MY FRIENDS and I were pleasantly surprised to discover this new restaurant in town, along 6th-17th streets in Nazareth called Resto Freeno.
The signage highlights “coffee, food, bar” and we were lured in by the promise of all three. Let’s face it: there aren’t many restaurants here that offer a diverse selection of food so when something new comes up, we’re always raring to give it a try.
Initially, we thought that the place was only a literal hole-in-the-wall. They occupied what seemed a small corner in the Bautista Building, and we really thought from the facade that it was nothing but a tiny café from the outside. From the glass windows, we could only glean a small bar area with a chalkboard menu and some high tables with bar stools. But don’t judge a book by its cover!
Upon going inside, we were pleasantly surprised that the bar opened up to a much bigger dining area with high ceilings, stylized lighting, and an airy atmosphere. They even had an area for booths that looked cozy and comfy. They also had loft (semi-2nd floor) area that can be used for private meetings. Beneath the loft was another tiny function room with sliding doors. My friends and I were impressed by the clean and well-styled interiors. We didn’t see that coming!
The staff greeted us and one followed us graciously to our chosen spot. Their placemat says “Grown and Raised for your Table”, and our personable waitress named Shiny confirmed that they indeed aim to serve organic and fresh ingredients from local suppliers.
The latest buzzword in the restaurant du jour called the farm-to-table concept immediately came to mind. The goal of this is to do away with the middleman and go directly to local farmers; thereby, ensuring fresher and more reasonably priced produce and, at the same time, prioritizing the local industry and economy. And we’re all about supporting local!
Resto Freeno had a four-page menu with an extensive list of products—starters, soups, salads, paella, pasta, poultry, fish, lamb, beef, burgers, dessert, cocktails, coffee, frappes, etc. The menu was rather overwhelming because of the varied items listed. We wanted to try them all and it was really hard for us to decide what to get.
There’s something for every type of palate: there are salads for the health conscious, steaks for those with a heftier appetite, molten chocolate cake for the sweet tooth, etc. The prices are mid-range and those that we ate, including those we spied from fellow diners, are generous in servings and well-priced!
Since we were hankering for pasta that night (this was after-dinner snacks), we all ended up ordering different types—2 orders of pancetta aglio olio (220), one seafood marinara (280), and one carbonara with chicken (240). We also had mixed seafood soup (200) and pepperoni pizza (300). It was heaven to find a place that served pasta that was al dente (not over cooked). The aglio olio had generous servings of pancetta. The seafood marinara did not scrimp on mussels, clams, shrimp, squid, and fish. As for the carbonara, it wasn’t too creamy and the chicken was tasty and tender, plus it had button mushrooms. We just wish the pasta came with garlic bread.
Noteworthy, while we were eating, a fly dove into our freshly cooked carbonara and went swimming in the sauce. Que horror! We asked for another one from Shiny, our friendly server. She apologized for the mistake, though it really wasn’t her fault, and she immediately asked the kitchen for a replacement. To our surprise, upon getting our bill, they only charged us one order of carbonara. Talk about awesome customer service!
My friends and I were really impressed with the graciousness of all the staff. They greeted us when we came in, and they were quick to attend to our needs without being overly invasive. Shiny said that the restaurant is owned by Dr. Rino Berjes and Mr. Mark Freeman and they just opened last April 7. The store is open every 10am to 10pm, except for weekends when they close at 1:30 a.m. For inquiries, check their FB page with the same name or call 0917-502-0832/ landline 8817649.
Perhaps, the only con about this place is the lack of decent parking. There are only a handful of slots fronting the store. So if you want to be sure to get a decent spot, come early or go with a driver. And of course, food tastes better with the company of good friends. Surround yourself with people who push you to do better and be better. No drama and negativity...just higher goals, good times, and positive energy. No jealousy or hate, but just the absolute desire to bring out the best in each other. And there’s no better way to do that than through a good meal punctuated by meaningful conversation...Happy eating!
For suggestions visit www.orochronicles.com