Gayuma ni Maria

Do you remember Gayuma back when it was still in Katipunan? BDW and I used to go there when we were still dating. We’d always order their roast chicken (it was called pinoy-pinay if I remember correctly). My friends and I have also gone there for brunches and dinners. Gayuma’s theme is romance and the place had dried and pressed flowers, decoupaged love letters, mismatched chairs and tables with linens that seemed to have come from the personal collection of the owners. It was a fun place to spend time in and the shabby chic interiors invited guests to just spend long hours there.

When the place burned down many years ago, BDW and I thought that was the last we’d hear of it. Then the resto re- opened in Esteban Abada. We went there but the place felt “off” and the food was not as good as we remembered.

Now Gayuma’s reincarnated as Gayuma ni Maria in Maginhawa St. BDW and I had dinner there two Saturdays ago for our “date night”. We have fond memories of Gayuma and we thought it’d be perfect to try it out for our night out. The new Gayuma is in an old house, which has been painted pink inside and with the shabby chic interiors still in full effect.

BDW ordered Chinoy in Seventh Heaven (Php 240) which was described as “Fried chicken obra gently simmered in a conconction of Chinese herbs with a heavenly rice mix” . The chicken was so-so but the scoop errr triangle of brown rice it came with was absolutely delicious!

I ordered Once You Go Black, You’ll Never Go Back (Php 225), which is “Cocoa crusted cream dory with chocolate sauce — you’ll never want to eat fish any other way”. On paper it seemed impossible for fish and chocolate to work together but trust me this dish was absolutely wonderful!! BDW agreed too 😀

We capped the meal with dessert and coffee. The old Gayuma had Better than Sex.  Gayuma ni Maria now has Beats Sex Anyday “Rich chocolate cake mercilessly topped with butterscotch, cream and chocolate bits (some say it should be renamed Best with Sex)” — to which I say NO! If this beats sex then you’re probably not having the right kind or the good kind of sex hahaha (we’re all adults here right?!)

Anyway, the cake and coffee were both weak. The cake was a bit bland and the dessert was uninspired. Even though BSA has all the right ingredients — a moist chocolate brownie base that’s topped with a semi-sweet icing and a generous drizzling of chocolate and caramel — it was still lacking.  The coffee was ordinary brewed coffee.

(Maybe what Maginhawa needs is a great coffee and dessert place! Is there one already?)

Anyway, the main courses were good enough. All in all we spent Php 795 for the whole dinner. Pricey I know! I remember some of the dishes at the old Gayuma were 99 only haha!

The place offers gameboards for rent but you need to spend a minimum of Php300 to play and you can only use them for an hour (para give chance to others hehe).  Gayuma also has a manghuhula (fortune teller) that comes in every Monday and Tuesday (no times were given, kelangan mong…hulaan!) If you do get to catch Aling Mely, you can pay her Php 350 to have your fortunes read.  True to its name, Gayuma also sells potions and things that would make you go hmmm…

Anyway, Gayuma is a must-try along Maginhawa and is a perfect date place.  If you’re in the area, I highly recommend that you drop by!

Directions to Gayuma:

I feel strongly about this kasi nawala kami ni BDW on our date night hahaha! Anyway,  Gayuma ni Maria is at 123 V. Luna Extension, Sikatuna Village Quezon City. When we were at Maginhawa and looking at the house numbers,  gate/house 123  was nowhere to be found.  Apparently the 2nd fork in the road in Maginhawa is already the beginning of V. Luna Extension (o, wag mawala, stay with me).  But Maginhawa will take you to V. Luna Extension, just go straight along.  You will definitely pass by the big Bayantel building (which should be on your right). After seeing the Learning Tree school to your left, the resto is just a few minutes away. It is right before the big Save More and is across a building named Dragon.

If lost, you can call them at 09216818989 (that’s what we did haha)