[Review] A Charming Surprise in the Heart of Leganes: La Maison Du Leganes French Bistro and Café

La Maison Du Leganes French Bistro and Café. Jep | Flickr

The journey from Jaro to La Maison Du Leganes in Leganes might seem unassuming - it's the typical Iloilo countryside scenery, but stepping inside the compound reveals an unexpectedly spacious and charming retreat. After navigating the narrow municipal roads bustling with pedestrians and tricycles, you suddenly find yourself facing an entrance that looks like a mini Arc de Triomphe. Inside is a wide-open area adorned with greenhouse domes on one side and structures that evoke the elegance of European villas on the other. It is like you have been transported somewhere else, and you expect to see a majestic chateau just around the corner. The contrast is striking and quite impressive.

La Maison Du Leganes French Bistro and Café. Jep | Flickr

The restaurant itself is cozy, a small café and bistro with seating for about 15 to 20 guests, creating an intimate atmosphere. Upon arrival, you’re greeted with baskets of cherry tomatoes, presumably fresh from the greenhouses nearby, which are also available for purchase by weight. Tempting cakes and pastries are beautifully displayed in glass cases, making it hard to resist a sweet treat. On the far corner, there are beds of microgreens on a hydroponic setup.

La Maison Du Leganes French Bistro and Café. Jep | Flickr

Microgreens. La Maison Du Leganes French Bistro and Café. Jep | Flickr

Cherry tomatoes. La Maison Du Leganes French Bistro and Café. Jep | Flickr

The menu is equally enticing, with delectable descriptions that made my mouth water just imagining what they taste like, though everything seems to lean towards the pricier side. For our meal, we opted to share an osso buco served on a bed of creamy mashed potatoes for the main course, accompanied by a smoked salmon and apple leafy salad to start. Since our visit was made on a whim, mainly to check the place out, we weren't ready to splurge on dinner, so sharing a dish suited us perfectly. Every bite was flavorful and satisfying. Loved the flavorful and tender beef shank. The nutty and slightly bitter taste of rocket complements the salad very well, although I personally wished there had been more smoked salmon on the salad. Smoked salmon is my current obsession.

Smoked Salmon and Apple Salad. La Maison Du Leganes French Bistro and Café. Jep | Flickr

Oso Bucco. La Maison Du Leganes French Bistro and Café. Jep | Flickr

Adjacent to the café is a convenience store and the kitchen, while the rest of the building appears dedicated to events and functions. Outside, a serene fountain with a small footbridge spans a manmade pond, adding a picturesque touch to the grounds. After dinner, we wandered around the compound, taking photos, and then popped into the convenience store for a dessert to round off the evening.

La Maison Du Leganes is definitely a place worth revisiting. I look forward to exploring more of their menu. Though it’s not far from home (it's a 16-minute drive), getting there without your own vehicle could be a bit challenging (Ok, ok, I'll admit that I just don't know how to go there using public transportation hehehe).