The Padi’s Point experience

August 6, 2007 
Filed under Food trips & events

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I had very fond memories of Padi’s Point. Back in the College of Law, friends and I often drove up to Antipolo just to view the sunset over bottles of beer and some cheap finger foods (usually peanuts). More often than not, we landed at the “stilts” — nipa huts along the edge of Sumulong Highway — where beer was cheap and ambulant vendors of still-hot roasted peanuts and kasuy were not shooed away by the establishment’s owners.

During times when we had more money than usual, we’d go to Vieux Chalet or Padi’s Point. Perhaps, the few times were were at Padi’s Point, we only had beer and peanuts. Or, they had a different cook back then. See, I don’t remember eating badly-cooked food at Padi’s Point. Like I said, I had very fond memories of the place — until a few weeks ago. On July 9th, to be exact.

Onion rings at Padi

We were coming home from the mall and were trying to decide if we should have dinner out or cook when we got home. Padi’s Point was along the way and I suggested the place to my husband and kids. In all the six years we have been living in Antipolo, we have never eaten a meal at Padi’s Point.

When the onion rings were served, my first impression was that they were overly plump. Perhaps, they were the commercial stuff available in supermarkets. Perhaps not and the cook used a batter than was thicker than usual. At any rate, I have long ago learned not to judge food by its appearance so I kept an open mind. The first bite wasn’t bad. The second wasn’t too good. The third was disastrous.

Onion rings at Padi

I hope you can see the raw flour in the onion ring’s batter in the photo above. If you want a more detailed view, see the photo below.

Onion rings at Padi

I was hoping it was a fluke. We had ordered three other dishes and I was really hoping that it only the onion rings were bad.

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Comments

21 Comments on "The Padi’s Point experience"

  1. Pao on Mon, 6th Aug 2007 8:49 pm 

    i too have fond memories of gimiks in padi’s point, esp. in antipolo.

    it’s a shame kung ganyan na ang pagka-poor quality ng food nila. ako rin, ang naaalala ko bestseller ang sisig nila dyan eh.

    so beer & view na nga lang ang reasons ng pagpunta dyan? tsk, tsk. hehe!

  2. Connie on Mon, 6th Aug 2007 9:54 pm 

    I was shocked, I tell you. Pahiya ako sa family ko.

  3. kaye on Tue, 7th Aug 2007 1:44 am 

    i also don’t like the food at padi’s point in antipolo.. it must really be the view that people go there most of the time.. i remember a friend brought me there for drinks and he ordered a fiesta-style pulutan which they call kabayan, if am not mistaken.. it wasn’t really pulutan.. seems to me like it was the remnants of the other diners who left too much from their order.. and the glasses weren’t really clear.. looks like they just dipped them in a pail of water coz it still oily to touch.. eeew!!

  4. brenda on Tue, 7th Aug 2007 4:06 am 

    Ohhh, how I remember the old days when we frequent the place. You see, I’m from Marikina so malapit lang sa amin yan. Back then, there is no Padi’s Point yet. We call the place “Eagle’s Nest”. That place has old nipa huts and serving beer and cheap pulutan and the place has no electricity. Highschool pa lang ako tambay na kami dyan. I remember a suki there and we will always choose the highest nipa hut and if you want to order there is a string that you can pull and it will ring a bell down at the owner’s hut. We even have lunch there, we will buy bangus and pork at Antipolo market and have them grilled by the owner with a little extra charge. My family and friends enjoyed going there. Then one day all the nipa huts were gone and the next time we passed by Padi’s Point is already there.

    I’ve also had the same experience with the chicken. It was dry and halos wala ka nng makain sa pakpak. And the fries are terrible! After that, I never went to any Padi’s Point.

  5. peterb on Tue, 7th Aug 2007 7:57 am 

    I agree Connie, it’s really very different now. There was a time when the served really good BBQ. Did you ever try Eagle’s Nest before?

  6. soloops on Tue, 7th Aug 2007 8:45 am 

    Honest mistake, Ms. Connie.

    When J and I were still dating, I suggested that we go to Padi’s once. Good thing we were too engrossed in each other, otherwise, I would’ve ranted about their blah food.

    I notice that about drinkers too, they just don’t mind the quality of the pulutan, as long as there are ice-cold drinks.

  7. Jon Limjap on Tue, 7th Aug 2007 8:54 am 

    It’s all too common when a place gets popular (and franchised!) that it gets too… ugly.

    Sa rami kasi ng dumarating na customer they start compromising quality for the sake of filling orders. Nakakabwisit.

  8. lady cess on Tue, 7th Aug 2007 9:23 am 

    if im not mistaken, iba na ang may-ari ng padi’s.

    nakapunta na rin kami ng padi’s in antipolo and qc. i cant tell if the food was good back then bec like you all we ordered was beer. :)

  9. Connie on Tue, 7th Aug 2007 1:14 pm 

    It’s cheating, actually. Customers getting short-changed like that. There are other “inuman” along Sumulong. Gerry’s Grill is a franchised establishment too but the food and service are a hundred times better than the crap they give at Padi’s Point.

  10. thess on Tue, 7th Aug 2007 4:01 pm 

    Hi Connie! Naku salamat sa entry mo na ito. Hindi namin pupuntahan ang place na ito kung makakauwi kami.

    Hindi lang cheating eh. Importante family eat-out tapos ganito lang ise-serve sa inyo, most of the time the memory of what we’ve eaten lingers in our mind the whole day. Kahit ako hindi ko makakalimutan itsura ng chicken sisig na yan :(

  11. Jon Limjap on Tue, 7th Aug 2007 5:17 pm 

    Connie,

    Then that means someone up the franchise chain-of-command in Gerry’s Grill is actually enforcing serious QA.

    That’s what some franchise-owners tend to neglect (they see all the money pouring in they forget to check on their franchisers).

  12. shekinahjireh on Tue, 7th Aug 2007 6:21 pm 

    i’ve never been in any padi’s point. though, there were times that i’m tempted to go in because i thought they serve good food. it’s not an excuse to serve poorly prepared food because of the demand ( too many customers!)…

  13. Robert on Wed, 8th Aug 2007 12:18 am 

    I wish someone would post a picture of Sumulong Highway. The last time I was there was when I graduated from high school. Lord, that was back in 1991, sixteen years ago and yes the place was called Eagles Nest despite how many drinks I had that night I can clearly remember the spectacular view.

  14. Mar Pablo on Wed, 8th Aug 2007 4:16 am 

    Hi Connie,
    My mother-in-law is in the Manila right now, I read that you were able to get Tamales at Tiendesitas. Would you be able to give me the name of the store where you got it from cause my wife really like them and maybe my mother-in-law can bring home some for my wife.
    Thank a bunch for your help.
    Mar

  15. dhayL on Wed, 8th Aug 2007 8:55 am 

    I had my share of experience at Padi’s Point as well, although, i’m not a frequent customer, infact i think i’ve been there once or twice only! It was during highschool years, so about 12 or 13 yrs ago…me and the barkadas, would drive up to Padi’s Point for the beer and the view. We’re from Cainta so it was fairly close..I can’t argue the view-it was just amazing especially at night with all the stars and at that time the price of the beer wa reasonable.

    But as for your recent experience ms connie, it was really sad that they can’t come up with something good to satisfy their customers belly! I mean, drinker or not, good beer has to go with good “pulutan”, to enjoy the view even if you’re not drinking, it would also be appropriate to serve something that would be enjoyable eating it and the same time enjoying the view, so everybody will have a good time or experience.

  16. Connie on Wed, 8th Aug 2007 11:37 am 

    Robert, I have lots and lots. They’ll get posted someday. In one of my photo blogs, most probably. :)

    Mar, I don’t remember anymore. :sad: But the food section of Tiendesitas isn’t that big so it won’t be hard to find. It was an open stall, not an air-conditioned one.

  17. joey on Sat, 11th Aug 2007 5:14 am 

    ang padi’s point, simula ng lumabas yan, hindi pumasok sa utak ko na kainan talaga. simula’t simula, INUMAN yan. greenhills, antipolo, gimik places yan! meron pa nga sa may shaw blvd yan diba? mas bago yata.
    anyway, sagwa nung onion rings! onion rings na nga lang, palpak pa!
    yung manok wings, parang pangat ang luto…pangatlong beses na pinrito!

  18. Belle on Sun, 12th Aug 2007 7:43 am 

    You should have asked for a refund.. Very bad food doesn’t deserve to be paid!

  19. auee on Tue, 21st Aug 2007 12:05 am 

    The only Padi’s I’ve been to was the dark & dingy one in Greenbelt (wala na siguro ito), where I met my husband. Like you & Cess it was all drinks no food, so kahit paano I still have fond memories of the place.

    Sana binalik nyo at least yung onion rings man lang.

  20. Cheskee on Wed, 22nd Aug 2007 4:10 pm 

    I’m actually new here and was just browsing through the pages of your website but this article of yours definitely caught my attention since I practically visit the place each month (as my family does the devotee visit to Antipolo Church)

    Me and my family usually eats at Padi’s Point after church as it has good ambiance and friendly staff (probably the best in that line of restos in the area)and we have never experienced any bad food.The only turn-off would be the seasonal heat (as it doesn’t have airconditioning).

    Actually, my mom who now stays in Scotland still craves for the Padi’s barbecue.

    I agree with most who have posted here that your group should not have paid and maybe even complained/returned items w/ such bad food quality.

  21. ditH on Fri, 18th Jul 2008 4:37 pm 

    im just pLanning to celebrate my 18th birthday at padis marikina or antipolo with my friends this coming july 26 (my bday) but after reading those comments pra 2loy aqu ngdalawang isip na jan pa icelebrate ung bday qu..i tot da foods were gud and yummy pero nun naqta qu ung onion rings (onion rings nlng) not good pa..thanks for this site..:) nka2long sya..




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