The cold weather is perfect for warm hot & tasty dishes. As the year comes to a close, people look forward to spending time with loved ones, sharing stories while enjoying hearty meals.

One of the best ways to gather family and friends is through dining together. Sharing deep-fried, grilled or smoked dishes fills hearts and bellies, thus restaurants offering different recipes and flavors are the best options for bringing families together.

These restaurants in Sto. Tomas, Batangas not only cater to large groups, they also have a variety of comfort food for chilly days.

Allegra’s Kitchen is a local fast food joint inspired by Western diners, a project of Dr. Gerry Malvar. The food joint has branches all over the province of Laguna and Batangas; a sure sign that the restaurant’s flavors won the crowd.

Allegra’s Kitchen’s menu includes beef burgers, fire-grilled steaks, rice meals, pasta, and other comfort food. The group meals and a la carte options make it a go-to haven for families. Batangueños come to visit the restaurant to enjoy the best burgers in town. Each serving comes with a handful of fried potatoes called Skin-on Fries.

The signature burger, Allegra’s Burger (P125) uses 100% pure beef. A serving includes fresh lettuce, slices of tomato and onion. Those who get a kick from cheese in their burger must try Allegra’s Cheese Burger (P145). The Bacon Cheese Burger (P175) has tender beef patty along with strips of bacon fried to a crisp perfectly topped off by melted Cheddar cheese.

For a different kind of burger, Allegra’s Kitchen has the Luau Burger (P195). This juicy beef patty includes the usual—lettuce, Cheddar cheese, onions, and bacon—plus a slice of pineapple, giving the burger a refreshing twist.

Those who aren’t fans of burgers can try the Breakfast Tapa (P195), Allegra’s Fried Chicken (P115 for a piece and P175 for two) and the sizzling orders with Java rice.

The turo-turo culture is alive at Rose & Grace Restaurant. Customers can view the day’s specialty on a glass stand, making sure you see that each dish is fresh and cooked from scratch daily. The restaurant attracts a lot of diners with its authentic Bulalo or beef bone marrow stew, a dish much associated with Batangas.

Batangas is also known for seafood cuisine. As an alternative to Bulalo, the restaurant offers Sinigang na Tanigue sa Miso. The fresh vegetables and seasoned broth bring out the natural flavors of the fish. Another type of seafood that agrees with the local palate is Tawilis. Tawilis is a freshwater sardine that lives in Taal Lake. It is 15.2 centimeters long, and it is the only known member of the genus Sardinella to exist in fresh water.

The tiny fish is best fried to a crisp. The crispy and salty fish tastes better when dipped in vinegar with siling Labuyo (chili). The restaurant also has Crispy Pata and Lechon Kawali. Diners frequently enjoy the tender meat and well-seasoned crackling skin of the pork. The pork meat of the Crispy Pata is soft and easily separates from the bone. A soy sauce dip with a hint of sugar and bits of garlic, onion, and chili balances the fatty and savory flavors. The delicious comfort food makes the customers come back for more.

Prices are available in the restaurant’s menu.

Travelling to Spain doesn’t have to cost a fortune. Among the various food hot-spots in Sto. Tomas is a restaurant that brings the taste of Spanish culture right on your plate. Restaurante Galeon serves heavenly dishes like Paella, Croquetta, and variety of preserved meat. A pitcher of Sangria (P365) completes the delicious feast.

A glass of wine is best served with pieces of cured meat. Those who are looking for an alternative can order the yummy Croquetta (P295). It’s the Spanish version of mashed potato rolls and deep-fried to achieve a crispy covering. The restaurant’s potato balls include bits of salty chorizo, mozzarella and thin slices of caramelized onions. The pieces of Croquetta are drizzled with tomato cream, aioli, and honey.

Another alternative is the creamy Gambas (P475) where pieces of shrimps are soaked in thyme with garlic butter sauce and hints of paprika. The dish has balanced flavors and goes well with the lemon and herb baguette. Still, Galeon’s Paella is the main attraction. They serve three kinds of Paella which diners can choose from – Black Paella, Mushroom Paella and Seafood Paella.

The Black Paella or Paella Negra is a break from the usual orange rice. The dish uses squid ink and lemon zest to add color and enhance flavor. It comes with pieces of salmon and arugula. Meanwhile, the Mushroom Paella is cooked in mushroom stock. The parmesan cheese, wild mushroom, and truffle oil complete the taste of this dish.

Other than the rice medley, Restaurante Galeon also boasts of their pasta dishes. It has a Chorizo Pasta (P250) while the rest includes seafood recipes. The Bagoong Pasta (P230) has homemade bagoong with chorizo, scrambled egg, pieces of mango and chicharon. Seafood pasta includes Marinara, Vongole, and Squid Ink. The Marinara makes use of red wine tomato sauce while Vongole uses clam stock sauce.

There are various cuisines in Sto. Tomas, Batangas. People can enjoy tender pork, such as Crispy Pata and Lechon Kawali from Rose & Grace, and hearty soups from Bulalo and Sinigang. For juicy burger patties and fire-grilled steaks, there’s Allegra’s Kitchen. Last but not the least, pasta and rice meals of Restaurante Galeon are must-try in the area. A Sto. Tomas Batangas house and lot for sale is sure to make each day a feast with these restaurants and dishes.