Carlitos Restaurant and T'GrillHaus: Jaro district's newest gastronomic hotspots

It was during the Feast of Our Lady of the Candles (popularly referred to as Jaro fiesta) that I got to visit this newly opened twin restaurant in the heritage district of Jaro. Carlito's and T'GrillHaus share the same structure beside an Iloilo icon, Biscocho Haus.

These restos made use of the remains of an old mansion in the area by utilizing some of the former mansion's structures like the columns, floors and ceiling (backbones). It's no wonder why one feels a sense of nostalgia despite getting inside a modern structure.

Carlito's occupies the air conditioned area while T'Grillhaus the al fresco, landscaped area (I think). It's like an oasis has sprouted in the hustle and bustle of Jaro distric, just hiodden fro plain sight by the main building.

It was surprisingly good choice of location for our meet during that day. After the "chaos" at the Jaro Cathedral and the plaza for the afternoon procession of the Lady of the Candles, it was a welcome break for us to be in a solitary place.

As both my friends just came fro the fiesta, we didn't order that much - just a bowl of pancit molo and Carlito's Overload pizza.

They quite have a good variety in their menu from the usual ala carte items with pork, beef and chicken to sizzling, grilled and combo meals. Price range is almost the same as those restaurants in Smallville.

The pancit Molo is an import from the nearby Biscocho Haus and as expected I didn't quite liked it. Though it wasn't as buttery as the one I had before, yet it still lacked the taste I wanted.

But their pizza was a different story - it was very good! With all the toppings the resto has to offer - yup it's an overload! The crust is also different from most pizzeria for they are thin and hard. Looks like it was twiced cooked - first as a crust itself then with toppings as a pizza. It reminds me of how "biscocho" came to be - twiced baked bread.

We also had these fiesta fares - food taken from the fiesta that were as good to be served i nthe restaurant itself. We did get permission have them at the resto by the way. First is this delicious and authentic chicken binakol cooked inside bamboo tubes. One can really taste the essence of the bamboo in the broth.

And this mixed estofado - chicken and ox tongue, I think. Just like the estofado taste I love - sweet and flavourful.

As we called it a day, it was only then that I noticed this stained glass chandelier serving as the centerpiece of the restaurant inside. The blurry photo I got is a sign that I really have to go back to this restaurant not only to get a better photo of it but to enjoy more of the these restaurants have to offer.

Carlitos Restaurant and TGrillhaus
Lopez Jaena Street, Jaro, Iloilo City
(033) 3290862 | 3290864 | 5085909

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FLAVOURS OF ILOILO

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