Review: Orven’s Cafe

Orven’s Cafe

Purok 6 No. 182 Sta. Rita Karsada, Batangas City
Contact number: 0942 563 2818
>> Facebook page <<

I have posted about some popular coffee shops here in Batangas before. My list is but the tip of the iceberg, as new ones pop up more and more frequently all over the province. I am all for trying these new places, and I do every now and then. So it’s a bit rare for me to keep coming back to any one particular place unless (1) I really do like the food, (2) the price is reasonable and (3) there’s parking space (fast-food chains don’t count as my daughter defaults to those whenever I ask her where to eat). I have been to Orven’s Cafe several times (for both dine-in and takeout orders), so that right there should tell you something.

I came across this cafe while in my usual haunt for new places to dine in. What I usually do when bored is look for FB pages of new coffee shops or restaurants within the vicinity. Orven’s Cafe was still pretty new when I saw their page. I looked at the photos of their food offerings, saw that they have pasta, and decided to try.

And the rest, as they say, is history. 🙂

Location & Ambiance

Orven’s Cafe is located along the highway at Sta. Rita, near the boundary to San Pascual. There’s space in front where you could park; it could accommodate 2 cars, or maybe 3 if all are parked properly. The place itself is a converted part of the owners’ home and therefore looks chic and a bit posh. At first glance, it looks like an expensive place to eat, which is why it’s pretty underrated at the moment. In fact, the owner told me there was even a customer (from within the vicinity) who took off his/her slippers before entering the place!

When you first enter the premises, you’ll be treated to a view of the kitchen from the big glass window. It’s reassuring to see that the place where they prepare your food is clean and well-lit. The dining area is cozy, with wooden tables and chairs, and a large flat screen TV dominating one wall. As far as I know, you can request to sing videoke there.

Menu

See, the place’s expensive-looking exterior belies its affordable and yummy food offerings. Compared to other similar establishments, their’s are priced pretty competitively. They will also be offering new items for the menu soon, like pancit canton, palabok and rice meals. I will just update this if they’re available during my next visit.

Aside from the in-house menu, they also sell an assortment of freshly-baked bread and pastries. I’ve tried some of them and they’re pretty good. Sosyalen ang datingan pero presyong panaderya, san ka pa?

(photo from their FB page)

Food I have tried so far

Potato Wedges with Cheese Dip

My daughter’s favorite. And no wonder, this is by far the best potato wedges we’ve tried here in the province! Soft, almost mash-like inside, and flavorful, crunchy outside. Plus, the cheese dip is yummy as well–definitely not ordinary Cheez Wiz here!

Carbonara

Fresh pasta, anyone? Yup, you heard that right. They make their own pasta! See the difference in how white and almost translucent their pasta looks? Definitely a step up from commercially bought ones. The sauce has a little extra flavor which I couldn’t quite place, but which makes this dish stand out from the rest. This carbonara is one of my comfort food, and my daughter likes this as well. The garlic bread are pretty good too, with just enough garlic flavor and a nice crunch.

Lasagna (photo from their FB page)

Like the carbonara, this lasagna was made fresh as well. The sauce in between layers is meaty, and as you can see, they didn’t skimp out on the bechamel(?) sauce on top either. I really like this too, I just happen to be partial to carbonara by default.

Cheesy Burger

Though you may not see it because of the lettuce, the patty underneath is pretty thick and mabigat sa tyan. This is Mama’s order and she commented that there was a bit too much ketchup for her liking. Otherwise, it was pretty good. This can be a bit hard to handle and eat like you would eat burgers usually since it’s pretty juicy and you’ll likely make a mess. You may ask them for a plate and utensils if don’t wanna get your hand all sticky.

Mushroom Burger

This is supposed to have onions, but me being me, I opted to forego them. What I was left with was this juicy burger oozing with cheese and mushrooms. Like the Cheesy Burger, this was pretty messy to eat as well but totally worth the sticky fingers after. Oh, and did I say they make their own buns and patties for their burgers? Damn nice.

Cheesy Hungarian Sausage Sandwich (photo from their FB page)

When I ordered this, it was for takeout so I had no decent picture. Also, by my request, there were no pickles, lettuce and mayo. I guess I shouldn’t have skipped the mayo because without it, this sandwich tasted a bit salty. I scarfed it down just the same, and it was pretty filling.

Beverages I have ordered

Chocolate Chip Frappe

Lotsa chocolate chips there. Nice, right? This tastes all nice and chocolatey. However, it is a bit too blended and liquid-y for my taste. It’s a matter of preference though, since I like my frappes and shakes nice and thick (like DQ’s ice-cream based Frappes).

Strawberry Frappe

This does taste like strawberry, but is a tiny bit too sweet for my taste. I would have preferred a bit more creaminess, but that’s just my preference; we all have different tastes after all.

To sum it up…

In terms of food quality vs. price, you really do get your money’s worth of good food here. I would definitely recommend Orven’s Cafe as a bang-for-your-buck place to get your fill of pasta, burgers and frappes!

Disclaimer:

This is a sponsored post. However, the feedback and opinions are all mine and in no way influenced by the sponsor.