If you live or work in Makati, you know where the good eats are? It’s in the stretch of Jupiter Street.

Troy and I usually eat at Asian restaurants and burger joints, but I got intrigued by this garden-inspired place. We were supposed to have our friend Michelle’s bridal shower here but decided on a different venue later on because we changed the theme. If you’re looking for a fresh and vibrant place to eat, you’ll definitely love this restaurant!

Here’s our honest review of our dining experience:

• Location and Ambience: 5/5

Happy Garden Cafe is located at Sunshine Place, 56 Jupiter Street, Bel-Air, Makati City, Metro Manila, Philippines. The restaurant is open from 11:00 AM to 10:00 PM.

The facade of the establishment is appealing, decorated with hanging plants for that organic-garden vibe. The parking slot is small though and may probably be full during peak hours (can fit 2 to 3 cars, I think).

I was struck with awe upon entering. The interior was so pretty and I fell in love with it at first sight! The brown and green motif was definitely cool and pleasing to the eyes. I think this place screams of exclusivity even on peak hours. The lighting, table arrangements and decors were all perfect in my eyes!

It also sells some sweets and stuff near the entrance. Oh well, the restaurant is under the Bizu Group so I believe that the stuff they sell are good too!

• Service: 5/5

The waiters were friendly and accommodating. We were given the menu and a glass of water immediately after seating.  She was also quick on giving recommendations and answered our questions about their menu. She was attentive to our needs and quickly addressed our concerns throughout the night.

While waiting for the food, I had to force Troy to take my pictures around the restaurant, haha! We went there on a Tuesday night, around 8 PM, and there were around 5-8 guests only so it felt that we owned the place and definitely enjoyed that relaxing and quiet moment inside the restaurant.

• Food: 5/5 (Serving: 5/5; Taste: 5/5; Price/Value for Money: 5/5)

(Green Juice: Kale, Green Apple, Lemon, Celery
Ginger, Stevia, Fiber — P195.00)

(Thriving Soup: Pumpkin Soup with Cocoa Cream and
Blue Cheese Croutons — P125.00)

(Mucho: Pompano Fillet with Shitake Caper Sauce and Rice Pilaf — P475.00;
Upgrade to Cauliflower Rice — +P60.00)

We loved their menu! It promotes positive energy and a lot of encouragement through its wide selection of food and how they named each of their food. They have offerings for mains, salads, pasta, sandwiches, soups, pizzas and breakfast starters. Of course, they have a lot of desserts too! For example, their mains are called “I Choose To Be…” then you select from a lot of choices such as whole (tender ox tongue in creamy sauce, velvety potato mash and baked with a puff), or humble (cauliflower rice topped with carrots, cucumber, spinach, teriyaki mushroom, bean sprouts, kimchi and Korean beef stew).

For the fresh juice blends, I got the Green Juice (P195 – kale, green apple, lemon, celery, ginger, stevia, and fiber) while Troy had a Red Juice (P105 – beets, turnips, carrots, ginger, stevia, and fiber).

I had the “mucho” — pompano fillet with shitake caper sauce and rice pilaf (P475) while Troy had a “fabulous” — smoked beef brisket with kahlia barbeque sauce, mashed potatoes and steamed vegetables (P565).

And of course, for the dessert, we tried the french macarons and absolutely loved it!

Here’s a photo of their menu. Pretty amazing right?

•  Over-all verdict: (5/5)

We’re extremely happy with the food and service! Their food is a little bit more expensive compared to other restaurants, but keep in mind that they’re serving organic ingredients to make it healthier and more natural.

We’re planning to eat here again if time permits. And hey! They also do private functions. See the restaurant information below if you want to contact them.

Restaurant Information:

Address: Sunshine Place, 56 Jupiter Street, Bel-Air, Makati City, Metro Manila, PH
Contact Number: (02) 824 5440
Operating Hours: Daily, 11:00 AM to 10:00 PM
Facebook page: facebook.com/HappyGardenCafe
Instagram account: instagram.com/HappyGardenCafe