot of a mountain, so you’ll climb up a slight but short incline. Actually you might not even notice it as a passenger. But if you decide to take a walk after eating, you’ll find the incline to be noticeably gentle.
Parking
The parking area is under a cluster of big trees. Their shade is big enough that you won’t need to worry about hands getting grafted the steering wheel of your car during the day.
The ground is a combination of soil and grass so it is not rough on the tires. You’ll need to be mindful of a large tree root or two sticking out of the ground. Though they aren’t a problem for cars, people may trip over them.
The parking area is big enough to fit twenty vehicles while double parking can increase that to about thirty vehicles, big or small. In their absence, a couple of buses can probably fit, but I don’t know if they will be allowed to park inside though.
The only thing to watch out fort is bird droppings as this is a haven for them. Other than that, the guarded parking is quite secure so you can enjoy your stay.
Incidentally, before you head on in to the restaurant, check out the authentic Sugar Cane press in the parking lot. As tempting as it was, decided to keep our hands off because we didn’t want to be the reason it doesn’t make it to the next century.
Restaurant
If there is one thing I will say about Abe’s Restaurant in Pampanga, it is spectacular.
The restaurant itself is the ancestral home of the owner. Converted to a place of dining, it still has many of the elements of an old house.
From the moment you enter the simple double-swinging screen doors to the time you sit down on the long table, everything will you see is made of very thick wood. This is in stark contrast to the thin plywood or fiberboard in today’s houses.
To your left will be the kitchen, where all the scrumptious meals are prepared for the day. And unlike current restaurant that have equipment, bottles, or other supplies spilling into the dining area, Abe’s kitchen keeps everything away from their guests’ line of sight.
If you turn right, you will see a sink at the end of a corridor. The doors to the male and female restrooms will be on each side. Now if you have to rush while you are here, don’t worry because unlike Bale Kapampangan, the male and female doors are easy to decipher.
Returning your gaze to your front will give you a somewhat expansive dining area, including the separate rooms. The long table that we used is located here. Since it is closer to the center of the house, it doesn’t provide a view of the pool behind the house. What it does provide is a good perspective of the house’s interior.
You will find smaller tables dotted around the dining area, as well as the walls and window. Despite their being close to each other, one still feels a sense of privacy I guess it’s the effect of dark, wooden, but breezy house on one’s perception.
Now instead of a woven bamboo wall wrapping around the whole house, the rear is more open. Composed of wooden banisters and screen, guests get a nearly unrestricted view of the grounds to the back of the restaurant.
And if that isn’t enough, the best part of the place is the loft located at the center of the house. Accessible through a wooden staircase, you can walk up to a room without walls. It comes furnished with a four poster bed and throw pillows.
Despite the lack of walls, privacy is still kept by Catcha, or cotton fabric, draped from wooden poles attached to the support beams of the ceiling. There is a carpet, so everyone can remove their shoes to relax and get their pictures taken on the bed.
Speaking of which, I have christened this bed the Cleopatra bed because all the ladies in our group took turns having their pictures taken in the Nile Queen’s most iconic pose.
The only thing I found annoying was that my camera could not focus properly in the low, relaxed light. So I will take this opportunity to dish out a little advice: if you want to avoid being reviled by your Cleopatras, make sure to tweak your camera’s settings before taking pictures.
Grounds
What can I say? If the restaurant was spectacular, the grounds were amazing. And just like the parking area, the grounds made good use of the surrounding terrain.
Huge trees, slight hills, and abundant grass, the place was just right. Anything man-made was either wood or stone, making them blend perfectly with everything else.
The only thing that seemed out of place was the swimming pool. But that is easily forgiven because it was tastefully limited to an elevated part directly behind the restaurant. And while it can be viewed from the main house, it is hidden from people in the garden.
Even the houses at the back blend well with the surroundings. Based on the Ifugao design, these guest houses are perched atop posts and complete with a wooden ladder to allow entry and exit.
Another thing our Cleopatras enjoyed was the swing in the garden. Now before you wonder what is so special about it that our royals would take notice of, well this is no ordinary chain swing that you find in playgrounds or the tire swing found on beaches.
This swing makes use of bamboo as a seat. But what makes it unique is that the seat is tied to a branch several feet up. In fact, it is so close to the top of the tree; I wonder how anyone ever got tied it in the first place.
Facilities
I’ve already mentioned the swimming pool so you can take a dip after enjoying nature. Then there is also a spa and a separate place to get a massage; both of which are also perfect after a nice walk.
Now if you find that one day isn’t enough, you are in luck. Rooms are available for overnight stays. Starting at just PhP 2,990, you can rent one of three rooms in the area.
I can think of nothing more romantic, other than the bridge at Las Casas de Azucar, for a nice rendezvous with your loved one. Without noise, pollution, people, and stress, the place is perfect for detoxification and bonding.
Food
I’ve already said that the restaurant was spectacular and that the grounds were magnificent, so let’s round up the good news by saying the food is a gastronomic delight.
This is one of the best places I have eaten in quite a while. In fact, it is so good, that everyone in my group wants to go back just for the food.
We ordered soup and vegetables, which were all welcome in the cool weather. But if there are only two dishes you will eat, you must try the small squid. Some might find it a bit oily but we loved it. And not only was the squid tender, it was very, very tasty.
The second dish you need to order requires a bit of bravery. But if can muster the strength, I strongly recommend ordering the Cricket. Yup, that’s the insect that jumps around farms and destroying crops.
Decades ago, someone must have decided that since crickets are so effective at eating our food, why not make them the food since they are so plentiful? The result is an extremely tasty dish served on a simple plate.
By this time your imagination is probably kicking in to high gear with visions of legs, antennae, and eyes. Well I am glad to say that you will see none of these on your plate. All you will have are oblong-shaped packets that look more like short string beans than insects.
My wife was hesitant for her first bite but after tasting it, got another serving for herself. The same went for the rest of the group.
If you are rice eaters, you might want to get an extra order of rice early on. The food goes down so fast that pausing to wait while more is cooked limits the experience.
I understand that there is a branch of Abe’s Restaurant in Fort Bonifacio. I haven’t tried it since coming back from our trip so I can’t say if the experience is the same. But if going all the way to Pampanga just to eat at Abe’s is too taxing, you might want to try the one at Fort Bonifacio.
Finally, I am told that the restaurant is packed during weekends, with some waiting time being involved. Lucky for us, the place was empty when we visited so we had the staff all to ourselves.
Bill
If the buffet at Bale Kapampangan cost around PhP3,000 for nine adults and one child, it cost us over PhP5,000 at Abe’s Restaurant. It is a bit much for something in the province, especially when the rest of our trip has been inexpensive.
So that’s the only caveat here; the price isn’t cheap.
The good thing is if you a bit short on cash, you can pay with your credit card. That way, you get to save your cash for pasalubong, or items to bring home to your family when you get back.
So is it still worth it? You bet!
Final Thoughts
If eating great food is a major part of your plans when going out of town, Abe’s Restaurant is one of the places to visit when in Pampanga. Not only is the food a diner’s dream, the place is a photographer’s fantasy.
I would love to go back when I am in the area again. In fact, I’m looking forward to an overnight stay. My relatives have the same thoughts so I guess that means another trip is in the future.
Till the next time, keep your appetites up, camera batteries fully charged, and your memory free because you may need them for the next place you visit!
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We would like to thank Mr. and Mrs. Winefredo Rodriguez helping us with our Pampanga itinerary.
