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Cafe Ysabel
Review
About
Located in the heart of San Juan, Cafe Ysabel is a 1927 San Juan vacation home that was transformed into a restaurant in 1982.
Features
CUISINES
Italian, Filipino, Cafe, International, Asian
Meal types
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
PRICE
₱₱ - ₱₱₱
FEATURES
Accepts Credit Cards
American Express
Full Bar
Highchairs Available
Mastercard
Parking Available
Reservations
Seating
Serves Alcohol
Table Service
Takeout
Visa
Location
Does this restaurant serve alcohol?
Save this restaurant
Hours
Open until 11:00 PM
Sunday
11:00 AM - 11:00 PM
Monday
11:00 AM - 11:00 PM
Tuesday
11:00 AM - 11:00 PM
Wednesday
11:00 AM - 11:00 PM
Thursday
11:00 AM - 11:00 PM
Friday
11:00 AM - 11:00 PM
Saturday
11:00 AM - 11:00 PM
Contribute
3.6
(124)
Excellent
40
Good
36
Average
20
Poor
11
Terrible
17
Ria
Manila14 contributions
May 2024 • family
I thought I heard something good about Cafe Ysabel and I anticipated that it would offer a more sophisticated and exceptional taste on their menu but surprisingly, everything was just MEH. No wow factor. Just basic. Soup was fine. Lengua was OK. The carrots (on the side) were too hard it felt like I was exercising my bite quite aggressively. Although pasta (on the side) was OK. Norwegian salmon was a little dry. And desserts – both the strawberry and mango cakes were overly sweet. The buttercream filling in the mango cake was thicker than the chiffon. The whipped cream in strawberry shortcake was also thick I had to scrape off most of them. I wish they could die down their sugar to 10% only. That way everyone could all enjoy and actually finish it completely.
The only thing that satisfied me was the caesar salad made from scratch by Mr Patrick. Good execution. Balanced taste. Flavorful.
Venue needs renovation and cleaning. Please
Written June 17, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Teresa C
Metro Manila1618 contributions
Sep 2022 • none
Anticipated something special, but meal was stodgy and heavy. Too much pasta that did not balance the protein.
Written September 5, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Angelee R
Manila956 contributions
Dec 2019 • family
ate’s first time here in cafe Ysabel she ordered paella and ceasar salad i ordered caldereta goat the place is nice service is good food is good
Written January 6, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hilds
1 contribution
Mar 2022 • friends
The food was really amazing but I have to say I was truly disappointed with the service. Not only it's my daughter's Holy confirmation which was postponed for 2yrs because of pandemic but it is also a gathering for my long-time close friends who I haven't seen since pandemic began.
Whoever managed onsite thought we were booked in Lanuza room. We were instructed to sit there as there was miscommunication on their side. But then we were transferred again to the original table I booked as they said there is P12k consummable at the function room (which I already knew) and that is the reason I changed my table reservation as I cant consume P12k with less 10 guests.
The food arrival was late and not in order. I said my expected arrival was in between 11-11:30am. We arrived 11:05. But then we still have to wait past 11:30am for food serving. The bread was served after the paella. I have to stand up more than 6x as I have to remind for the drinks and even water refill and additional orders (I added 1 more pasta and chicken). There were 3 attendants/waiters available and we were the only customer when we arrived.
It was a total disruption to our conversations. I heard so much about this place and truly disappointed of the very poor service. Again the food was great as cooked by a legit chef but I will never come back again nor recommend for huge events as my gathering of less than 10 people was not fully accomodated even with reservation and advance orders. My total bill is around P8k+ but my point is regardless if it's a small or huge event, if they can't attend to a small gathering, how can you trust with a large gathering? Is it the same for all?
I hope they can still fix this as Cafe Ysabel has such a good reputation and I understand the pandemic really affected their business. But the experience was just truly terrible for me and my guests!
Written March 5, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
bbeinstein04
Quezon City388 contributions
Jun 2023 • family
We were invited to a Sunday buffet lunch today and the only positive thing I can say is that I’m very happy I did not have to pay for this meal. There are very few choices of food in the buffet and it was mostly dry or stale looking. The small carving station is laughable with dry roast beef, dry longganisa, and dry homemade bacon. There is paella which did not look very appealing so I only took some rice and none of the toppings. I took a pass on most of the other food but I did get a small plate of spaghetti bolognese which might have been the best thing I ate there as it was freshly reheated. There was an egg station after the pasta station which probably meant it was a brunch buffet so someone might actually want an omelette which didn’t really match any of the other food. The dessert section was small with hard dry pieces of lemon bars and something else forgettable. As I walked back to our table a small mouse ran across the room in front of me which made me lose my appetite so I just stopped getting any more food. My husband also saw a cat sitting on the shelf inside the kitchen. Everything really just looked quite unhygienic and dirty. It’s really quite a disappointment for a restaurant that used to have a positive reputation.
Written June 4, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Peter C
Makati11 contributions
Mar 2022 • couples
The recently transferred cafe Ysabel on M. Paterno, San Juan City was very far from what it was in terms of food and service.
