I was left all alone in Cabanatuan and so I had to find a place to end my boredom (by eating delicious food, of course). I searched online and came across Hapag Vicenticos - supposedly a "must go" in the city. Who am I to resist the temptation of a good crispy pata dish, right?
As advertised, the place looks like an old house that got converted into a restaurant. There was enough (old) wood to make it a fire hazard but it felt cozy and warm. It brought back memories of our own ancestral home and how much fun it was to have a lot of visitors coming over.
There was enough space in the garden for photo ops and just lounging. Kids had a great time running around and playing while the adults either watched over or checked out the menu. Don't worry, the kids probably won't get lost. There's a dutiful guard at the main entrance, and I'm sure that his watchful eye won't miss a straying kid (who may want to cross the street to get to the freedom park).
But of course, I came for the food. My first concern - there were so many things on the menu that I wanted to order, but there was just me and my appetite. How on earth can I satisfy this craving without ordering everything and breaking the bank? That ended up as a suggestion from me - I hope that they consider serving small portions for people who may come alone or with just one other person. Probably a nightmare for the kitchen staff, but it was worth mentioning.
The specialty of the house, I believe, is the Crispy pata. But that was way too much for me, so I ended up ordering the "2-in-1" specialty - the Krispy Kare Kare (P505). Without the sauce, it's actually Boneless Crispy Pata so it was like tasting 2 dishes. The Kare Kare was good - I liked the sauce and the bagoong was tasty. The crispiness of the meat added to the appeal, and I just craved for more. However, I was looking for tripe at the back of my mind so perhaps that's what prevented me from enjoying the dish at a 100% level. The Crispy Pata side of the dish, on the other hand, was really yummy. How can you go wrong with boneless? And the sauce was well balanced. Treating them as two separate dishes, however, was probably a mistake. My mind and palette got confused. But that's a "me" issue.
The Chicharong Bulaklak (P180) was also delicious. I know I should not have ordered this dish anymore - there was more than enough Pata to last me the day. But I just could not resist the temptation. So hello, high blood pressure. I will see you again soon.
And finally, dessert. I saw the other table enjoying their leche flan so I had to get a llanera for myself. As it turns out, it's called CARAleche Flan (P70) because it was made with carabao milk. In my research, I read that carabao milk is a thing around these parts so I went for it and tried it out. Delicious.
The best part of the visit, however, was probably the warm reception I got. I'm not sure if they felt bad for me because I was all alone in a strange place, but they were extra attentive. I felt like I had a personal waiter assigned to me who was tending to all my needs, giving food suggestions, and asking about my visit to the city. He pretty much just lingered, which I usually hate but was somehow comforting on that particular occasion. He got a hefty tip and a good satisfaction rating (he wouldn't let up - I HAD to fill in all of the blanks - even the "suggestion" portion.
So, when in Cabanatuan, it's probably a good idea to drop by this place. And may I suggest that you do it by yourself, too!
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