Getting a group of elementary classmates together for dinner sounds simple until you actually try to plan it. Everyone’s scattered across the city now, some with kids, some with odd work schedules, and the group chat had been going in circles for weeks with no one committing to a place. It took one friend dropping a single suggestion, Olivia’s Fusion Cafe in Diliman, to finally get everyone to agree on something.
None of us had been there before, but the name alone did enough to spark curiosity. Fusion cafe, sinigang paella on the menu, truffle pasta next to it. It sounded different enough from the usual reunion spots to be worth the trip, and after years of not seeing each other, different felt like exactly what the night needed.
What started as an overdue catch-up dinner turned into a genuinely good meal, one we ended up talking about almost as much as we talked about old times.
TL;DR
- Olivia’s Fusion Cafe in Diliman, Quezon City, was the answer when our elementary batch finally planned a long overdue reunion dinner
- The sinigang paella and truffle pasta were the clear standouts on the table
- We also ordered onion rings, beef tapa, and chicken inasal to round out the spread
- Portions were large enough to share across the group, which worked well for a reunion-sized table
- Prices lean moderate-to-higher, but the serving sizes made it easier to justify
- Parking near the QC branch is tight, typical of the Tomas Morato area
- A solid pick for group dinners, especially when no one in the chat can agree on where to go
How a Group Chat Standoff Ended at Olivia’s
Anyone who has tried to organize a reunion knows the real challenge isn’t getting people to say yes to meeting up. It’s getting them to agree on where. Our group chat had been stuck for weeks, full of “anywhere’s fine” messages that meant nobody actually wanted to decide.
One friend finally broke the deadlock by suggesting Olivia’s Fusion Cafe, a spot he’d heard about but hadn’t tried himself. Nobody had a strong opinion either way, which after weeks of indecision was reason enough to just go with it.
Located at 124 Scout Lozano St. in Diliman, close to Tomas Morato, Olivia’s turned out to be an easy sell once everyone saw the menu. It’s open daily from around 7:00 AM to 11:00 PM, so a dinner reservation was never going to be an issue. There’s also a newer branch in BF Homes, Parañaque, on President’s Ave., though we’d suggest confirming its hours directly since it hasn’t been around as long as the original.
For a night that was less about the food and more about seeing everyone again after so long, Olivia’s ended up being a better choice than any of us expected.
The Sinigang Paella and Truffle Pasta We Couldn’t Stop Talking About
Of everything on the table that night, two dishes stood out enough that they kept coming up in conversation well after the plates were cleared: the sinigang paella and the truffle pasta.
The sinigang paella was the more unexpected order of the two. Sinigang is a dish most of us grew up eating at home, sour and comforting in equal measure, and seeing it reworked into a paella format wasn’t something anyone at the table had come across before. It’s the kind of dish that makes you pause before ordering, mostly because you’re not entirely sure what to expect until it lands on the table.
The truffle pasta took the meal in a different direction. Where the sinigang paella felt like a reinterpretation of something familiar, the truffle pasta leaned into the richer, more indulgent side of the menu. Between the two, the table split pretty evenly on which one they liked more, which says a lot about how well both dishes held their own.
For a reunion dinner where half the fun was catching up and the other half was figuring out what to order next, these two dishes gave everyone something to talk about besides old memories.
Everything Else We Ordered
Beyond the two standouts, we rounded out the meal with onion rings, beef tapa, and chicken inasal, giving the table a decent mix of dishes to pass around.
The onion rings worked well as an easy starter while everyone was still catching up and deciding what else to get. Beef tapa and chicken inasal, meanwhile, are more familiar territory, Filipino classics that most cafes in the area serve in some form. Having them next to the paella and pasta gave the meal a good balance between comfort food and the more inventive fusion dishes Olivia’s is known for.
For a group dinner where not everyone has the same taste, having that range on the table made ordering a lot less complicated than it could have been.
Portions, Prices, and Whether It’s Worth It
Prices at Olivia’s land on the moderate-to-higher side for the neighborhood, which is worth knowing going in, especially if you’re used to the more casual spots along Tomas Morato.
What tends to offset that, based on our own dinner and what other diners commonly point out, is the portion sizes. Servings are often large enough to split between two or more people, which matters a lot once you’re ordering for a table of former classmates rather than just one or two people.
Seasonal offerings are also part of the picture. Holiday platters and special set menus show up periodically, so if you’re planning a group dinner around a particular occasion, it’s worth checking their Instagram beforehand to see what’s currently available. Menus and promos shift, and the most current version of what’s on offer will always be there rather than on any static listing.
Parking and the Two Locations
If there’s one practical note worth flagging before a group dinner here, it’s parking. Space around the QC branch can be tight, though this isn’t unique to Olivia’s. It’s a common issue for most establishments along the Tomas Morato strip, where street parking fills up fast, especially in the evening.
If you’re coordinating a group like we did, it’s worth giving everyone a heads-up in advance so people aren’t circling the block looking for a spot right before dinner.
Beyond the original Diliman location, Olivia’s now has a second branch in BF Homes, Parañaque. Since it’s the newer of the two, it’s worth calling ahead or checking their social media to confirm hours before making the trip, particularly for a first visit.
For reservations, updated pricing, or anything menu-related, your best bets are their Instagram, their Facebook page, or a direct call to the QC branch at +63 939 800 8808. Delivery may also be available through local apps, though that can vary by branch, so it’s worth checking before assuming it’s an option.
Key Takeaways
- Olivia’s Fusion Cafe in Diliman turned out to be a solid pick for a group that couldn’t agree on where to go for a long overdue reunion
- The sinigang paella and truffle pasta are the two dishes most worth ordering, especially for a table with mixed tastes
- Rounding out a group order with familiar dishes like beef tapa and chicken inasal balances out the more inventive fusion plates
- Portion sizes help justify the moderate-to-higher pricing, especially when splitting dishes across a group
- Parking near the QC branch is limited, consistent with most of Tomas Morato, so it helps to plan ahead as a group
- The BF Homes, Parañaque branch is newer and worth confirming hours for before visiting
- Checking their Instagram before a visit is the most reliable way to catch current promos, set menus, and seasonal platters
What started as one friend’s random suggestion in a stalled group chat ended up being the easiest part of planning the whole reunion. Sometimes the best spots aren’t the ones you research for weeks, they’re the ones someone throws out when nobody else has an answer. If your own group chat is stuck deciding where to go, this might be worth passing along.
