When you say Tagaytay, you think of a great weekend experience just one or two hours away from the bustling metro.

Three things also come to mind: year-round cool and breezy temperature, a panoramic view of Taal lake and volcano, and pasalubong. But more than that, with its proximity to the city and its old-world-meets-new-world charm, Tagaytay is always the safe and endearing haven frequented by wanderers and pleasure-seekers.

Considered by many as the ideal destination near the city that will not leave one’s wallet depleted, Tagaytay’s cornucopia of hotels, bed and breakfast rooms, and restaurants adds depth and vigor to the stately natural wonders of the area.

But since each nook and cranny of the famed scenic spot is crowded with every imaginable establishment, observers say the city of Cavite is becoming more overrated by the minute. Becoming lost in translation is its quintessential appeal.

Something new

Offering something different is the fairly new Andanita Taj of Tagaytay. Owners and couple Neph Bathan and Ana Mary Olog’s fascination with Indian cuisine and music served as a potent catalyst in establishing the Indian-Mediterranean-themed hotel, restaurant, and spa.

Situated on top of a ridge overlooking Taal, Andanita Taj is slowly becoming the destination of choice for couples, families, and friends who are looking for comfort and adventure. As a matter of fact, although Andanita is farther than most hotels and restaurants in Metro Tagaytay, many tourists and Indian natives continue to flock the place.

Gyrating and rhythmic Indian tunes welcome guests, while the smell of curry and spices fills the eclectic and thematic interior. Servers are dressed in Mediterranean clothing brought by the owners from their trips to New Delhi, Bangalor, Agra, and Calcutta. Adorning the restaurant’s floor are rangolis—one of the most popular art forms in Indi, which uses a using finely ground white powder and, at times, different-sized grains and cereals to create a three-dimensional effect. Detailed and intricate, the rangolis can be composed of symbolic elements common to India’s culture or geometrical patterns.

Curry, Jal Jeera, and Shisha for everyone

But more than just the distinct Indian charm of Andanita, aside from the preparation and immersion in Indian mores that Neph and Ana went through, is its attention to service—that is truly Filipino—and the culinary samplings it offers visitors.

Present on the menu are the traditional curry; the Middle Eastern Arabic-style sandwich shawarma already popular in the country; kebabs; chicken and beef tandoori cooked in a cylindrical oven; sharbat, a juice that is prepared from fruits and flower petals; and chapatti, a North Indian unleavened flat bread to name a few.

Noteworthy is the bistro’s Jal Jeera. An Indian summer refreshment, Jal Jeera is typically served as an appetizer to pique the taste buds, what with black salt or rock salt as its main ingredient. In Hindi, jal means water, while jeera means cumin. Though brackish to the palate, the Jal Jeera has a cooling effect and aids digestion.

Cap off a filling meal by trying a few puffs from a shisha or a hookah. Originating in India, a shisha is a single- or multi-stemmed water pipe for smoking herbal fruits or tobacco mixed with molasses and flavor extracts.

Andanita also has Filipino dishes that serve as milder alternatives to those who have not yet acquired an affinity for the spicy and peppery taste of Indian cuisine. Neph and Ana are proud to say that their chefs have been trained in Jaipur and Kashmir, and unlike other Indian restaurants, they prepare onion-based sauces and import premium rice all the way from Pakistan.

Rest and relax

Andanita also boasts of an intimate and Asian-Mediterranean-inspired bed and breakfast and its own spa that specializes in Philippine hilot.

The rooms and the Green Mountain Spa are located under the restaurant. There are seven operational rooms designed to cater each customer’s whims.

From the pink and purple Royal Siam room inspired by Thai culture, the blue room dedicated to Grecian motif to the orange-hued room warmed by Spanish influences, and the presidential Indian suite adorned by tasteful décor, Andanita is an ideal resting and relaxation spot for travelers.

Though not yet fully open to the public, the spa is another entity that completes the package deal from Andanita.

Asked what their unique place means to them, Neph answers, “Andanita is a realization of the founders’ dream of creating a niche in Tagaytay’s hotel and restaurant industry, an area usually crowded with ‘wanting’ service. Our long-term goal is to be one of the yardsticks. It means excellent service and a one-of-a-kind experience.

Andanita Taj of Tagaytay is located at 5059 Aguinaldo Highway (Cavite–Batangas National Highway), Laurel, Metro Tagaytay.