Theres something brewing in Tagaytay

When Richard Merk and his wife, bank executive Roni Tapia, ventured into a restaurant business with Merk’s Bar and Bistro nearly six years ago, they probably didn’t envision a business expansion that will take them to one of the favorite destinations of Filipinos — Tagaytay.

Merk’s Bar and Bistro in Makati City has turned out to be a successful investment of the couple. One of the original establishments that opened in the Greenbelt 3 area, it remains a popular venue for food and entertainment in that cluster where mortality rate for restaurants is rather high.

Recently, Merk’s Bar and Bistro opened its first out-of-town branch in Tagaytay, with the Merk’s Café at the 8 Suites in The Ridge, overlooking the scenic Taal Lake. The Tagaytay property is owned by Roni’s family and the lot was bought by 8 Suites, managed by the father and son tandem of Jimmy and David Gomez. The family owns the 16-room tourist vacation house in Boracay called Fat Jimmy’s (obviously named after its patriarch), which has been operational for more than five years now.

“8 Suites is the latest addition to the bed and breakfast concept that Tagaytay is famous for,” grants Roni. “A lot of people go to Tagaytay for vacation and they always look for an ideal place to stay.”

The Gomez family approached Richard and Roni to manage the restaurant of the hotel. Realizing that a branch in Tagaytay will be a good venture for Merk’s, the couple relented. “We moved some of our staff from Makati to Tagaytay and rented a place for them to stay,” Richard offers. “We built the kitchen and worked on the menu.”

A new destination for local and foreign tourist, Merk’s Café at 8 Suites is nestled at Barangay Iruhin Central. The restaurant does not only offer a feast for the palate, but also a serene and relaxing view of nature. It serves breakfast delights, as well as lunch and dinner favorites.

Richard himself worked hands-on for the menu, bringing the excellent Filipino country cuisine courtesy of LJC’s Bistro Remedios, to a different level. “We offer a different breakfast, lunch, dinner and merienda menu,” he discloses. “We want to give guests a variety on the food. We included some of the bestsellers at Merk’s and we are introducing several new specialties.”

Guests can savor reasonably priced breakfast meals with local flavor such as crispy tawilis and sinaing na tulingan, while enjoying the breathtaking view of Taal Lake. Among the house specialties are pochero ng Cebu (bulalo), crispy tadyang, kare-kare, picnic adobo (wrapped in banana leaves), gising-gising, tuna panga, embotido, sisig, lumpiang bangus, adobong kambing and sinigang na bangus belly.

Hot from the pan are triple layered pancakes with crispy bacon and various omelette which are offered as breakfast treats, with pan de sal combo, tocino, tapa, longganisa, Spanish sardines, freshly-baked bread, cheese, kapeng barako and Batangas tsokolate. Rohini’s healthy lacto-vegetarian meals are also part of the menu. Lunch and dinner include appetizers, soups and salads, pasta and desserts.

Fortunately, with the successful brand that Merk’s has become, a branch in Tagaytay will not be hard to push. “We are out to bring the Merk’s experience to Tagaytay, from the food to the service to the entertainment,” Richard says. “We make it a point to visit the restaurant every weekend to personally oversee the operations.”

The suites, meanwhile, come with a balcony overlooking the Taal Lake and Volcano. Guests can eat their meals in the veranda while enjoying the breathtaking view and cool weather. Room service is from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., same hours as the restaurant. “Aside from the good food, the big come-on is the ambiance, weather, comfort and serenity of nature,” Roni points out.

The restaurant seats 60 people and will also accommodate functions such as weddings, birthdays, reunions, conventions and seminars. “We can cater for as much as 150 to 200 people for events,” Roni says. “The place has a garden which is ideal for wedding receptions and parties. Merk’s Café is flexible to meet client’s needs and requirement. We want to go beyond the bed and breakfast concept.”

Merk’s Café, however, is not only exclusive to the hotel guests. Richard informs it is also open to the public who considers Tagaytay a great stop-over and vacation place. “The public can try everything that Merk’s Café has to offer,” Richard says. “Occasionally on weekends, we will even give added treat to guests by bringing entertainment to Tagaytay, since Merk’s is known for that.”

Visit Merk’s Café at 8 Suites at Barangay Iruhin Central, after Crosswinds. For details, call 0929-2697083.