Sonsing Resto Lounge - Iba

Excellent food and quality service! I highly recommend this place. The staff is really friendly and approachable.

Update (December 29, 2021): I still absolutely love the Pinangat na Labong and the Sonsing Fried Rice. However, I was disappointed by the absence of COVID safety policies and reminders, as well as the poor ventilation in the restaurant. The group at the table across from us was quite loud and seemed insensitive to the other guests. It might be a good idea for the restaurant to put up reminders about maintaining social distance and keeping conversations to a minimum, among other safety measures. On the positive side, they serve the best Pinangat na Labong! The establishment is clean and has spacious parking. You can't miss it if you're passing through Govic Highway.

The restaurant is conveniently situated along the main national road, making it very easy to reach. The food is quite good. However, despite having made a reservation in advance to inform them we were coming as a large group, we found that there was only one person serving us, despite there being around 60 diners. It took nearly 3 hours for everyone in our group to be served, and we ended up finishing lunch at 4 PM.

However, we did experience a long wait for the main course even after finishing the soup. When the food finally arrived, we eagerly dug into the Zambalyete, and it was fantastic! Although I'm usually not a fan of fish, this dish was delightful. The tuna was perfectly diced and cooked, with no fishy taste at all. The Miki Bihon was well-prepared, seasoned just right, and the fried chicken, though smaller in portion, was cooked perfectly—crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside. It paired wonderfully with a mix of banana ketchup and soy sauce, and the garlic rice complemented our main dishes beautifully. Overall, we left feeling full and satisfied. They also offer brewed coffee, which we ordered after our meal. The coffee was enjoyable—not too hot—but you can request it extra hot if that's your preference. Our total bill was just over Php 2000, and they accept GCash and BPI transfers, but do not take card payments, whether swiping or tap-to-pay. I found it a bit on the pricey side, but it didn't diminish our overall enjoyment of the food and experience. It's also important to note that all the staff were friendly and very accommodating throughout our visit, from taking our orders to serving our food and managing the billing. The restrooms were clean and equipped with bidets. This restaurant is definitely a great choice for travelers and families looking for good food without concerns about parking or accessibility. I will surely add it to my maps for future visits to Zambales.

The staff is warm and welcoming, the desserts are amazing, and the Americano is brewed to perfection.