Count the Memories, Not the Calories at Plana's Pantry

At the heart of the city of Mandaluyong lies a small nook, where indeed, generous good food and excellent dining experience awaits every visitor. Such is the case with this little hole-in-the-wall restaurant, Plana's Pantry, that is located just in front of our place at California Garden Square. It opened last September but we visit this place often because they offer the best ribs in town.

I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of food and its price range, as well as its quaint, homey atmosphere. Relaxing, not pretentious. Warm and comfortable, yet refined. I also love the clean and all white interior and custom-made and hand-carved wood furniture.

When you come in to this restaurant, you'll feel right at home. The owners obviously have a pure passion for food and they work very hard to make every guest feel welcome. I always see them checking the guests and they are very hands on in attending to their customers’ needs. The staff is friendly and accommodating as well. Needless to say, it's awesome to go to a place where you feel that you are really being taken care of.

My daughter's favorite spot is the tall bookshelf at the corner. She's not a bookworm but she always pulls out a certain book out of the bookshelf. I want that bookshelf! LOL

They also have their logo displayed in front and there are some homegrown herbs planted inside!

The woodwork decors and bookshelf give the air of classic, cozy nook where a selfie or groupfie on Instagram would be fitting. The wall decals are certainly worth finding and the quotes are all witty and interesting to read. Even some of my favorite quotes are there! Take a peek...

Menu is limited, and while the descriptions are appealing, the plates that follow are prepared with some creativity and the place mats are customized and unique.

Every time we eat there, it’s a struggle to decide on just one thing. We often order several things and share. Prices are reasonable and the serving size could be for sharing.

Battered Fish and Shrimp with Fries (Php170)

We shared the Battered Fish and Shrimp with Fries to start, which was amazing. My daughter loves the nuggets and fries. Their starters and sides are commendable.

For our main, we had the bestseller, the Hickory BBQ Ribs, which is a sure hit and my favorite meal to eat at Plana's. At a price of Php265, it's a great deal for 2 hungry people or 1 really hungry stomach. That is pretty cheap compared to other restaurants which may cost twice the price. The bbq ribs was served with pesto rice & buttered corn & carrots on the side.

The meat is so tender and moist, grilled to perfection and it simply falls off the ribs. This meal is definitely no nonsense, tasty and filling. And the taste? The sauce is so savory and sweet, that quite frankly, I am not sure if I can ever go back to other ribs. 

Lamb Masala (Php340)

We also tried the Lamb Masala, and it did not disappoint. The lamb was tender and the vegetables were as freshly steamed as can be. If you like Indian food, this is for you!

Another favorite is the Gindara Steak (Php250) with a grilled black cod fish cooked just right and has a buttery flavor that is definitely a healthier choice. Sorry, I have no photo of this one. So spectacularly good that there is no time to take a photo. :)

The Beef Salpicao with Mushrooms (Php240) is good, the taste was more like adobo but it's delicious and the beef tenderloin is tender. Not a bad choice either.

For the drinks, they have Supersized Lemonade (Php65) and Supersized Iced Tea (Php60) plus some local and imported beer! For healthier alternatives, they have Calamansi with Malunggay, Calamansi with Honey(Php75) and Purely Squeezed Dalandan juice (Php75) served in a cute mason jar.

To cap it off, we had the Plana’s hand-crafted ice cream for dessert and it was probably the best ice cream we've ever had, rich, and creamy with a distinctive taste, yet not too sweet. Single serve (Php65) Double (Php120) Our favorites? Cookie caramel and avocado mambo!

With that said, there would be no way our family wouldn't come back to this place. If you'd ever come to Mandaluyong for a visit, you wouldn’t want to miss this restaurant! And if you're worrying about the damage it will make in your wallet, don't. The  prices are quite reasonable and this is definitely your place if you want to taste delicious and old fashioned home cooked meals. It's also a perfect place for a first date. *wink*

Enjoy good food with your fambam at Plana's Pantry. Make happy memories by eating the food that makes you and your family happy. Last but not the least, count the memories, not the calories. :)

Plana’s Pantry is located at 50 Domingo M. Guevarra St. (formerly Libertad St.) Highway Hills, Mandaluyong City Contact no: (0917) 630 8256
Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/planaspantry