Gayumas Don't Work No More

My sister and I have an arrangement that we would discover a new restaurant every weekend. That day, we were having too much fun with Google Map (Turn right to Meh-teh-teg [Matatag] Street) and ended up at Gayuma ni Maria. Gayuma is located at 123 V. Luna Extension, Sikatuna Village, Quezon City.

Loving that Witch's Brew sign at the base of the steps.

I visited Gayuma once, on my 30th birthday (yearssss ago). The food was great and reasonably priced. It was dinnertime then and the ambience was kinda perfect, with low lights, soft cloths flowing from the ceiling and yes, rose petals everywhere. But seeing it in harsh daylight is making me re-think the warm and happy feelings it once brought me. That little front foyer for instance, has the dirtiest couch you will ever see. *Cringe.*

I became more disappointed when we got inside. The place has the smell of an old cafeteria that has not been cleaned in a while. We picked a table, and the first thing I noticed were the stains on the table cloth. I shot my sister a look to see if she's still willing to eat there. She shrugged and reminded me that I've taking tons of pictures of the place already, it's nakakahiya to bail out now.   

Pop poring over the menu.

I know Gayuma is going for that laid-back, rustic look, but without the cover of night and those warm reddish/yellowish lights, it just could not pull-off the desired look in daylight. There are places which just look better at night. That day, at 10am, Gayuma just looks dirty and cheap.

There was only one waiter, who does not seem to know what he's doing. He was just scurrying about like a headless chicken, but we waited patiently, because it was just him versus three filled-up tables. We placed our order and we were told it would take 15 minutes. I was already ravenous at that time, and saw this torta-like thing:

The torta is quite good, or maybe it's my hunger talking. My hometown has its own version of torta, and that was the bomb.  Gayuma's torta pales in comparison to our torta. I think it has too much butter and vanilla flavoring. Hmm. This must be the first time I complained that something has too much butter.  

My sister's order was worth the long wait. This must be one of the best pasta I've tasted. I'm not sure why it's called No Boyfriend Since Birth, but I suppose if you could eat this everyday, you would not mind not having a boyfriend. Gayuma is slowly redeeming itself with its meals. My only complaint (of course I have to have a complaint, I am born hard-to-please) is that the serving is too small. I could eat three of this:

No-boyfriend-since-birth pasta.

I'm not sure what got to me, but I ordered this vegetarian burger. It wasn't bad. But being a carnivore, I really cannot call it great.

Anyway, I thought I could still recommend this place to friends (just go at night time, maybe?), until I asked for the washroom and was shown upstairs. No, I'm not gonna post the pic of that filthy washroom (what, next to my sexy burger and no-boyfriend-since-birth??). But here's the dining area at the 2nd floor. Hookah, anyone?

Raincoats at the side are for sale.

Heart-peppered walls.