If you are looking for an introduction to quintessential Filipino food while enjoying endless views of a caldera lake and mountains in the distance, then Balay Dako is the place to be. Located approximately an hour away (depending on traffic) from main Manila City, the...restaurant is located in a local popular getaway of Tagaytay hills. Tagaytay is a town situated around the Taal volcano and Taal caldera lake. The restaurant has been a mainstay and is an institution on its own serving local Filipino dishes for decades. The back of the restaurant has a viewing area which provides breathtaking views of the lake and the surrounding hills. The restaurant starts to fill up early, so it is highly recommended that you arrive early for breakfast or lunch. Once you enter the restaurant, you are greeted with a lobby which opens into a two floor dining area with floor to ceiling windows in the back which offer expansive views. We ordered classic dishes including Sinigang Ng Balay, Bulalo Na Baka, Pastel de Lenguas, along with a few appetizers including Calamares Fritos, and chicken skin (Chicharron). We finished off with piaya, another Filipino specialty which are unleavened flat bread filled with muscavado sugar. Normally, you find them in grocery stores, but these were freshly made on the flat top in the restaurant. Overall, a fantastic meal which I will remember for a long time, and will definitely come back for more. Highly recommended.More