Gastronomic Quest: Small Talk Café

Small Talk Cafe..uhmmm., obvious?

"Chef and restaurant owner, Ms. Bernadette Peralta Factora, wanted to open a small restaurant business when she came home to Bicol almost 11 years ago. What started as a small front yard restaurant with only twelve (12) small round tables evolved into a quaint home restaurant that became the “talk of town.” And when tourists started pouring in because of the whale sharks in Donsol, her brother suggested they fuse local dishes with foreign ones." ~   Katherine C. Eustaquio

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During the last quarter of 2011, there were few new established restaurants that offers new set of gastronomic taste for everyone’s palate. I was wowed that Albay has consistently took risk in the hotel and restaurant business. Some of the restaurant features cuisine from other countries like pizza, pasta, coffee and pastries. Being a huge fan of food, I told myself that I should try these restaurants and order the best they can offer (yabang lang?). But unfortunately, I failed to visit and eat even one from this newly established resto. My tight budget and uncooperative hectic schedule makes it so hard for me to set a date. Well, as the saying goes, “Pag-planado, ‘di natutuloy”. (Minsan gusto ko na maniwala. Tsk!)

But hey! I won’t let that saying stop me from doing what I want. I set a dinner with my College friends at Small Talk Café, which was tagged as one of the best resto here in Legazpi City.  I ate there a couple of times and I can’t deny that they continue to live up to the people’s expectation. In fact, they ranked as the number one restaurant that an Albayano and even a foreign would recommend if you’re looking for great food here in Legazpi City. Their food is a fusion of authentic Bicolano and international cuisine.

Tables outside for those who like to smoke. Me electric fan diyan kaya don't worry.

Before getting inside, vines will welcome you at the entrance to let you know you officially enter the jungle? haha

I texted my old College friends about the dinner and there were two who confirmed. On the day itself we had an additional company. So we were four in number. It was few right? But its okay, the fewer the better. It actually makes me happy already.

On the day of our meet up, I hurriedly left the office after 5pm and excitedly meet up with my friend Charm and Kyle. We took a ride to Old Albay and went directly to Small Talk Café. It was 5:30pm when we got there and our other friend Leth has arrived earlier than us. Before going inside the Café, I took pictures first. It’s a must-not-forget for every travel bloggers to take a picture of the façade and the signage of the restaurant. LOL.

It took us minutes just to get inside as if it was our first. LOL! It was actually me who caused the delay. I was taking pictures. Of course! That was not merely a dinner date with friends but also to have something to write and post for my blog. Hahaha.

Waiting Area pa lang ang cozy na. :)

Painting on the walls at the waiting area.

Tagal makapasok. LOL. for the sake of pictures.

Anyways, we immediately got to our table and asked for the menu. The place still has the same effect on me. I felt very much relaxed, comfortable, and at home. The place looks so quaint with all those furniture, fixtures, tables, paintings, wooden floor and various embellishments. My hands were too itchy to take pictures but I only had a limited time to stay there so I made my order first.

The food takes about 30 minutes or more depending on what you ordered. Since I read positive feedback about Pasta Pinangat from fellow bloggers, I decided to order the dish together with Mango Smoothie and Pili Coco Ice Cream. While my friends ordered Bicol Express Pasta, Baked Mac, Hamburger, Mango Smoothie, Coke, Hot Calamansi, and Choco Mousse. They seem expensive but I can attest that it’s a very reasonably priced dishes.

Piano positioned at the far corner seemed unused.

Old memorabillas.

One of the best thing about the restaurant was the stained glass illuminating when struck by sunlight. 

Old photos of Legazpi City and Mayon on the wall.

Kahit Rest room pinicture-ran. haha. It's a bit small.

While waiting for our orders to be served, Charm and I took the opportunity to take pictures. Well, other customer didn’t mind us. We even asked one crew to take our group picture. The thing that makes the place very relaxing was the beaming yellow light hitting the wooden floor and fixtures making it look so 90’s. Just perfect! But I found it hard to take pictures without the flash especially I ain’t using DSLR. :c

Aside from their affordable food and homey ambience, the accommodating crew was an additional factor for me. No wonder, business men opt to eat here. It was actually semi-full when we dine there and became jam-packed before we leaved.

There's a lot to choose from the menu.

Bicol Express Pasta / 105.00 pesos.

My order: Pasta Pinangat / 110.00 pesos.

Baked Macaroni / 130.00 pesos.

Burger / 90.00 pesos.

After 30 minutes, they started to serve foods (I told my friends not to touched the food yet kahit gutom na) and I took pictures of the dish one after another. With flash, with no flash, then with flash again. The quality of the picture wasn’t making me happy but I reckoned enough with the photo ops. I’m famished so I dug in on my pasta and I fell in love on my first bite. Arghhhhh!! Now I know why it became their signature dish. I’m not even a Pinangat (Laing) fan but the flavors were bursting in my mouth. I can’t believe how creamy the cream was! LOL. And how the Pinangat blends well with the pasta. Same with the Bicol Express Pasta – also a must try.

Mango Smootie / 50.00 pesos.

Pili Coco Ice Cream / 58.00 pesos.

Choco Mousse / 65.00 pesos.

Hot Kalamansi / 15.00 pesos. Para sa friend kong may ubo. (haha plema kaya)

After the main dish, we asked for our desserts to be served. By the way, Charm left already; there were only three of us left. So here comes the dessert – two Choco Mouse and my Pili Coco Ice Cream. The ice cream tasted like vanilla ice cream with Coco Jam (I asked the crew what was the toppings. Curious eh) and sweetened pili nut on top. It was delicious as well its just that there's an after taste because of the coco jam.

The food was great and very affordable.

A proof how much delicious the Pasta Pinangat was.

After almost two hours of scrumptious dinner, we decided to pay our bills and go home since I will still travel an hour before I got home. That was the thing that makes me nervous the whole time. That I won’t make it on the last trip bound to our place. Luckily I was able to catch up!

Group Shot. Thanks to Ate Crew Service.

Uwian na after a scrumtious dinner. :)

This day was one of the best of my 2012 so far.

Ciao.

051 Dona Aurora St., Legazpi City, Philippines
Ma. Bernadette N. Peralta