Melo Villareal
Lanai by FreshStart Organic farm-to-table Restaurant in Bacolod City
Another must-visit food spot in Negros Occidental, Lanai by FreshStart, is a farm-to-table restaurant in Bacolod that offers a unique al fresco dining setup. It’s a casual dining place with a lanai, a roofed open space often attached to an entrance or built at the back of the house. A lanai also functions as an extension of the living room, but outdoors.
This open-air restaurant is surrounded by lush tropical plants, offering a relaxing and close-to-nature dining experience. Founded by Ramon “Chin Chin” Uy Jr and his wife Francine, the Lanai by FreshStart opened its doors to the public on December 8, 2021, utilizing the products of local artisans, organic farmers, and Negrense culinary heritage.
It boasts an all-organic and natural menu made from scratch, focusing on “ark of taste” ingredients that are endangered local heritage foods with a unique taste and distinct to an eco-region. Known as the champion of the slow food movement in Negros Occidental, Uy showcases the importance of organic produce, making healthy foods more flavorful.
What’s inside the resto
The facade and interiors of the Lanai by FreshStart evoke a homey vibe, feeling like you’re dining at your grandmother’s home. From the exterior, it’s characterized by wooden louvered windows and a large wooden door that welcomes you inside. Once inside the restaurant, you’ll be greeted by a relaxing atmosphere and minimalist industrial design, with tropical plants and wooden furniture.
The walls are painted white, and the open-truss ceiling design adds a natural, light, airy atmosphere to the interior. Aside from the vibrant wall painting, the main feature of the Lanai is the bar, where diners can watch while their drinks are being crafted. It features a hardwood slab counter and black-painted wood and metal, making it the perfect spot for your Instagram shots.
But the most distinctive feature of the bar is the eye-catching glass jars on the counter, filled with dried fruits, plants, and bark, making it look like an herbal or wizard shop. You’ll also see locally-made Vodka and Gin on the counter, such as the salted caramel Kanto Vodka, Agimat Vodka made from Bacolod Sugarcane, and the Agimat Gin extracted from ylang-ylang flowers and indigenous fruits, like pink pomelo, yutukon, and dalandan.
What to eat
The Lanai menu was carefully curated by Chef Patrick Go, a renowned chef in Manila with Negrense roots. With its bar as the main attraction, Lanai offers a variety of drinks and cocktails made with local ingredients and spirits. Chef Kalel Demetrio, a liquid chef promoting the farm-to-table concept, makes Lanai’s unique drinks.
Meanwhile, the desserts are crafted by Chef Gab Melocoton of the Slow Food Youth Network. Some of the must-try items in Lanai are the 100% Negros-sourced cheese, pizzas, salads, Cansi Ala Pobre, Guava Pork Belly, and Muscovado Marlin.
Piaya: Fresh off the pan
If you’re a fan of muscovado piaya, you can even watch how it’s made at Lanai. However, Lanai’s menu is seasonal, as it depends on the produce from their organic farm.
How to get there
The Lanai is located along the Araneta Highway, Sitio Aning, Brgy Pahanocoy, Bacolod City, Philippines. It’s accessible, as it’s along the national highway, located behind Fresh Start Organic Natural Store and Cafe, and beside May’s Organic Garden. They’re open from 11:00 am to 9:00 pm, Monday to Sunday.
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LANAI by FreshStart Organic
- Address: Sitio Aning, Araneta Highway, Brgy, Bacolod, 6100 Negros Occidental
- Phone: 0917 881 1341
- Facebook: Facebook.com/LanaibyFreshStart/
Read:
- Ultimate List of the Best Hotels in Bacolod City
- Top 15 Bacolod City Tourist Spots + Things to do
- BACOLOD TRAVEL GUIDE
