Don Segundo [House of Antiques & Restaurant]

From the workshop in Balaoan, we headed to Luna for brunch. The hubby had a restaurant in mind and thought we'd try it because, from what he read, diners appreciated and recommended it.

Nestled among lush trees along Resurrection Street, Don Segundo offers spacious parking, a nice view of an open field in the outer area, and the inner area surrounded by lush bamboo trees and other ornamental plants.

The husband wasn't sure whether the place was pet-friendly, so he went ahead to confirm. Yongi and I stayed in the scrapyard garden, enjoying the cool shade under the trees where a whimsical minion happily welcomed us😁

A nice fountain sculpture in the corner caught my eye. I didn't even care to take a good shot that included the lovely plants around it. My bad, LOL!

I missed noticing the sign that said, "Pls pay before you enter. 10 pesos per person. Pls drop it in the box." I only saw it when we exited the garden.

While pets are allowed, we couldn't bring Yongi with us because the hubby saw two dogs. Knowing our little guy can't stay calm around other pets, we brought him back to the truck and kept the aircon on.

Anyway, this is the entrance to the main dining area. It felt as though we were heading to another garden.

But it led us to an expansive shared patio environment surrounded by lush trees and antique collectibles (unfortunately, I didn't take photos because other diners were around when we arrived).

Right next to it is the al fresco dining area. An amiable server ushered us to a table, brought us the menu, and struck up a friendly conversation while she waited for our orders.

I thought of having a light meal, but the hubby wanted rice, and each serving is good for 2-3 pax, so I was swayed. Besides, "Crispy Dinakdakan" and "Crispy Pork Kare-Kare" sounded delicious. I rarely have these dishes, but decided to try them for a change.

And they didn't disappoint. They delighted the taste buds!

The pork in the Kare-Kare is really crispy without the usual greasy taste. The peanut sauce is heavenly! It is rich, deeply savory, and authentic. The whole dish is thoroughly enjoyable and comforting. We ended up finishing everything. Just yum! The hubby and I agreed it is the best Kare-Kare we have had so far.

The dining area is a large, open-air diner-style pavilion with long rows of tables under a high roof, decorated with curated antiques, old signs, and retro memorabilia, including a vintage green Suzuki motorcycle.

Anyway, they served us the classic treat served in a tall glass, layered with shaved ice, jellies, bananas, sweet beans, Ube jam, and topped with ice cream. Halo-halo is simply perfect for a hot day.

As other customers say, Don Salcedo House of Antiques & Restaurant is a must-try when in Luna, La Union. It has a mini-museum vibe, with friendly, warm, and attentive staff. It offers a diverse Filipino menu in generous serving portions at very affordable prices.

In short, sulit na sulit! (totally worth it!)

We left the place satisfied, happy, and looking forward to another visit.