Flavors of Pampanga: A Peek at San Fernando's Newest Dining Destination at Best Western Bendix Hotel's Ruben

Any trip to Pampanga is guaranteed to be a culinary experience, there are always new places to try along with the familiar favorites. It's just the way things are in the gastronomic region of the north, where heritage and tradition come together with creative modern expressions of flavor in a seamless blend. Ruben at Best Western Bendix Hotel is one of those places...

Ruben at Best Western Bendix Hotel in San Fernando, Pampanga, is more than just a welcome stopover after a road trip, it's a dining destination in itself. Ruben elevates comfort food with a modern and elegant spin while offering excellent value for a winning combination. Come along for the ride and experience Ruben's eclectic and innovative culinary style for another taste of Pampanga...

Located along MacArthur Highway in Dolores, San Fernando, Best Western Bendix Hotel is hard to miss. The contemporary, sleek and colorful facade stands out prominently on the busy highway and it's your landmark to San Fernando's newest culinary destination.

Inside Best Western Bendix Hotel, the spacious lobby exudes a graceful and opulent yet comforting vibe that will make you feel right at home in no time. The staff at the Front Desk makes checking in a breeze, as you're led to your home away from home...

...to one of Best Western Bendix Hotel's Standard Twin Rooms. The smart, functional and linear configuration includes all the modern amenities you need, from the large screen LCD TV to complimentary coffee and tea and high-speed Wi-Fi access. Settled in, it's time to taste the signature dishes of Ruben...

...as Head Chef Lorenzo Vallar (R) fired up the kitchen for the day's sumptuous feast. Drawing inspiration from the family patriarch who pursued travel, food and good company with a passion, Ruben reflects and recreates his personality through the bright and vibrant decor and the comforting cuisine.

Brew. Bake. Bar.

Ruben is cafe, restaurant and bar offering sumptuous comfort food, fresh-baked bread, premium coffee creations and soothing cocktails as well as local artisan craft beer, all in one place. It's a welcome addition to San Fernando's culinary scene with a modern yet laid-back edge. And you just know how serious they are at the kitchen when you're served the Roasted Pork Belly with Truffle Lechon Sauce (P 320), a hefty slab of juicy pork with a light and crisp layer of crackling made even more indulgent with truffle-infused lechon sauce. One bite delivers layers of savory richness coating your palate, perfect with ice-cold craft beer (more on the cocktails, craft beer and cool bar vibe at Ruben on my other post, Flavors of Pampanga: One For The Road at Best Western Bendix Hotel's Ruben). 

Ruben's Fried Chicken (P 260) is a meal in itself, with crisp and juicy fried chicken thighs served with a side of garlic cream dip. Crisp and juicy chicken with rice, what's not to love? Served on a hot cast iron skillet topped with cherry tomatoes and olives garnished with a lemon wedge, Ruben gives the same attention to detail to presentation for a memorable dining experience. 

You can also find your favorite cocktail at Ruben, including my go to cocktail, the classic Old-Fashioned (L). The Old Fashioned is my personal gauge to determine if a bar is legit, and this one is as real as it gets. You can also sample San Fernando's very own local artisan craft beer brewed by a Scotsman (R)...

Dinner is served...

Later that evening, Head Chef Lorenzo Vallar served up an impressive feast showcasing Ruben's wide variety of dishes starting with the Creamy Spanish-Style Garlic Soup (P 150), a hearty starter before the mains. Rich and thick with bold, upfront notes, the Creamy Spanish-Style Garlic Soup opens up the palate with its sharp flavors. Served with crisp and crusty bread baked in-house, dinner at Ruben is looking good...

The Arugula and French Cheese Salad (P 260) is an elegant salad with garden-fresh arugula, French cream cheese, and cherry tomatoes drizzled with a nutty pesto dressing, one of many flavorful surprises at Ruben. The contrasting flavors and textures from the cream cheese and pesto to the tart cherry tomatoes and mildly spicy hints of the arugula combine for a unique salad dish. 

For the next starter, an entertaining tableside presentation sets the tone. The Mojito-Style Ceviche (P 290) with fresh chunks of premium tuna mixed in a shaker with lime juice, cilantro, and mint and served by your tableside injects an element of fun to your dining experience. The briny sweetness of the tuna are kicked up by the bright and zesty notes of the lime and mint for fresh and clean flavors.

Presenting the main cast...

Head Chef Lorenzo Vallar served Ruben's stellar cast of signature dishes starting with the Seafood Paella (P 490) with soft, moist and fluffy rice topped with plump mussels, squid, clams, fresh river prawns, cherry tomatoes and olives on a cast iron skillet. It's an impressive dish, loaded with the day's freshest catch. The flavors of all the ingredients are absorbed by the rice, bursting with rich notes with every bite. Squeeze some fresh lemon for even more intense flavors.

The Sizzling Corned Beef Sinigang (P 420) is another innovative spin on a local favorite with fork-tender and melt-in-your-mouth corned beef brisket draped in a thick and tart sinigang gravy with garlic confit and topped with cherry tomatoes, onions and green beans. The braised and delicately brined corned beef delivers an indulgent richness tempered by the deep, sour and tart notes of the gravy. The cherry tomatoes and garlic confit complete the dish with its contrasting notes along with the green beans. A personal favorite, this is one more reason to visit Ruben at Best Western Bendix Hotel.

