Pia y Damaso specializes in Philippine cuisine. With names such as Ibarra's Kiss and Maria Clara's Velvety White Cheesecakes, the dishes are probably what the characters in Noli Me Tangere ate more than a hundred years ago. To understand the restaurant's name, a little review of Philippine literature is in order: In Noli Me Tangere, Kapitan Tiyago married Pia Alba. After a long wait, Pia became pregnant, but she died while giving birth to Maria Clara. Rumor has it that Maria Clara's father was actually Padre (Friar) Damaso, hence, the name Pia y Damaso.
The restaurant is small and cozy, and the interiors are charming. The couch is inviting, the table is lined with delicate-looking wrapping paper and the chandeliers overhead bathe the whole place in a soft whitish glow. If you’re able to get a table on the patio, the view of the gardens and of the church is refreshing.
