Rustic Mornings celebrates 11th year with new and improved branch. Here's what's inside

PhilSTAR L!fe had a chance to check out the new location at Mendoza St. San Roque, Marikina City, as well as have a heart-to heart talk with its owner Portia on Rustic Mornings' growth throughout the years.

Bigger and better

While Rustic Mornings' new home is situated just across the street from their old location, what's special is that Portia and her crew have taken every detail that customers loved from their original restaurant and made it bigger and better than ever before.

Some of the features that make the place more convenient to foodies is that it now has a bigger seating capacity and a wider parking space, making it an ideal spot if you want to celebrate with your big family or group of friends.

Additionally, the place now has a spacious events area where you can make even more unforgettable memories with your nearest and dearest.

But what makes the new location special is how the entire property is touted as the largest one in the Philippines, something that surprised Portia herself.

"Apparently, this ruin is the largest in the Philippines. I thought na sobra naman kung Philippines, 'di ba? Akala ko, maybe it's just Rizal. But no, it's the Philippines, because the Tuasons owned the whole of Marikina and San Juan, so what a nice story to tell," Portia explained.

Despite all the changes, Rustic Mornings still retains its beloved "rustic" vibe thanks to the vast collection of vintage vases, plates, paintings, and other decorative figurines displayed on the walls, all of which were meticulously chosen by Portia's mother through hours of scouring through antique shops.

A menu that will fuel up your day

Of course, Rustic Mornings' real charm lies within its food items that are nothing short of a feast.

Their menu ranges from Filipino favorites such as Beef Tapa (P430), Breaded Boneless Bangus (P400), and Ilocos Bagnet (P520) to adventurous breakfast items such as their Spinach, Mushrooms, and Swiss Cheese Omelete (P450) and French Toast Tower with Grilled Peaches (P460).

Other must-try items include their large and fluffy Irish Omelete (P450), their crispy Honey Garlic Chicken Wings (P700), and their savory Buttered Chicken Roti (P550).

L!fe got to taste the restaurant's new Christmas Breakfast Board (P1,500) that they're offering to celebrate the most wonderful time of the year, and it tastes just as luscious as it appears.

It is comprised of several of their popular buttermilk pancakes and their gingerbread and cinammon-spiced pancakes coupled with bowls of Nutella and buttercream, pieces of candy cane, and fresh strawberries and grapes. It is a combination that will certainly satisfy your sweet tooth.

Other items in their Christmas offerings are the Peppermint Hot Chocolate (P125) and the Tipsy S'mores Cocktail (P340).

Some of the newer dishes that Portia would want customers to try are the sandwiches and burgers, as well as the dessert section that includes sweets such as Brownie Waffle a La Mode (P430), Chocolate Lava Cake (P250), Watermelon Sorbet (P140), and more.

What to expect in the future

Having thrived for 11 years, Rustic Mornings aims to continue being top-of-mind for Pinoys craving for savory food and appealing ambiance all in one.

"I always tell my staff, consistency is always the key. And when we set the standard this high, we want to keep that way. Ang dali magtayo, pero mahirap magmaintain," Portia said.

"But  I will always tell them consistency is key. We can do better, but we don't, we can't go lower than that," she added.

With regards to what customers can expect from the restaurant in the future, Portia said, "More smiles from us. We feel so much better serving in this new place kasi mas masaya, mas maganda, at mas maaliwalas."

She continued, "I hope that every time each customer comes here that they will feel the love that is coming from the God that we serve. I never claimed this place to be mine. I would always say the Lord made this for us and we are here but we're just we're stewards of this place. So I guess, 'yung pagmamahal na 'yun, that's what they can expect from us."