The Pantry Iligan: A Two-in-One Italian-Inspired Restaurant

I consider Iligan City as one of the places I call home. Though I didn't live there, it is where I studied in college and then had my first two jobs. Aside from the breathtaking waterfalls of the city, it also boasts local food - cheap but tasty.

The first thing I wanted to do when I arrived after almost three years was to eat the food I'd been craving for the longest time - Lechon Baboy (roasted pig), Pater (a Muslim food), Papa Mais Liempo, and a lot more. Eating and satisfying my cravings were enough to make my stay memorable.

However, my previous team leader, Mark, wanted us to dine at this new restaurant - The Pantry. He then added it's his treat since I passed the licensure exam. Well, who am I to refuse a tempting offer? Right? Right.

A few months later, I went back to Iligan City again to attend the wedding of my closest classmate in college and my thesis adviser. Sir invited some of his colleagues, who happen to be Antoni's colleagues as well. The boyfriend is a social butterfly, so he was excited to tour them around. And since I'm the girlfriend, the exact opposite of him, I had no choice but to go with them.

My role on the trip was a negotiator. For the day trip, I asked Antoni if our classmates can go with us since the groom rented a van for their ADI colleagues. At night, I asked our classmate if it was okay with him if the ADI friends can come with us.

Fast forward, I recommended the restaurant Mark had introduced to us. We had our dinner there before we headed back to the hustle and bustle world.

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The Pantry _{by BATC}

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The Pantry is located at Tipanoy, Iligan City. Going there is a bit of a hassle since the jeepney liner is just a few, and it's always full of passengers. So the first time Antoni and I went there, we commuted via motorcycle. Luckily, for the second time, we have a classmate with a car, and going there became convenient.

This restaurant is divided into two stores — for the main dish and the pizza and gelato. The first store is named The Pantry Comfort Food, and The Pantry Pizzeria and Gelateria for the second one. Wherever we choose to dine, we can order food from any of the two.

Two menus will be given. One is from The Pantry Comfort Food, which consists of appetizers, salads, sandwiches, pasta, entree, drinks (coffee is included.), and dessert. Next is the Pizzeria and Gelateria menu, which consists of apertivo, insalata, pasta, and pizza. Their gelato is not included in the menu, but it is displayed at the counter. Pasta served from Pizzeria and Gelateria is different from Comfort Food.

Also, on a separate menu but still attached to the main menu board, they have steaks served for two with different thicknesses and side dishes — it was expensive. I can't compare it since I haven't ordered steak, but seeing that price alone is enough for me to distinguish that it's pricey. Well, it's not just the steak, the food in The Pantry is a little bit expensive, I must say.

While waiting, I took the liberty to roam around the place and take pictures. The restaurant is not that spacious for indoor dining. But for al fresco dining, it is wide and spacious. It's spacious enough to cater a private event like a wedding reception. It is located uphill, thus it is surrounded by greens.

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The Pantry Comfort Food

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The Pantry Pizzeria and Gelateria

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The interior of both restaurants is simple but classy. It gives off a rustic vibe because of the wood table and chair and the displayed wheat per table. The lights also add up to the ambiance — not too strong and not too bright. Just enough to make you feel cozy. And the place gets prettier and cozier at night with more warm lights turned on.

_{Not your ordinary iced tea!}

The food was served in less than 20 minutes. The service was pretty good, and the staff was pretty attentive. Before we could call and ask them to serve the pizza and the gelato, one staff had already gone to our table and asked if we want to serve the remaining food.

_{Ultimate Nachos}

The appetizer was the first to serve. We ordered ultimate nachos worth 375 PHP (6.52 USD). For a small tray, it's quite expensive already. But the taste was the best — delicious and cheesy. It was pretty hot I didn't get to enjoy it fully since my tongue was burning. I had to wait for several minutes before I started eating.

Pasta from the Pizzeria and Gelateria was delectable, except for the Spaghetti con Polpette. Italian spaghetti is not really for me. Well, spaghetti, in general, but of course, with an exception - a newly cooked Jollibee spaghetti and my Mother's saucy spaghetti.

Their Southern-style chicken, worth 325 PHP (5.65 USD), was served in large sizes for two pieces. It's already good for sharing, just add a bowl of additional rice. But their Orange chicken, the one that I ordered worth 335 PHP (5.82 USD), had only a few slices of chicken. It was flavorful and cooked right, but the price was expensive for its quantity. Well, at least for me. And that's when I get to taste the Southern-style chicken ordered by Antoni, which was crispy and tasty, by the way.

One of us ordered Beef Short Ribs, worth 375 PHP (6.52 USD). Contrary to its name, the dish looks like a Bibimbowl to me - kimchi fried rice with bulgogi, a sunny-side-up egg, and a sprinkle of sesame seeds. Or maybe it is a bibimbowl but with a fancy name.

After devouring our food, the pizza and gelato were served. We ordered Quattro Formaggi worth 585 PHP (10.17 USD). It's perfect for cheese lovers since it is topped with Parmesan, Mozzarella, Provolone, and Ricotta. It was definitely a chef kiss. The crust is thin, but the side is puffed. I'm not a fan of thick crust, so this cheesy pizza is right for me.

Dining in The Pantry is not complete without tasting their gelato. For one scoop of classic gelato, it is worth 115 PHP (2 USD), and 140 PHP (2.43 USD) for the premium gelato. Honestly, it's pricey for a scoop only. But the taste is worth the price. My favorites are Honeycomb, Cookie Butter, and White Chocolate Peanut Butter.

The Pantry is a bit expensive, but I will still go back and dine there. So far, regardless of the price, their pizza and gelato are the best on their menu. I'd love to try every pizza and gelato flavor they offer. I also want to have a taste of their steak, but I need to save more to afford such expensive food.

If the price is not an issue here and you have extra cash to spend, then I highly recommend this place.

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_{All photos are mine.}

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