Text and Photo by: Camille Tanjutco

I’m sure many can relate when I say that Tagaytay has been our go-to place ever since the pandemic started last year. We all need that refresher-a time away from work, but we don’t always have that luxury to travel too far because we only have two days off every week. That’s why I usually find myself going there a few times every month because it is very accessible for someone like me who lives in the South.

I usually crave fresh air, cold weather, and, most importantly, really good food. Baguio is too far, and Tagaytay can offer most of what I need. I’ve tried a lot of restaurants there already because of the online recommendations from Booky, TripAdvisor, Zomato, and other sites. It was a good experience, and most of the time, we loved the food too. It’s just a little repetitive when you’re trying to find new places to dine. When you’re traveling to Tagaytay at night, you’ll have to take a different route because some of the roads are closed, and that’s when I first saw Reynaldo’s. It’s new to me, and I just know that we have to try what they offer. And I’m glad we finally did! 

I want to start with their interior because it’s amazing! It’s comfortable and Instagram-worthy. If you have that Plantita/Plantito phase because of the pandemic, you’ll love it there because it’s incorporated very well. It complements the whole ambiance. Parking has been one of our biggest issues when we visit Tagaytay, and I love that it’s not a problem there. They have a spacious parking lot and are ready to cater to large groups of guests during the weekends. Their service is also very exceptional! The staff was super nice and professional.

We based our menu on their best sellers and some of the recommendations on their Facebook page. We started our meal with their house-smoked wagyu salad and Smokehouse Signature Nachos. 

We also had their House Blend Iced Tea and Calamansi Basil for our drinks. We will order both again, but their Calamansi Basil should be part of your order because it was so refreshing! It’s not your usual Calamansi Juice, and the taste is honestly new to me, but I enjoyed it so much that I still think about it sometimes. I never thought that calamansi and basil tasted so good together.

Our appetizers were amazing, so we know we have to try a lot for our main course too. We had their signature smoked pepper rub brisket. It was cooked for over 12 hours and it melts in your mouth. When we tried to cook brisket at home, it was a failure, and it ended up being so dry. But, their brisket was so juicy, tender, and flavorful! When we tried it the first time, we looked at each other and said, “Try this! This is good. ” Everyone was just digging in and agreeing with how good it was.

For their entree, you have a choice between their soup selection, mashed potatoes, or rice pilaf. Their mashed potatoes were fluffy and light. I paired it with their Southern Fried Chicken Ala King. The southern fried chicken was a little on the salty side, maybe because of the torched mozzarella cheese on top, but it compliments the mashed potatoes or even the rice so well.

One of the recommendations I saw online was for their Wagyu Pares with Roasted Bone Marrow. I was hesitant at first because I don’t appreciate bone marrow, but I love Wagyu. I’m glad we tried it because the bone marrow was so much better than what I’ve tasted in other restaurants. The Wagyu is amazing when eaten alone, but it’s as good when cooked as Pares. It still melts in your mouth and is so good when you add a little bit of the thick Pares sauce. 

We also had their BBQ Baby Back Ribs and Bangus Sofrito. The Baby Back Ribs were a hit as well! We had a lot of meat, and we thought we wouldn’t enjoy it anymore, but we still did. Everything was seasoned perfectly and was so tender. Their bangus sofrito was crispy and boneless too, so it’s easier to enjoy. Everything is worth it! The whole time I was eating, I was just thinking that they deserved to be jumped packed every day. They received far less recognition than they deserved.

The night was capped off with their apple crumble cheesecake. It was the only time that I wished I could eat more because it tasted so good. It had the right amount of sweetness and it was so creamy. It didn’t taste like a commercialized cheesecake, more like homebaked. You know, when you have an aunt who’s good at baking? Their cheesecake tastes like that too. It was definitely a good choice when you’re ending a good meal. 

The next time you visit Tagaytay, you should try Reynaldo’s Smoke House! Just writing about our whole experience made me crave it again. Our whole experience was so good that I ended up sharing it with our friends online while we were still there. They offer value for money without compromising on taste and quality. It won’t disappoint, and you’ll go home feeling happy and satisfied.

Reynaldo’s Smoke House

Aguinaldo Highway, Kaybagal South, Tagaytay, Cavite

(046) 413 2748

https://www.reynaldossmokehouse.com/

Facebook page @reynaldos.smokehouse