Greek Easter

Our Hellenic Easter Sunday lunch was unplanned. We were on a drive back to the city from a 5-day Holy Week sojourn in our Batangas home when hunger overtook us somewhere along the highways of Tagaytay. Mano's Greek Taverna was the unanimous choice.

We have previously come across some favorable reviews about the restaurant on a glossy and a broadsheet before so we all expected a good satisfying meal. The owner is of course Mano (in top photo), Greek obviously, married to an olive-skinned Filipina. His place, painted in typical Mediterranean fashion, was actually unpretentious; the food, certainly more affordable than that of Cyma.

We found a quiet nook that we had all to ourselves with a view of Tagaytay's pines and motorists who seemed to be in a rush to return to Manila.

The lamb gyro was good enough, though not as rich and creamy as Cyma's bestselling chicken gyro. The lamb came in small quantities too but that was quite understandable as it was a more costly ingredient compared to chicken or beef.

We were very happy with the grilled pork chops. Tender. With a salty flavor that I loved. (Just an aside, A Taste of L.A. Cafe's pork chops are still the best for me. Seconded by Fish and Company's. Mano's, I think, comes in third.) The french fries were a surprise! Cooked in olive oil. Greaseless. And oh so yummy they did not need dips at all.

Now the tilapia was the day's winner I'd say, judging by my sisters' display of gastronomical pleasure. What made it special was the interesting mixture of olive oil and lemon that it was served with. They could do though with a much fresher fish, said the girls.

The much hyped about baklava was not to be missed. But, disappointingly, turned out to be just that—a hype. It was totally lacking in sweetness and that mouth-watering factor obligatory of desserts, saved only by the apple-cinnamon sauce on top.

The meal was quite heavy so we stayed around for a while, sitting back as Indie and Mano's little boy stood by the window until it was time to go.

Mano had excellent PR skills that extended to the parking lot. He assisted each arriving and departing vehicle like a security guard in the Metro and no one ever had to tip him! That's Mano's Greek Taverna. I sure won't mind coming back.