Patio Vera, Bar in Marikina

Patio Vera is definitely one of the most gorgeous restaurants I’ve been to in Marikina! It’s quite an ideal place for dates or fancy meet-ups! If dining places were people, Patio Vera would be a highly sought after model. :) Understandably, their food is pricier than other restos that offer similar dishes. However, the dishes (based on what we had) were hefty in servings, plus the place is really beautiful - it was truly love at first sight!

What we ate: Dinamito (stuffed jalapeños with cheese and ground longganisa - really good, but wish they were meatier!), Pasta Negra with calamares (kind of messy to eat, so make sure to brush your teeth after eating or at least gargle to make sure your teeth/mouth/lips aren't blackened by the squid ink), carbonara (one of the best I’ve ever eaten!), liempo (a bit on the dry side, but the salsa that came with it is quite good), and turones with coco jam (a good way to end a savory meal, albeit I'm not really a fan of coco jam). Most of them are very Instagram-worthy, just like the place (I could go on and on about how nice the place is).

What I dislike about Patio Vera: there is very limited parking space, and it is located along a narrow street, so better be there early!