The relatively short distance from Makati to Quezon City is often made unbearable with our city’s clogged highways, leaving most of us confined to home turf on our spare time. But sometimes, the commute is well worth sitting in a crawling vehicle when great Quezon City food beckons us. Here are seven restaurants so exceptional that they have us navigating north regardless of Waze’s warnings.

Van Gogh is Bipolar

Run by creative magician Jetro Rafael, who also happens to be bipolar, Van Gogh is Bipolar is a bohemian hangout and haven of weary souls. The restaurant serves out artfully-plated set menus which cater to a variety of diets and is designed by Rafael to naturally “heal your mood” through a potion of botanicals, proteins and elixirs. The small restaurant is decorated with Rafael’s artwork and seemingly random items — shoes, tea pots, ticking clocks, and scribbles on the wall — which collectively sew together a tapestry which is so haunting, whimsical and wild that it’s easy to leave your worries (including traffic woes) at the door — right by the refrigerator that houses your shoes that is. Details, check Facebook.com/vgbipolar

Alab

Chef Tatung’s Alab is a mecca of modern Filipino food in the heart of Tomas Morato. The bustling, gritty area benefits from Alab’s sleek and modern facade and interiors, and the cuisine served here is equally vibrant and thoughtful. Tatung, who’s of Cebuano and Bicolano heritage, digs through our archipelago’s hearty fare to bring us the best and reinvent the rest. Make sure to try the Honey Lechon (PHP390) which is fatty, succulent, and fragrant as it’s slowly-roasted for six hours on garlic and lemongrass. Pair that with something lighter, such as the Kinilaw na Isda (PHP280) which finds morsels of tangingue marinated in coconut vinegar, onions, ginger, coriander, and cucumber. Details, check Facebook.com/AlabChefTatung

Maginhawa Food Park

Take a food trip through the metro’s best food trucks at one location. This Maginhawa spot is only open for dinner, but features a wide range of food trucks run by young, passionate foodies. There’s lots of filling, through somewhat unhealthy, food to indulge in here such as milkshakes by Starr’s Famous Shakes, gourmet hotdogs by Schmidt’s Gourmet, French toasts by The Lost Bread, and Thai food by Me Love You Long Time. 91 Maginhawa St, Quezon City.

Mrs. Graham’s

This quaint little cafe on Scout Rallos Street have zeroed in on macrons in peculiar and quirky flavors. The macarons here stray from their French roots as these have a decidedly American-approach with flavors like Inside-Out S’mores, Cookie Dough, Pancake with Maple Buttercream, and French Toast with Peanut Buttercream (PHP45-PHP50 each). Perfect for a spot of merienda, Mrs. Graham’s serves up their sweets on colorful mismatching plates alongside equally decadent drinks for the sweet toothed like Frozen Nutella (PHP160) and Choco Macadamia Latte (PHP145). Details, check Facebook.com/MrsGrahamsCafe

Lemuria Gourmet Restaurant

This hidden fine-dining restaurant in Horseshoe Village feels just like a Mediterranean villa, with luscious vines and bougainvillea enveloping the two-storey restaurant made of terracotta tiles, painted tiles, and homey wooden beams. The menu, which is a mix of French and Italian eats, excels. Do start with the Buerre D’escargots (PHP683) which are cooked in almond and herb butter, and move onto the classic and expertly prepared Duck Leg Confit (PHP1,125) which comes with a French white bean stew. Finish on a sweet note with the Pecatostes (PHP280) which is fried bread cooked in sherry and cinnamon and served with vanilla ice cream. Details, check Facebook.com/Lemuria.Gourmet
 

Gourmet Pipino

Herbivores don’t have many options in the metro, which makes a trip to vegan restaurant, Pipino, in Malingap Teacher’s Village, worth the commute. This restaurant, which was opened by the same folks that brought us the nearby Hillside Cafe and Juice Bar, specializes in comfort local fare, without the meat or animal products. On the Pinoy menu is Pinakbet Risotto (PHP265) which includes okra tempura, tofu chips, grilled eggplant, pickled sigarilyas, and black bean bagoong. But there are other eats too, including the Potato Chilaquiles (PHP285) and the Lentil Bolognese (PHP195). Details, check Facebook.com/PipinoVeg

NINYO Fusion Cuisine & Wine Lounge

This quiet Loyola Heights restaurant with a luscious garden setting is not faithful to any particular cuisine, but has strong inflections of Japanese and French cuisine. There are set menus to be had at this romantic spot, but the a la carte menu is equally strong. The Akadashi Miso Rack of Lamb (PHP1,800) is buttery and tender and plated with truffled wasabi mashed potato croquettes which are crusted with Japanese puffed rice. Also noteworthy is the luxurious Uni Balls (PHP420) which find fresh sea urchin wrapped in deep-fried puff pastry. Details, check Facebook.com/NINYO-Fusion-Cuisine-Wine-Lounge