Van Gogh, Jetro and I have something in common

After dining in at Gayuma Ni Maria, we decided to venture the stretch of Maginhawa Village just to have coffee or tea at Van Gogh is Bipolar. Little did we know that it would take us endless back-and-forth tricycle rides just to find it! It was really funny and and fun at the same time because a) We were able to explore the whole Maginhawa Village and saw a lot of potential food trip places to try next time, b) Mukha lang naman kaming tanga na nagpapabalik-balik at nagtatanong kung saan ang Van Gogh. We even altered the pronunciation to "Van Gog" just in case the people does not understand what we're looking for.

Just to end the arguments and the numerous back and forth travels along Sikatuna Village-Maginhawa Street, Kim decided to browse it on the internet at the nearest computer shop. Everything for the love of Van Gogh. That's how determined we are to try the place!

It turned out that 154 Maginhawa Street, Sikatuna Village is behind Ted P's restaurant. I was really really ecstatic when we finally got there.

Jetro, the bipolar owner, welcomed us and gave us a tour around the place. Again, forgive me for I cannot provide a visual image but will try my best to provide a mental picture of the place. HAHA!

The place is limited to 12 persons only so you have to call one week prior to the date you want to eat in here since the place is only good for reservations. And mind you, a hundred of people call everyday just to grab reservations in here. Kim and I were lucky enough to enjoy the al fresco outside where the ambiance is just as good as the inside.

This photo above is called the "dark room". Vandalism is legal here and you can even write your deepest darkest secret. I wrote something like "I like .....:)" Don't mind the picture behind me. Haha!

But what really caught our attention was this sticky note inside the bathroom. Whoever IZA KATRINA MIRANDA is, this man wants to marry you!

You can practically do whatever you want in here EXCEPT taking your shoes inside this sanctuary. You have to go barefoot or with socks. THAT'S THE RULE.

I had fun playing with the hats. You can wear them during your stay. :)


As for the menu, we really don't know what kind of gourmet this is but it's something that can either make you feel HAPPY or needs to CALM (Php 555) you down. After the food is served, everything is self-service.


Since I don't eat fish, I went for the CALM Set Menu and just because I really need it because Php 555 is not an easy amount to splurge! 

 If I'm not mistaken this is chicken breast dish topped with cashew nuts, cheesy potatoes, lettuce and barbecue sauce.

 This is Courtney's Love Potion. You might be intrigued with the ingredients they put in here but nevertheless it was one good drink!

How do you like my hard hat? 

I was pretty surprised with the appearance of their soup since it has flower petals and banana chips in it. I was kind of hesitant to eat it at first but upon taking my first sip, I enjoyed it until the last drop.

Kim, being a damsel in distress went for the HAPPY Set Menu which is almost the same with mine, Salmon being the main course.

Wondering what's the black thing on the right side? That's their rice. :)

What sets this restaurant apart from the others besides their self-service protocol is that, HONESTY is practiced here. A red cash box is located near the kitchen window where you put your payment and get your change. It kinda reminded me of Honesty Cafe in Batanes.

This restaurant is a bit pricey for a three-course menu (Php 666) or if you choose their Php 999 five-course menu. But what you pay for is not only the food you eat but also the experience and the feeling you get in here. It's one of a kind. Plus Jetro is really accommodating that I felt bad not saying goodbye to him. The place is very relaxing and the environment itself will make you feel that you are welcome here anytime. It's like you're a house guest rather than a customer.

The next time I come back, I would like to have a moment of sharing with Jetro about his stories and experiences since I myself is going through the exact disorder as his. I would love that and it will definitely help me to cope up with this irregularity.

Van Gogh is Bipolar is located at 154 Maginhawa Street, Sikatuna Village. For more details visit their Facebook account