Best bet

FOOD REVIEW: Kagay-anon Restaurant, Cagayan de Oro City

If you are in Cagayan de Oro City and you want to gather friends or colleagues for a mini-feast, the best destination is always Kagay-anon Restaurant. Located inside the Limketkai Complex, Kagay-anon is center to everything, a walking distance from my usual hotel, and a moonwalk’s distance from the mall.

 

 

 

Kagay-anon serves Filipino food. There are no fireworks in the food and the taste (perhaps maybe because I am Filipino and I’ve tasted everything there is to taste about traditional Flipino food). But the service is impeccable and the presentation is fine.

Dining with some 12 people was a breeze. We ordered anything that had four legs when it was alive – crispy pata, sizzling pochero, kare-kare. We ate as if there’s no tomorrow and cardiac arrest is a myth. Then we had beer. Their ostrich meat is also a must-taste.

At the end of the feast, we realized all the food was gone. Good, good company. Time flies when you’re having all that fun.

RATING: Three stars. (No fireworks but you can never go wrong here)

Top of the Perch

Food Review: Claude’s cafe de Ville

In terms of who’s best in fine dining food and destination in Davao City, I could not think of any other better choice that Claude’s. Started as a small cafe in one of Davao’s narrow downtown streets, the restaurant moved into an old house of the Oboza Family and transformed the 18th century mansion into a work of visual, experiential and gastronomic art.

(CLICK IMAGE TO ENLARGE)

We ordered veal beef and chicken, which were both superb. The wine was a little dry, but nevertheless helped the food reach its potential. The place was full and packed but there was a feeling of intimate privacy still created by an ambiance of candle lights and low music. Claude, as always, hops from table to table to see if the food was okay.

After the meal was a quick tour of the porch/waiting area featuring old photos and memorabilias of the Oboza family while relaxing on a great viw of the manicured lawn and slightly obstructed (by trees) view of the streets. This is the same feeling you get when you are in a very small town in a far corner of the Philippines looking out from the biggest stone house (balay na bato) and into the narrow made-for-calesa streets. Rustic, warm, stirring.

The price is apt for fine dining and exclusivity but far lower than similar restaurants in Manila. Definitely must visit for everyone.

Rating: Five Stars (I’ll be here daily if I can afford it.)

Deliciously slow

FOOD REVIEW:  Moon Cafe (Abreeza Mall, Davao City)

I entered Mooon Cafe (Abreeza) with sky-high expectations. The restaurant, started by a group of artists who converted an old house in Cebu City into an artistic Mexican-fusion restaurant, is one of my favorites in the Queen City of the South. I did not expect the Spanish talking parking kid attendant, or the cozy village feel of the main branch in Guadalupe, or the delightful chaos of the IT Park branch, but I expected Mooon Cafe taste, Mooon Cafe service and the Mooon Cafe feel.

The feel was there — the rough, outback Mexican theme and the revolving ceiling blade fans. The food though was a little dry and fast-foody. I ordered my all-time Mooon favorites Gambas and Chicken Mozarella (sorry no Baby back Ribs or Mooon Steak, this time).  They met expectations and I went home full, satisfied and fulfilled.

But I wondered why the waiters were so busy harrying about when the restaurant is not full. And why they are all at the counter talking. Or why the guy cleaning up the other table, took our orders then went back clearing the table. Or why the plastic-covered menu was sticky. Or why the spoon and fork, despite wrapped by a napkin still rubbed the surface of the table. Or why the water took so long. Or why three guy waiters converged o na  single lady client while others waved frantically for attention.

Perhaps the good guys at Thirsty, who rescued and propelled the Mooon brand to the galaxy should take a look at the Davao branch. Or maybe (hopefully) the pretty waitresses with their pretty skirts from IT Park should come teach the Davao boys.

Rating: 3 Stars (not disappointing. Will come back if in the mood).

Lunching in the Sky

FOOD REVIEW: Unnamed restaurant somewhere between Digos and Gen. Santos cities

I don’t think there is a restaurant that combines ground-level price, sky-high taste and spectacular view like this restaurant in the winding mountain highway connecting these two cities in southern Mindanao.

Their menu revolves around native chicken so there is no choice really. I ordered a pot of stewed chicken (cooked whole, you have to manually dis-member it to eat it) and the whole remaining pot of chicken adobo. The weather is so cool, the once boiling soup was cold in minutes.

The food is not really spectacular, but it has a warm touch of home and the sincerity of a restaurant that is unpretentious, and unadulterated. Just simple, down-to-earth, heavenly tasteful chicken.

My bill hit Php350 (US$7) for two people.

Rating: 4.5 Starts (will definitely come back. if only they have a portable stove to keep the soup warm longer).

Food Review: Ramen Boy

It was never the plan to visit Ramen Boy, tucked in the far corner of Damosa complex. But as all restaurants are full, we had no choice. One thing going for Ramen Boy is the servers know the food well. We quizzed them about some of the offerings and they confidently answered us.
We ordered the very safe tempura bento and Udon noodles. The taste is okay, passable. The shrimp tasted synthetic though. The Udon may also be a little bit undercooked. There is no house tea (which I think is standard to Japanese restaurants, even if they are ‘fast food’). You have to pay Php20 for a cup.
You also don’t feel like you’re getting your money’s worth. My P245 bento had two tempuras, two gyozas, vegetable diligently spread to cover the whole space for it, and rice neatly flattened and spread to look more.
Plus they ran our of maki.
OVERALL RATING: 2 stars (Might not go back)