Melo Villareal
Lunch at Punong Gary’s Place in Silay City
Silay City in Negros Occidental is known for a lot of wonderful things, including the number of heritage houses and their rich culture and history. To fully enjoy your future visit to the city of Silay, we suggest you also traverse its underrated paths and discover their most loved cuisine.
Now that you’ve read our previous post about the best things to do in Silay City, we’ll highlight one of the best spots we’ve included on our list – the Punong Gary’s Place.
Located at Hacienda Tinihaban, Punong Gary’s place is one of the hidden gems in Silay City that awed me most. It is also 15 minutes away from Bacolod-Silay International Airport.
When we visited here for lunch during the recent Panaad sa Negros Festival, everyone was pretty impressed with the Bali vibes this place exudes. From its vintage door in the entrance – that’s the moment I knew – that the experience and walk inside is going to be an epic one.
What’s Inside Punong Gary’s
Sure, taking a break at the beach is a nice idea, but having a commune with nature here at Punong Gary’s is sure to be your next favorite destination too! It is owned by Ed Ledesma, an architect and a bigwig in the Negros Province.
Inside this 96-hectare farmhouse/hacienda, there are plenty of plants and trees (eucalyptus to be exact) that is well-taken care of, bamboos lining the front door, some casitas with nipa roofing, hammocks, fish pond, and a restaurant that serves 9-course meal every Wednesdays thru Sundays.
What’s For Lunch
Let me just commend their visually-appealing dishes that are certainly made with finesse. Not to mention, the restaurant is exceedingly proud of its farm to table produce prepared by a passionate homegrown kitchen crew. Some of the dishes we’ve had during our visit include the Popover Trio for appetizer, a combination of chicken, fish and vegetable popovers… with red and green bell pepper, cucumber, tomatoes and herbs in bechamel sauce.
I highly recommend you order their Asian Salad, a mix of red and green lettuce, cucumber, carrots, singkamas, tamarind, sambal, galangal, honey, olive oil, and peanut sauce. Definitely healthy and refreshing!
We’ve also had a creamy Kalabasa Soup then the mains.
Everyone was impressed with the different sets of plated dishes served, from Tanigue in Lemon caper sauce, drizzled with lemon butter sauce and herbs, the Chicken Pesto Pasta, and the Steak Veggie Roll, combined with sukiyaki beef, carrots, baguio beans, balagay. Yumm!
We capped off lunch with a very delectable Mango Cheesecake in a Jar. MUST-TRY!
But don’t worry if you bring your kids with you, the dining place also offers Kid’s menu as well! Comfort food is available too! Just make sure you bring extra cash, as you may find the price a bit expensive but I can say that all we had was well worth the price!
Lunch costs Php 850 per head and is open from Tuesday to Sunday 11:00am to 3:00pm. For dinner, it’ll cost you Php 1,000 per head, and is open for operation every Tuesday to Saturday, 5:00pm to 10:00pm.
Just a fun fact: The restaurant was opened in 2007 by Ledesma’s daughter and her husband Joey Benin, Side A’s bassist-songwriter – whose daughter Clara is also running her own coffee shop across the restaurant. Not only a food lover, but Clara is also following his father’s footstep in the music industry. If you’re lucky enough, you might see them perform LIVE on weekend nights!
And by the way, Punong Gary also has a pond where milkfish are cultured. All guests can request for a free tour at their farm and the entire vicinity.
But of course, if you really wanted to take a dip, there’s also a 25-meter swimming pool with a jacuzzi!
Another impressive note in Punong Gary’s is that everything seems to be detailed and carvings are intricate. You’ll also see amazing wood sculptures and other art pieces which makes this place a tourist destination like no other.
The Casitas
If you wanted to stay longer or perhaps overnight, you can check out their Casitas.
Overnight stay costs P8,500 per night for two persons and an additional Php1,000 per additional head. Each Casita can accommodate a maximum of 4 persons and the rate is inclusive of breakfast and use of facilities.
The Verdict
Overall, this is the perfect respite for people who want to unwind and have some peaceful time for themselves. Its serene and calm ambiance gives everyone some peace of mind and relaxing vibe, away from the hustle and bustle of the city – definitely a must-visit all-year round! Not to mention, it’s perfect for intimate gatherings too!
More information:
Address: Hacienda Tinihaban, Barrio San Jose, 6116 Silay City, Negros Occidental
You may reach 0917-327-1729 for reservations or inquiries. Although they accept walk-ins for tapas night, if you’re visiting in huge group, reservation is highly suggested.
Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/punongsilay.
Check out our complete list of recommended Hotels in Silay City via Agoda or you may also see available Airbnb properties in the city.
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Also see:
- Travel Guide to Bacolod City for First-time travelers
- Avenue Suites Bacolod City Review
- Tourist Attractions and Best Things to do in Bacolod City (and nearby Cities)
- Top 5 Hotels in Bacolod City
