50’s Diner Delights

Dubbed as the “Summer Capital” of the Philippines, Baguio city has long attracted visitors from all over the country and abroad. The lush pine foliage and cool climate that lured American settlers in the early 18th century still entice tourists today. Remnants of the American occupation are still evident all over the city. One notable tribute to that period is Glenn 50’s Diner.

Retro-themed Glenn 50's Diner Shopfront

Living up to its name, 50’s diner is an American themed restaurant inspired by the Hollywood glamour of the 50’s and 60’s. It was founded in 1994 by Tony Candelaria, a former actor. “It was originally a Chinese restaurant however tourism flailed after the 1990 earthquake. Our sales went down, so we conceptualized a new restaurant, influenced by American culture” Candelaria said.

Located in the heart of Baguio City, on General Luna Road, the blinking red and blue neon 50’s diner sign makes it very easy to spot. Upon entering the diner, it feels as if you are transported to an American ice cream parlor depicted in many Hollywood movies. A few American customers dining lazily in the crowd strengthen the vibe.

A waitress clad in a white and blue-striped navy uniform will greet you as you enter and lead you to one of several red counter-top booths. Adorning the pink walls are various Hollywood memorabilia. The eyes of iconic movie stars like James Dean, Lana Turner, Humphrey Bogart and Audrey Hepburn stare down at you as you sit. The posters of Casablanca and Psycho pry your attention away from browsing the menu. While you wait for your order, the famous picture of Marilyn Monroe’s windswept dress will keep you entertained.

Old Hollywood movie posters and promotional material adorning the walls

“We are famous for our grilled steaks and burgers. We have also included several Filipino and Chinese favorites like Lumpia and Tapsilog along the way,” Candelaria said. When you peruse the menu it can be quite surprising that the prices range only from P85-200.

Another surprise will hit you when the food comes. A serving of 50’s special burger with large potato wedges at P85 is almost as big as the serving plate, more than enough for two people to share. “We do burgers the American way, marinated and packaged, ready to fry with large servings,” Candelaria said. The 50’s burger can be quite heavy on the stomach; biting into it you can notice that the patty is pure beef. It would be wise to have someone share to share it with to make room for other dishes.

50's Diner Burger with potato wedges

Another favorite at 50’s is the chicken plate which consists of three servings of chicken with rice or potato wedges. The chicken by itself is quite bland; however the gravy that accompanies it gives it a kick.

“Our primary customers are teenager. We thus try to make special meals for them at prices they can afford,” Candelaria explained as he watched a waitress serve a plate of “Guys on the Hood”. The dish is a hodgepodge of chicken, spaghetti, salad, steamed rice and potatoes and a large helping of garlic bread, all for the price of P130.00

A plate of chicken, spaghetti, garlic bread and steamed vegetables

Candelaria mused about the glory days of 50’s Diner. We used to have roller-skating waitresses here a few years back, but we moved to a smaller location. It’s a pity that we can’t do that now, he said.

If you still have room in your stomach after the main meal, perhaps you can sample their signature desserts. The pancake

6 pancakes stacked on top of one another make up this pancake tower

tower is a feast for the eyes. Six stacked pancakes sandwich banana and mango slices and is glazed with mango and orange sauce. Shredded cheese and a cherry on top complete the sweet confection.

What better way to drown down the extremely sweet and fluffy pancake tower than by ordering one of 50’s ice cream shakes. The sinfully sweet shakes come in vanilla, ube, chocolate and strawberry flavors. “The strawberry shakes are extremely popular when they are in season, we get quality strawberries right here in Baguio,” Candelaria said.

In the next table Paula Chua smiled slightly and stirred her vanilla shake as she reminisced about going to 50’s as a child. “I loved the skating waitresses. It was amusing to watch as they zipped around to deliver food. Whenever I’m here I feel like I’m in the 70’s, the neon lights gives it a very retro feel,” she said.

Candelaria said in return, “We have loyal customers who grew up with us here and we don’t want to lose them. That is why even when prices go up, we try to maintain our large servings and low prices.

In terms of food, 50’s diner will not offer you anything extremely unique. However it gives you great value for your money. The atmosphere alone is an experience in itself. As you eat, Elvis, the Platters and Frank Sinatra will croon you with their love songs while Michael Jackson and the Beatles will have you tapping your feet and wishing that the bright red jukebox in one corner is still working.

Red Buggy outside 50's

As you leave you can notice a red 1960’s buggy in the parking lot with several people crowding it. “That’s an original buggy, we used to place it on top of the 50’s sign, but the new place is too small for that so we have it here in front so customers can take pictures if they wish," Candelaria said.

So the next time you visit Baguio city, you may want to stop by this one of a kind diner. Not only is it easy on the budget, but it gives you a glimpse of the American culture and presence that was once so prevalent in the city not too long ago.