A spontaneous getaway at Sarten Cafe

Ever wonder what you get when a leprechaun with Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and symptoms of mild amnesia decides to put up a cafe? Head up to Sarten Cafe in lower Antipolo to find out. The cozy two-table cafe makes you feel serene, and it isn't just the greenery surrounding it. Sarten Cafe was created in a space that used to be a chapel. Odd, but not that odd, considering the menu. Sarten Cafe has a curious list of antipasti dishes, from Tomato Germinating Dilis Sprouts (150 pesos) to Assorted Super Saiyan Dragon Balls (140 pesos). They have Burnt Butter Cauliflower and Plumpy Bumpy Pumpkin Soup for the not-so-hungry, both for 90 pesos.

The soup, like the rest of their dishes, is served in a gigantic dish which is at first intimidating, but once the flavor hits your lips, you'll find yourself wishing for a bottomless bowl. We took the thirty-minute trip to the cafe, and the Plumpy Bumpy Pumpkin Soup that had more than a hint of curry was already worth the minor traffic jam on Marcos Highway. We considered their Greenery section, but we weren't quite in the mood for either their Magandang Umaga Benedict Salad (190 pesos) or their Magandang Gabi Bryant Salad (170 pesos). What we were in the mood for was their Kesong Puti Pandesal (120 pesos). The white cheese melted perfectly with the pesto on the perfectly toasted bread, and the tomato slice was fresh and juicy. It was so good that it disappeared before I could consume it, and the guilty culprit had to order another one. We also tried their Pandesal Pares Combo (240 pesos) - two very meaty sandwiches. One was sweet asado on a bed of crisp lettuce, and the other was spicy beef with a generous helping of arugula. The freshly-made potato chips on the side nearly stole the show. The Pesto Pasta (160 pesos) wasn't particularly special, but the Longganisa Puttanesca (160 pesos) was surprisingly as pleasant as it was interesting. We learned the cafe had just very recently opened, and maybe that explained the lack of a drinks list. The very polite server informed us the only drink they had, aside from local beer, was dalandan juice. Something was not quite right with the airconditioning, so we got a pitcher of dalandan juice. At that point, we would drink anything to replenish the fluids we were rapidly losing through perspiration. By the time dessert came, we were ready to brave the mosquitoes outside for some fresh air, so we brought our Bananabread ala mode (90 pesos) out with us to the outdoor table. Some koi fish were swimming happily in a pond, we could actually see stars, and we were too full to move. Sarten Cafe is perfect for those spontaneous getaways, away from the city but not too far for a few hours of quiet relaxation. It's also not bad for alone time. Inside, a modest shelf is well-stocked with well-chosen books and games. Most days they play nice unobtrusive music, but when we went there it was perfectly quiet, which we didn't mind either. We realized it was almost ten in the evening and we were the only customers, but it still took us a while to drag our satisfied selves off the garden chairs. I considered getting some SugarRushLab cupcakes to bring home, but I figured no one would have any space to eat them anyway. I guess that means we'll be going back pretty soon. - GMANews.TV Sarten Cafe is at #21 Don Juan St. Villa Cecilia Subd. Sumulong highway Antipolo City, open Tuesday-Sunday from 2pm-10pm. Tel nos. 02 5770168 / 02 6813708