Davao Foodie – Restaurant & Food Reviews

December 7th, 2011

A Night at Don Beppe

My friends Gil, Meg and Heidi and I gathered for an intimate dinner at a newly-opened Italian Restaurant, Don Beppe Ristorante Italiano, located in The Peak, Gaisano Mall. “The Peak” is Gaisano’s answer to Ayala’s Abreeza Mall and SM’s aggressive expansions in the north and south of the city. Don Beppe started out with its first restaurant in Bonifacio Street, but later decided to move Gaisano Mall to capture a larger clientele. Lo and behold, Don Beppe’s brand-new store opened only a few weeks ago.
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Posted in Italian Restaurants | 4 Comments »

November 5th, 2011

Masarap Doon sa Sushi Dito

Maki Rolls — one of my favorite things to eat — is a Japanese dish that looks extremely simple and delicate, yet takes a very discriminating palate to tell what’s good and what’s not. Sushi Dito (meaning “Sushi Here” in English) is a new Japanese food joint in Davao that specializes in Maki. I’ve tried only two out of over a dozen they have on their menu and I’m already a fan. The Black Dragon Maki was quite the belly filler. Each slice was over an inch thick and packs a generous Unagi (eel) topping. Just four of these babies will surely quell your hunger. If you go for the eight-piece whopper, well, suffice to say you’d be hard pressed to keep those chopsticks down.
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Posted in Japanese Restaurants | 5 Comments »

August 8th, 2011

Eat Healthy at Leafy Green Things

As far as health buffs are concerned, entrepreneurs Bob and Noreen Wong would like to believe in the mantra “You are what you eat.” Already highly involved in the food business, the pair noticed the absence of restaurants in Davao City that serve healthy and nutritious menus. Bob, an avid runner, and Noreen, a badminton player, toyed with the idea of opening a salad bar. “There was no place in Davao where you could eat after a good workout without wasting your efforts” Noreen complained. And as fate would have it, a commercial space near their Italian resto became available. They snapped it up immediately and began their research.
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Posted in Salad Bars | 7 Comments »

May 18th, 2011

Yellow Fin Seafood and Restaurant

Yellow Fin Seafood and Restaurant, ironically, is one of my favorite haunts not for its seafood, but for its fantastic greaseless chicken, a trend that seemingly exists only in Davao City. Only recently have I been able to taste their other specialties, which I was able to do during the recently-concluded Davao Food Appreciation Tour. Owned by the Angeles family, Yellow Fin goes way back in 1992 when it was still a small karinderya on Quimpo Boulevard. I don’t recall ever eating there, despite that the family of a high school classmate, JC, owned the place. Yellow Fin is now managed by JC’s shrewd younger siblings Marco and Sam, who both made it the success that it is today.
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Posted in Filipino Restaurants | 6 Comments »

September 1st, 2010

Yearning for Ngoyong Haus

Any true blue foodie would try anything he catches wind of. So after hearing good things about Ngoyong Haus, I ventured out to Barrio Obrero with my trusty secretary to look for it. After 30 minutes of searching, I finally reached my destination — a rather inconspicuous eatery composed of a straw hut dining area, a grill station and a small kitchen.
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Posted in Filipino Restaurants | 6 Comments »

August 21st, 2010

Feels Like Home at Tiny Kitchen

As a frequent restaurant diner, I already have a built-in mental blackbook of my favorite haunts in the city. Although I don’t always get the opportunity to eat there, Tiny Kitchen is one of them. Tiny Kitchen is owned by Enteng and Donna Rodriguez, a charming, hands-on couple who never fails to make you feel welcome during every visit. Many of my Manila friends recall Tiny Kitchen as the place to buy gourmet tuyo (dried fish). A few of them even ask me to buy it for them when someone with a trip to the capital comes up. But if you ask me (or my friends), I’m not after the tuyo at all.
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Posted in Filipino Restaurants | 11 Comments »

May 29th, 2010

Crepelato: Crepes to Impress

The new creperie Crepelato opened its doors in the hopes of pleasing Davao city’s sweet tooths. My friends Jim and Anne were enjoying a Mango Float Crepe and Strawberry Crepe when they mentioned about the place in Plurk. Halfway through my Sunburst chicken meal, I thought what better way to cap a chicken dinner than with crepes! (ok that was a stretch)
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Posted in Creperies | 11 Comments »

May 15th, 2010

California Berry Opens in Davao City

I was thrilled to learn that the popular frozen yogurt chain has arrived in Davao City! I dropped by California Berry’s branch in Gaisano Mall earlier today to try their yogurt. They offered me a “promo” wherein I pay only P115 for a medium sized yogurt and get three toppings of my choice. Not bad. I went for the regular yogurt with mangoes, kiwi and almonds. The yogurt had that creamy, slightly sour delicious flavor that I crave. The fruits gave it a tinge of sweetness while the almonds added some crunch. The owner said that one serving is equal to only 38 calories! Whoa. Great news for health buffs such as me.

I’m excited because Gmall is five minutes away from my office. Gives me more reason to drop by the mall more often. If you’re in the area, check them out! California Berry is located in the second floor of Gaisano Mall of Davao, J.P. Laurel Street, Davao City. For more info, visit their website and become a fan of their Facebook page.

Posted in Yogurt Bars | 8 Comments »

May 13th, 2010

Pablo’s Steaks and Crabs

Pablo’s Steaks and Crabs

Among the many Davao restaurants that I love coming back to is Pablo’s Steaks and Crabs. That’s why I was glad to hear that Pablo’s offered to host our dinner on the first day of the Davao Food Appreciation Tour (DFAT), now on its third year. Paolo Sunglao, the resto’s manager, wanted us to have a taste of their newest menu items. In fact, he says that we were the first group of people to ever try them! Cool! Our meal had a food tasting setup. We were given one or two dishes of each entree and passed them around the table for others to try.
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Posted in Steakhouses | 11 Comments »

December 9th, 2009

Johnny Cupcakes

I was having a terrific lunch of Pesto Cream Spaghetti and Grilled Porkchops the other day when my cousin raved about her friend’s cupcakes. I asked her what was special about it. She said they were soft, creamy, rich and downright sinful. I said ok I’m sold, what do I order? She recommended the Red Velvet cupcakes by Johnny Cupcakes.
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Posted in Cafes | 7 Comments »