Tartufo, The Grove

It's week 2 of the quarantine period imposed to control the spread of the COVID-19 virus. I am basically an introvert so it has little effect on me outside of the typical worry for supplies for our family. Anyhow...the wife and I are already missing dining out (we usually eat out at least once a week - usually our Fridate or date on a Friday). We already have a list of restaurants we want to go back to when this quarantine is over. However, we also realize that things will never be again "normal". Here is one restaurant we would like to eat at again. Hopefully, they will re-open and not hard hit by the quarantine.

We were coming from an event where our daughter tagged along. We were all hungry and decided to have an early dinner before getting a few groceries. Since we were already traveling along C5, we decided to make a stopover at The Grove near the intersection with Ortigas Ave. We used to go there a lot because that's were our daughter went for Kindermusik. One of the previous restaurants there already closed and was replaced by this Italian restaurant - Tartufo.

Restaurant interior

Interesting lighting

There are tables for two (for singles or those on date perhaps?)

The complementary appetizers

A blurred shot of my fresh dalandan juice

They prepare the pastas on a cheese wheel. Our daughter was amused as she watched the staff prepare our carbonara.

Cheezy mushroom ravioli

Creamy Carbonara

We ordered pizza because to have a taste of their take on this Italian classic. We also usually take home what we could not finish. The pizza came with chili flakes, pepper and salt, which we found interesting.

Pizza up close

The food was definitely good and the service was, too. While quality-wise we thought that this is a good restaurant, the quantity - price ratio (if you can call it that) was a bit on the expensive side. We hope to be back and be able to eat there again. But we really do hope they will still be operational after the quarantine period is lifted.

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