When in Tagaytay, you need to try this hotel buffet experience that provides you with all the luxe you’d expect from a hotel, but that won’t cost you a fortune. Located along Tagaytay-Nasugbu Highway, right at the heart of Tagaytay, is Hotel Casiana—the home of Cusina Casiana.
Hotel Casiana is a 100-room hotel property managed by Enderun Colleges. One of the country’s best culinary arts and hospitality schools, it’s no wonder why Hotel Casiana and, subsequently, its in-house restaurant Cusina Casiana simply stand out among the myriad of hotels and restaurants along Tagaytay’s busiest strip.
Cusina Casiana offers the best of Filipino dishes—the classic favorites like tinola, lechon kawali, lumpia, and pancit canton. But if you’re feeling a little more adventurous, this is also the place to satisfy your palate. Cusina Casiana’s mastery of its craft shines the most in dishes put together with little twists, such as in dishes like the Lumpiang Longganisa, Salted Egg Caesar Salad, and the delectable Pork Adobo made with coconut cream and quail eggs.
And if you love sweets, let us tell you—Cusina Casiana’s dessert offerings will surprise, and in all the right ways. (More on this in a bit!)
The best part is, you don’t need to be checked in at Hotel Casiana to be able to experience the joys of dining at Cusina Casiana. Anyone looking for a nice place to dine is very much welcome to stop by.
Cusina Casiana Weekend Buffet
Here are some of our favorite dishes (and desserts!) from Cusina Casiana’s buffet:
Lechon Belly. What’s a buffet without a carving station? Just take a look at that lechon belly—crispy on the outside, juicy on the inside. Just this one dish already makes Cusina Casiana worth the visit!
Beef Kare-Kare. Cusina Casiana’s take on the classic kare-kare is a comforting treat. Although made with beef instead of the traditional oxtail, the beef was tender to the bite and is a great centerpiece to this old Pinoy favorite.
Chicken Inasal. Sometimes, all you need is a simple chicken dish, and this Chicken Inasal hits the spot. Tender, flavorful, and the perfect pairing with that cup of rice…or two.
Pancit Canton. This Pancit Canton tastes as good as it looks. The noodles taste wonderful, especially mixed with the vegetables. It’s also topped with lechon kawali, which offers an element of crunch to the dish. This pancit canton is delicious.
The desserts. Knowing that Cusina Casiana is run by Enderun, I knew that the desserts were going to be great. And as a sweet tooth, I was so happy to be proven right.
(L) Buko Pandan, (R) Tablea Mousse
The Buko Pandan might just be one of the best buko pandan we’ve had, while the Tablea Mousse is sure to be a delight for any chocolate lover. Both were amazing!
(L) Coconut Macaroon, (R) Taho
We were also kind of obsessed with the Taho (don’t ask us how many cups we had), which was served with the components layered ~esthetically~ in a jar. The soft tofu was at the bottom, followed by the simple syrup, then topped with tapioca. The soft tofu had a firmer texture than traditionally done, almost like a pana cotta. But don’t get us wrong—this taho is absolutely delicious. Definitely a must-try.
And then there’s the Coconut Macaroons, which knocks it out of the park. You can also get this from Hotel Casiana’s cafe, which you definitely should. It would be a great pasalubong! We know that coconut macaroons are pretty common, but trust us—you’ve never had Coconut Macaroons this good.
Image: Hotel Casiana
You can catch Cusina Casiana’s buffet on Fridays for dinner, Saturdays for lunch and dinner, and Sundays for lunch. Lunches are priced at P799+ per head, while dinners are priced at P899+ per head.
Birthday celebrants can also eat for free on their birth month, as long as they are accompanied by at least one paying adult. A great treat for celebrants!
Cusina Casiana Ala Carte Menu
Not in the mood for a buffet? Cusina Casiana also offers an ala carte menu, which features other Filipino favorites and more.
Here are our favorites:
Salted Egg Caesar Salad (P480). A great starter. This is Cusina Casiana’s Filipinized take on Caesar salad (they lovingly call it the “Cesar” salad), made with salted egg and smoked fish. The combination might sound odd, but it works and it’s delicious!
Rellenong Bangus (P580). Tender and moist, with a perfect balance of flavors. We enjoyed this very much.
Classic Beef Bulalo (P580). You can’t visit Tagaytay without having bulalo. Try Cusina Casiana’s version of the Tagaytay-favorite to warm the body on chilly Tagaytay evenings.
Pork Adobo (P580). Easily our favorite is Cusina Casiana’s version of adobo sa gata. This Pork Adobo dish features braised pork belly (so tender!), coconut cream, and wait for it…quail eggs. We can’t recommend it enough!
Lengua (P620). Love lengua? Then don’t skip out on Cusina Casiana’s take on the classic Spanish dish, made with creamy mushroom sauce, crispy pastry, and natural jus. A truly delectable dish.
(L) Delice, (R) Ube Cheesecake
Delice (P320). The pièce de résistance in Cusina Casiana’s dessert selection, the Delice is not to be missed. It might look like just another chocolate treat to you, but wait till you take a bite of that dark chocolate mousse, hazelnut dacquoise, and crispy pastry on top. It’s a delicately made dessert, and it’s exquisite.
Ube Cheesecake (P300). We couldn’t get enough of the Ube Cheesecake—another wonderful treat from Cusina Casiana. With a perfect amount of sweetness, I must admit we couldn’t get enough of this.
Cusina Casiana surprises with its delectable food offerings and mouthwatering desserts. Whether you choose to binge out at Cusina Casiana’s weekend buffet or opt for the ala carte menu, there’s no shortage of delicious dishes to satisfy the palate here.
They want you to feel at home at Hotel Casiana, a mission that reflects in the delicious and comforting Filipino dishes at Cusina Casiana.
Cusina Casiana by Hotel Casiana
Tagaytay-Nasugbu Highway, Tagaytay City
Website: https://hotelcasiana.com/dining/
Instagram: @hotelcasiana
Facebook: Hotel Casiana
Contact: +63 916 501 6060 | +63 968 412 1333 | +6346 423 7473
Email: reservations@hotelcasiana.com