The signature Ruben 6-Hour Beef Caldereta (P 390) with tender braised beef ribs in red wine and tomatoes is another comforting must-try dish that triggers nostalgic memories of childhood family dinners. The beef is braised until tender, draped in a rich tomato-based sauce that demands a serving of steamed white rice. Or garlic rice. The fresh vegetables are added at the very last minute to preserve its natural sweetness and crispness.

There are as many variations of the local adobo as there are regions, and the Sizzling Crispy Pork Belly Adobo (P 390) is a playfully inventive spin on the classic with slow-roasted pork belly capped by a crisp layer of crackling on a rich and thick adobo sauce with deep-fried potatoes, garlic and tomato confit topped with salted eggs. The crisp crackling and salted eggs makes this version different for a distinctive play on both flavor and texture. Like all of Ruben's dishes, the use of the freshest and finest ingredients delivers real flavors without busting your wallet.

Pasta cravings? Ruben's got that covered too. The Aligue Pasta (P 260) is an indulgent dish with pure crab fat simmered in coconut milk, cilantro and lime draped over soft yet firm pasta topped with fresh river prawns. Sinful? Maybe. Another bite? Absolutely. Or why not try something different? Like Ruben's Signature Caldereta Pasta (P 260) with their popular caldereta served in a pasta dish?

You can have a mac and cheese or go for something better. Ruben levels up the game with their Mac and 6-Cheese (P 260), a flavorful upgrade with Mozzarella, Gouda, Cheddar, Edam, Parmesan, and White Cheese for the ultimate cheesy fix. Add some Forest Ham and it's game over. From starters and salads to savory mains, Ruben's extensive menu has something for everyone making your stay or visit at Best Western Bendix Hotel special. And there's more... 

The morning after...

After a long night at Ruben's bar (since no one's driving home, why not, right?), a restful sleep at Best Western Bendix Hotel is all you need for another round of savory dishes. A soothing cup of freshly brewed Latte gets you on the right track...

Potatoes, chorizo, eggs, and Mozzarella cheese, now that's breakfast. The Potato and Chorizo Hash (P 240) is just what you need on a lazy Sunday morning, with perfectly poached eggs on potatoes kicked up by the smoky notes of chorizo.

Listen to your momma and have your vegetables. The Dona Dita Salad (P 270), an homage to the family matriarch, is a refreshing mesclun of seasonal greens tossed with prosciutto, cream cheese, and grilled chicken in a light and tart citrus vinaigrette dressing for a healthy start.

The Ruben Cheeseburger (P 370), with a thick and juicy all-beef patty on garden-fresh lettuce and tomatoes topped with creamy Cheddar and crunchy shoestring potatoes on a soft and buttery homemade brioche bun should satisfy any craving for burgers.    

The Cuban Sandwich (P 290), fresh-pressed homemade baguette filled with roast pork, forest ham, mustard, pickles and cheese with a side of crisp tostones is another tasty option at Ruben. The subtle salty notes of the ham are balanced by the sharpness of the mustard and pickles and perfectly finished by the cheese and soft baguette for a complete package. Other savory sandwiches at Ruben include the Truffle Mushroom Burger (P 360), Open-Faced Arugula and Jamon Sandwich (P 270), and Burrito Especiale (P 250). 

A duo of pasta dishes were also served that morning, including the Mushrooms and Truffle Cream Pasta (P 260) with the deep and nutty hints of truffles...

...and the rustic Seafood Marinara (P 290), a hearty pasta dish with shrimps, squid rings, and mussels in a rich tomato-based sauce. Ruben's emphasis on freshness and quality ingredients can be seen, and tasted, in all their dishes. And the best part? You can enjoy hotel quality cuisine at reasonable price points for excellent value.

The elegant plating and presentation of dishes is consistent throughout the extensive menu selection, like the Salmon Fillet with Beurre Blanc (P 490), a delicate pan-seared fillet of salmon laid on mashed potatoes, spinach and French beans and served with a side of creamy butter sauce. 

It's the dish that greeted me upon arrival at Ruben and it's just fitting to mention the Roasted Pork Belly with Truffle Lechon Sauce (P 320) one more time. Seriously good.

After a sumptuous feast, why not indulge in Ruben's specialty beverages...

...or have a cup of White Mocha? It's all here at Ruben. Breakfast, lunch, dinner, cocktails or coffee, whatever pleases your palate. The quality of the dishes prepared by Head Chef Lorenzo Vallar far exceeded my expectations, adding to the long chain of memorable experiences at Best Western Bendix Hotel. Quality and value. Always works for me.

Ruben Patawaran would have approved of this new cozy spot in San Fernando that bears his name. As the next generation continues the legacy of their father's love for food, travel and good company, here's a toast to the newest dining destination in San Fernando.

Ruben is located at the Ground Floor of Best Western Bendix Hotel, MacArthur Highway, Dolores, City of San Fernando, Pampanga or call 045 961-2378 and 02 982-3333 for inquiries and reservations. You can also visit their website at http://bendixhotel.com.ph/ for more information. For more on Ruben, check out their FB Page at https://www.facebook.com/ruben.barph/.

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