Midtown Inn & Diner - Ermita

This diner was our favorite place when I was in UP Manila. We used to hang out there after class and before we go to have some drinks. Good food and homey, not to mention it's sulit.

I've been wanting to try this diner resting humbly in the district of Ermita since 1970s. A few months ago, I finally got the chance to drop by. Ambiance is very nostalgic perfected with all the neon lights, barstools, and couches; owners and staff are friendly and accommodating enough; good food with a mix of American and Filipino cuisines; lunch menu varies depending on the fresh catch of the day; and coffee is one-time refillable! What I love about this diner is that it has bested the test of time in Ermita and that it has witnessed countless faces and phases of stories and memories through the years. Must tries: (Most items are under PhP200!) Monalisa smile Beef sirloin tapa Cruella's cordon bleu

Have you ever played the game, Diner Dash? That time-management game that is fun and stressful at the same time? There you get to play the character named, Flo, who decided to quit her job and opened a diner. There she slaves from finding the customers a table, getting their order, serving their food, taking their bill, and then putting off the plates to the washer. I loved the game and it also happens to be, the closest thing I could get to a diner (yeah I know, pathetic). That is because Pinoys prefer fast-food, coffee shops, and milk tea places. So when I spotted a diner during a morning stroll with a friend (Shayne) along Malate, all thoughts of eating at the big red bee's place flew out of the window. That morning, I had breakfast, at Midtown Inn Diner. The place looks old; from the dusty signage outside to the vintage-y interiors. There was a moment during our stay when we were able to chat with one of the staff, but it didn't occur to me ask how old the diner is. But it looked every bit the diner that I had pictured in mind; a row of diner booths on the left side of the room, bar with stools on the right, music from the 50s blaring in the background, a waiter going around the tables with a pot of coffee, and old people. Yes, Midtown Inn seems to be the favorite hang-out place of people well past their youth, and so there were no sightings of people liked doing selfies, no sound of annoying schoolgirl giggles, and no flashing of the latest source of credit card dilemmas. I was supposed to eat breakfast American style, but I wanted fried rice. So I ended up ordering Sinangag with sunny side up and Daing Na Bangus (PHP125), garnished with slices of tomato and cucumber.Spanish Omelette With Ham (PHP130) comes with two pieces of toast bread and butter. Orders came with brewed coffee, which, by the way, tasted divine. They serve it with brown sugar and fresh milk.Interior wise, there was nothing spectacular about the place. Their foods are okay and priced just right. It wasn't cramped and the crowd was composed mainly of old folks. Yet I loved the experience because it allowed me to enjoy breakfast without having to worry about the noise and time.My first experience in a diner wasn't anything like the game. That morning, I had breakfast, unhurried and stress-free.

Despite its run-down and shabby interiors, Midtown Inn actually serves pretty good food-- especially if you're on a college student budget. I think this restaurant could definitely benefit from upgrading the interiors and making the exteriors look cleaner :) it's a shame not many people go here because of how the restaurant looks, because the food here is pretty good :)

My quest for breakfast in the Ermita district led me here, where I had the Mona Lisa Smile here. It was perfect for me since I was actively avoiding salty foods, but other people may find it bland to the taste. The order took less than 10 minutes, and it was served piping hot, so I was assured that it was freshly prepared. The ambiance is reminiscent of a 50s era diner without the jukebox, although they were playing classic OPM songs. Orders were moderately priced and the serving was generous enough. I will be coming back to have some of their other offerings.