It all started with a conversation with a dear friend. She had discovered this really good vegetarian resto located inside UP village in Diliman. I remembered the restaurant’s name but it has taken me a while before I could try it out. Some causes of delay where: 1) the location – QC is like the opposite end of where I live and 2) Someone to eat with me inside a Vegetarian restaurant.
I am not a vegan but I do love vegetarian stuff once in a while. I have eaten at really nice restaurants where I could swear I was eating meat but then remember I am inside a vegan resto.
One nice afternoon with my good friends in tow, we decided to meet and eat at Likha Diwa sa Gulod in Diliman, Quezon City. The interiors of the restaurant are very reminiscent of Turtle’s Nest in Cebu. Cozy and full of artworks. For those who are not familiar with Turtle’s Nest, it is a very homey artsy restaurant which features paintings by local artists and other cool stuff in Cebu City. I found my friends seated on wooden benches and we proceeded to discuss the menu and I was happily checking it out to see what offerings I could partake of for my first experience there.
It took me a long time to decide as I wanted to try all of their menu items because I wanted to compare them with the “real thing” if you know what I mean and also because me and the friends were catching up amidst food discussions. We settled first to have Shiitake Strips for appetizers. They tasted like fried calamari but I could sense the earthy aftertaste of the mushrooms but they were so good to eat and so light too. We also ordered our drinks: cold tea and 2 fresh veggie shakes which were very refreshing and just right for the afternoon heat.
For our main course, Ate L ordered their vegetable Kare-Kare which had a creamy and yummy peanut sauce, meaty vegetable slices and a “faux bagoong” which was really good.
Kuya C ordered Pusitsig which was also good. I ordered their Veggie Relleno (vegetables mixed, rolled and wrapped with a nori sheet). It really doesn’t sound much but I quite found it filling and good to eat. We also ordered an additional plate of Vegetable Samosas which were presented Empanada style stuffed with an assortment of vegetables and it had a lovely sauce to go with it.
Overall, the ambiance was really good and homey, the food good and very very healthy and I look forward to another meal there. For vegans, this is a must-stop if ever you are in the vicinity. The price was average. Around 100 ++ for a complete meal.
Note: Photos taken with my Cameraphone.
Likha Diwa is located at:
1 Lt. J. Francisco St., Brgy. Krus na Ligas, UP Diliman
Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines
