Food: Trellis

Date Budget: PhP 300
Actual Spend: PhP 264
Quality: 5/5
Service: 3/5
Accessibility: 3/5
Fun Factor: 4/5
Overall Experience: 3/5

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Highlights 

• Unique smoky pork sisig: the dish that made them famous
• Relaxing al fresco dining experience
• Artery-clogging clear mushroom soup
• Rich-tasting kangkong in oyster sauce
• Free pitcher of their house blend iced tea (for Groupon customers on Saturdays only)
• Turon with ice cream for a happy ending
• Ideal place for a get-together with family and friends
  
  Update (11/24/2014): Makati branch is now closed. You may proceed to Kalayaan QC branch (Monday-Saturday) to enjoy their great sisig.
  

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The Experience 
Before Gerry's, Dencio's, Giligans, and all other clones... there was Trellis.

Though sisig was originally from Pampanga (near the old rails I think), Trellis is one of the first to make the dish known to us all. Kirsten and I decided to go their original branch: the one that has been there since 1980!

Unlike their Makati branch and the former Taguig branch (which already closed down), their original Kalayaan branch features al fresco dining. The garden and koi pond adds a relaxing element to your meal. 

We were first served a pitcher of iced tea. We got a taste of this house-blended delight for free (for Groupon voucher holders on Saturdays only). 

It is far better than the usual commercial iced tea in the sisig resto clones.

Up next was their fresh clear mushroom soup. It was far from being healthy: it had lots beef fat floating around. The oil made it very rich tasting though. It is very similar to Mushroomburger Tagaytay's mushroom soup (minus the egg).

And then came the greatest sisig of all time:

Unlike the usual crunchy sisig (which is pretty much diced chicharon), theirs is more on the traditional side. The pork was grilled prior to dicing and sauteing in a sizzling plate thus retaining the smoky flavor.

To balance off with the pork and beef fats, we also had a serving of kangkong in oyster sauce. It was tasty though filled with a good dose of MSG (or something similar).

Their turon with ice cream gave our sumptuous meal a happy ending. Let the pictures speak for itself.

Turon:

Ice Cream:

... and they lived happily ever after!

Overall, Trellis is a great hangout place best enjoyed with family and friends (due to their large serving sizes, it will not be a problem though if you have an appetite like ours). Food is great and service was until we asked for the bill that took forever to arrive! Still, we'll be back here for more!

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Spend Breakdown

Fresh Clear Mushroom Soup	145
Pork Sisig	189
Kangkong in Oyster Sauce	65
Plain Rice (2)	40
House Blend Iced Tea	0
Turon with Ice Cream	75
Groupon Voucher Discount	(250)
Actual Spend	264

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How to get there

1. From MRT Quezon Ave. ride a jeep going to UP Diliman, Philcoa, or Fairview.
2. Get off at PNB Kalayaan Ave. corner Elliptical Road, just across Quezon City Hall (no loading/unloading in front of the City Hall).
3. Cross Kalayaan Ave. to the City Hall side. Ride a jeep and get off at corner Matalino St. You may also choose to walk to Trellis on a cloudy day (it will take approximately five to ten minutes)
   
   Landmarks: Quezon City Hall, Eunilane Grocery Store
   Address:
   40 Matalino St. corner Kalayaan Ave.
   Quezon City, Philippines
   Contact Numbers:
   (632) 924-1056 to 57
   Operating Hours: 11am to 12mn
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