RSM Lutong Bahay: A Culinary Legend of Tagaytay

If you’re hankering for good food paired with a scenic restaurant view, then Tagaytay is the place to be. I’ve been here several times for an easy escape, and over time, I’ve developed a personal list of the best restaurants I love going back to. RSM Lutong Bahay definitely is one of them.

RSM specializes in Filipino food, and is among the lane of restaurants in Aguinaldo highway that has an access to the breathtaking view of Taal Lake. I chose this venue to celebrate my mom’s birthday to let my family experience the sumptuous native food and enjoy the grandeur overlooking of Tagaytay.

RSM is good for group dining, although it is also ideal for a romantic date. The servings are hefty and expect the prices to be a bit steeper than your usual budget. I remember complaining about the bill when it is only shared between two, when there are still left-overs you do not want to dispatch because of its expensiveness. Now that I brought my family with me, I need not worry of wasting anything!

Aside from the astounding beauty of the lake, RSM brings your dining experience to a totally different level through its native yet elegant interiors. It has an impressive line of wooden furniture, capiz chandeliers and quaint lamps to complement that authentic Filipino dining experience. The space is expansive that you can choose dining indoors, in the bahay kubo, or outdoors where you can view Taal lake. Since the weather was getting bad at that time, we opted to settle indoors to avoid the hassle of transferring from one spot to another.

A famous delicacy of Tagaytay, Bulalo is unquestionably a must-try in RSM, and of the most pricy dishes too. I’ve tasted several versions of Bulalo in Tagaytay, but I don’t absolutely consider this as something exceptional. However, it has the elements that I want in my Bulalo: savory broth, fork-tender beef, crisp vegetables and warm temperature.

And with my unfeigned love for shrimps, I made it sure to order Sinigang na Sugpo. This version has a thicker tamarind soup base with a generous amount of vegetables. It has the right level of acidity for a delicious Sinigang. However, I wish it was placed in a larger bowl to have more soup servings or in a palayok to retain the warm temperature of the dish. The size of the shrimp was not as big as I expected.

Another seafood dish I love in RSM is the Pinaputok na Tilapia. It’s a steamed large-size tilapia, with a special sauce and filled with cheese, peppers, chili and onions. I love the combination of cheese and vegetable fillers, making this seafood specialty an extraordinary one.

Growing up in a family who has a special recipe of Kare-Kare, I quite have a high standard for this dish. I have a certain preference for the distinct taste and thickness of the sauce and I always consider the family’s recipe as the benchmark. RSM’s Beef Kare-Kare was not too difficult to adore. The sauce was not too sweet nor salty, and the bagoong alamang (shrimp paste) was also good. The beef needs to be tenderized more, though.

RSM does not serve plain rice in a platter so we ordered Yang Chow Fried Rice when we finished the first batch of white rice.

The Yang Chow Fried Rice goes well with the Fried Chicken. My family liked this version well. It was tasty and crispy.

Getting serenaded by a band is already a fad in Filipino restaurants like RSM. Contrary to the others, I am not impressed with this fashion. It’s like getting forced to shell out cash and getting exposed to the public spotlight even if you did not request any of their service. Showing sheer courtesy to pay for the favor from others is a typical Filipino way of life. It’s a good thing the band was not available at that time. I love watching public performances, but not serenades.

I am so glad my mom liked her birthday celebration at RSM. The incredible food, courteous service and nice view are worth all the expenses. As a developed and prominent tourist site, Tagaytay has uncontrolled number of dining places sprouting everywhere like mushrooms. But my heart will always go back to RSM – for its unparalleled scenic ambiance and classic Filipino favorites I love profoundly.

RSM Lutong Bahay
Aguinaldo Highway, Tagaytay City, Tagaytay City
Phone Numbers: 046 4831866 /046 8602297
Facebook: RSM Lutong-Bahay Restaurant Tagaytay

Opening Hours: Monday to Friday – 7 AM to 11 PM, Sat to Sun- 6 AM to 11 PM