I had dined twice in Northern Highlands Resort, but it was my first time going there with its new name. When one of my friends suggested having our lunch there after our Tinago Falls escapade, I immediately got curious since he mentioned it has an overlooking view. And just a few meters away from the restaurant's gate, I recognized it right away. It was Levan Hilltop.
We went there the day after the wedding of our friends. Our goal at that time is to tour around the ADI colleagues of Antoni and the groom, as well. We were ten in the group, and the groom rented a van for our transportation.
Northern Highland Resort is located in Mimbalot, Buru-un, Iligan City. From the city proper, without checkpoints or traffic, it will take 30 minutes to arrive at the resort. The resort is situated uphill, giving a great view of the ocean and also the neighboring municipalities - Linamon and Kauswagan. But since we went first to Tinago Falls, we only traveled for less than 10 minutes.
The place is vast - with enough space for the car park and pool area. There were no guests when we had our visit. Some parts of the resort were under construction at that time, and the path a few meters from the gate was still muddy. Judging from the framework, it looks like a greenhouse.
Anyway, we weren't even sure if their restaurant was open since the gate was not fully open. No guard on the post so one of our friends decided to open the gate fully to pave the way for the van. It was noon, and everyone was hungry from the swimming and trekking we did in Tinago Falls. Albeit the unwelcoming gate, they accept walk-ins.
They are more into bookings and catering for different kinds of events. If my memory serves me well, my first time going there was during a garden wedding of one of my Mom's friends, and the reception was held inside.
The restaurant offers al fresco dining. There is no need for aircon since it is already windy.
The dining area is spacious, which I think can accommodate more than a hundred guests. They also have another setup of outdoor dining just a few meters away in front of the restaurant entrance. Dining outside has a relaxing view of the trees, fountain, and pool, which, unfortunately, wasn't functioning at that time. There are also bulbs everywhere, making it more romantic and relaxing to dine at night.
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Cottages are also available and located downhill. It can be accessed on the right side of the resort. They also have a function hall for exclusive events like meetings and such. And the comfort room has generous space for queuing if there is any. It was noontime and pretty hot, which is why I didn't roam around the area.
When we entered, there were wedding decorations on the left side of the restaurant and unfinished balloon decorations on the right side. We placed ourselves at a table with a great view of the ocean. Aside from that, on the left side is a Koi pond.
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More tables are available downstairs. Tables not in the area where the events take place had already been set with paper placemats, plates, sporks, and goblets. The table setting was simple. The chairs look like they are made to be event-ready, most specifically for weddings. It was simple but chic to look at.
The view was grandeur. I love being near the sea but having a wide-angle ocean view is something else. I find tranquility just by looking at the ocean. The sunset is even breathtaking there. I was able to witness it during the garden wedding that happened years ago. At night, the resort shines and is very captivating to look at. Since it is on top of the hill, I can see it whenever I pass by at night - my home is a 5-minute drive from Buru-un (based on my father's driving).
Northern Highlands Restaurant offers a wide variety of course meals, from solo to share. For the main course, they serve chicken, beef, goat, and seafood. There are no pork viands available. I am not sure if the resort is owned by a Maranao (a Muslim from Lanao), but if not, then surely this resort will be visited by them.
It took an hour for our food to be served. We ordered three platters of rice, a bouillabaisse, and two sets of three viands: a beefsteak, sizzling mixed seafood, and their signature fried chicken. Each serving is good for 3-4 persons.
The food was great. The fried chicken, one of their best sellers, comes with vegetables and a creamy sauce on it. It was tasty, but I prefer it to be served separately - a crunchy chicken then a saucy vegetable viand, like chop suey. The bouillabaisse was the first to get emptied. It was rich, thick, and creamy. Too bad we ordered only one because it was not enough for ten people. With that, I decided to have soup only and then had the sizzling mixed seafood instead. I like filling my rice on my plate with sauce or soup. The sauce from the seafood was delectable. The squid was chewy and easy to eat. Lastly, the beef steak was soft and tender. It's not I don't like it, but I've been on a beef streak since I've been living in Cavite, so I find it less enticing. It's the seafood for me.
I did my best to take pictures of the food. If I was with Antoni and our classmates only, I would've told them to hold their horses and wait for me until I finish taking pictures. But five of them are not my classmates, so I just took photos while they started eating.
I also forgot to take pictures of the menu and the prices even though it was just three months ago. But I remembered we paid around 390 PHP each, with no drinks. We only availed the free water. The total bill for our lunch was almost 4,000 PHP for ten people. For me, it is pretty affordable if you dine in a group, just like us. But for a single or couple, I'd say it is expensive. Though it will still vary depending on the food ordered, especially by a group.
Overall, we all had a delectable lunch with a great view of the ocean. Though I find it a bit expensive, I still want to go back there with my family. I would love to go there before sunset and stay until nighttime. It's refreshingly windy at noontime, and I'd love to experience a cold breeze at night and the warm bulb lights that surround the whole restaurant.
Without a private vehicle, going down from the resort at nighttime is a challenge since the mode of transportation from the national highway to Mimbalut is mostly by motorcycle. Aside from having a pricey fare, you have to wait for several minutes. Mimbalut liner jeepneys are rare and will not be more than five of them, so it's really the motorcycle.
I highly recommend this place if you want to dine with an overlooking ocean view, some fresh air, and delectable food on the table!
All pictures are taken by me! No pictures of us are posted since others don't like their pictures to be posted.
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