Written March 5, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
maskiano
Greater London184 contributions
Oct 2019 • family
There was a lot of expectations when we visited Cafe Ysabel since this restaurant was a great place in Philippine culinary history in the 1980s and 1990s. With all the rave reviews before it closed down, there was eager anticipation when it opened its doors at its new location in the same city.
To be fair, the four-cheese pizza was fantastic! The flavor was something one would remember long after one has left the place. As for the rest of the food we ordered, it was not bad but not exceptional as well.
What made the entire meal disastrous was when we reached the dessert portion of the meal. The crepe was just plain bad- it reminded one of the worst cough medicine there is in the market. The Sansrival was certainly sans (without) any rival! It was not even cold! It tasted like soggy bread with peanuts! How can a respectable restaurant that offers culinary lessons on the side serve such a dish!!!
We hope for better days for Cafe Ysabel.
Written October 14, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jose S
24 contributions
Feb 2019 • family
Just tried Cafe Ysabel, for lunch after church. Glad that we went there without reading any reviews. What we ordered were perfectly prepared ,well seasoned and served professionally.
To compare the reviews before it closed and right after it opened is unfair for this place.
I can only say that our experience will make us come back and recommend CY highly.
Written February 3, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
reneerp
42 contributions
Nov 2018 • family
Decided to check out its new location after decades of not eating there. My last two visits at the former Wilson branch yielded a worm at the bottom of my water glass and an underbaked souffle.
Anyway, we irdered the seafood chowder, asparagus salad, lapulapu with capers and lengua. The chowder was thin, hinted of shrimp aligue and had 1 piece of whole shrimp in it. The salad was passable. The lapulapu, a miniscule portion with a dash of cayenne as garnish. This didn't sit well with mom as she dislikes spicy food.
The lengua was not any better.
There was a bunch of women who were speaking loudy as if they were the only ones dining there. I therefore asked to be transferredto their veranda. Even with the door closed, one can still hear them. Flying insects were dropping onto our plates too.That made my meal all the more unappetizing.
Will I go back? Never!
Written November 9, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
SandraSmith1465
1 contribution
Aug 2018 • family
We’ve been visiting Cafe Ysabel for almost a decade and we were saddened for their temporary closing. But as we heard of their re-opening in Paterno, we can’t miss the chance to dine while in town.. And i must say, it is STILL one of the best! They kept the charm of the old house, the interiors that are truly pieces of art, the romantic ambience, and the recipes that are STILL worth coming back for! They are still on soft opening so expect some construction materials around the area - but who cares? Sure you will fall in love like we did more than 10 years ago and counting! 😍❤️
Written August 8, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Bianca P
1 contribution
Aug 2018 • family
The M. Paterno Branch is finally open!
A few days ago we were finally able to try the new Cafe Ysabel. It still felt like I was entering an ancestral home lovingly maintained for the family's next generation. And the food...exquisite! I am just so excited for Cafe Ysabel to finally bring back their full menu though ☺️
It’s just Cafe Ysabel’s soft opening and it’s new so their little mishaps are forgivable. They will surely need some time to adapt to their old groove. However, Cafe Ysabel is one to watch out for, give it patience and you’ll surely be rewarded. A Landmark restaurant by premier chef Gene Gonzalez!
Still the no. 1 restaurant in my heart ❤️ such great memories here!
Written August 8, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
barbaraleetm
5 contributions
Aug 2018 • couples
My husband and I went to Cafe Ysabel for coffee and dessert, after having dinner at a nearby restaurant. We definitely made the right decision by having dinner elsewhere! Granted, it was a soft opening still at CY, but we weren’t expecting the driveway to be as uninviting as it was. The parking area in front of the restaurant was dark and there was a lot of construction garbage all over. We were told to park next to a tree, which had so much litter around it, including a toilet. Once inside, we sat down and ordered sans rival to go with our coffee and tea. The sans rival was served in a plastic ‘to-go’ container. Nice. We weren’t told or were aware that the bottom of the plastic container was lined with aluminum foil, which we ended up eating. At first I thought one of my old tooth fillings came loose so I had another bite; well, it wasn’t my filling at all that I bit into but the foil lining! We notified the wait staff right away, and they didn’t even apologize — dedma. We quickly asked for the bill and left. Bottom line, we’re not going back, ever.
Written August 4, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ralpo Stankic
Hangzhou459 contributions
Nov 2017 • family
Great food as main dishes and very delicious cakes, great coffee choices, very good prices, great service, and nice background music. It's a great home feeling.
Written July 16, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mallorcababe
Quezon City140 contributions
Jun 2018 • friends
The M.Paterno branch is open.
I really like it here. The place is homey. I really like the ambiance. The place is not full for lunch.
The paella is okay. The ox tongue with mashed potato is okay and portion is small. Gambas is not good. Beef salpicao is not good. Strawberry cake is very good!
Service is good. Price is reasonable.
Written June 11, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Bolomenino
179 contributions
May 2018 • solo
The facade of the restaurant tells you that they mean serious business! The starter was a delight! Bread was soft and it went so well with the Mediterranean dip. Chef Gonzalez makes sure that the ingredients used are only the best local produce. In fact, lettuce from for the salads comes from Baguio!
Written June 2, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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