Turning Japanese at Rai Rai Ken (Ayala & IT Park)

By : Neal Jason Cabahug

Out of plan, I had the opportunity of eating at Rai Rai Ken in Ayala. I stared blankly at the menu, not knowing what to order. My friend noticed my confusion and suggested that I tried their Gyoza and chicken tepan bento. Of course, I always like chicken which my friend knew, thus the suggestion. I got curious with their ramen line-up, and so I asked for garlic and chili ramen, anticipating it to be deliciously hot and spicy. My friend ordered a buta niku misono bento with bottomless iced tea. Many are really addicted to iced tea... and so was I. Bottomless iced tea for me also.

Then I caught sight of what the waiter delivered to the couple in the next table. A tray of sushi and maki, which now is among my favorites particularly California maki.

Our orders came, and I hesitantly nibbled on the food on my plate. Little by little I found myself wanting for more and more and geez, my plate was empty already! It was good! Though alienated at first, I had a lovely meal and a can of beer. They also have fresh fruits shakes and juices, as well as the common softdrinks but beer seemed to be the best finale.

Rai Rai Ken also has snack meals - the oishi saver snack which I tried out and found yummy when I tried their branch at IT park. They have chicken ramen, beef yakiniku ramen and a lot more. I don't know if it is offered for a certain period of time but I noticed it written on their table menu that free iced tea is given when you order a combination of any ramen and appetizers.

With their food that pleased my taste buds so much, I'm sure to be back at Rai Rai Ken before the week ends. Hope their freebies will still be available.

La Gondola

by : Bert Mendoza

Taken from the name of a famous boat in Venice, Italy, “Gondola,” this restaurant is one of the best Italian restaurants here in Cebu, as far as taste and service is concerned. It does not only serve pasta alone but its array of delectable dishes also includes steaks and desserts that can only be found in La Gondola. Conveniently located at Waterfront Hotel in Lahug, famous local personalities and Italian food enthusiasts love to dine here.

I was able to dine here and the experience was truly unforgettable because of the kind of service that I got from their friendly and accommodating staff. Foods are also served on time and you do not have to wait that much in order to have a taste of their delicious menus. Your orders are already prepared and freshly cooked the way you want them to be. Although they are catering to the class A and B crowd, there are also food choices that are affordable. I would like to mention their baked lasagna and spaghetti that is cooked the Italian way and very much different from the traditional ones we see in fast food chains. I am not really fond of eating pasta but because of my dining experience here, I am already a pasta lover.

Another best thing here is the seafood cuisine. They have lobsters, shrimps that you can indulge yourself with and choose the way you would like to have them cooked. La Gondola is truly one of a kind and worth coming back for.

Right after every meal, you can also indulge in La Gondola’s array of drinks from wines, juices and soft drinks. Fresh fruit juices and shakes are also available. I would like to single out their Italian ice cream, which I really loved so dearly.

My experience at La Gondola although short was truly worth remembering. I promised myself to go back there sometime and once again have a taste of their delectable dishes. I am thankful to my friend, who is in London now for introducing La Gondola to me. Now I am sharing this experience to you so that you too will know how wonderful it is to dine at La Gondola. Enjoy!!!

AA BBQ (Guadalupe & Banilad)

By Neal Jason Cabahug

Seafoods cooked to one's specification is a trend nowadays. People like it when they choose a fresh fish or prawn, or squid among others and then have it cooked the way they fancy it. Many restaurants have taken on this style knowing how people chose this over the traditional set-up of choosing from what's already cooked and ready.

Indeed, this is IN and not unusual. What makes AA different?

AA's BBQ is sooooo light to the pocket. However we like the food to be cooked, we can be assured of a sumptuous meal at an affordable cost. Dining out can be a regular
thing without feeling guilty for extravagance.

So, if you fancy sizzling bangus, spicy squid, sinigang shrimps or lapulapu, grilled kitong or anduhao, sa-ang, and other seafood-based preparations, AA BBQ is greatly
recommended. They also have the usual barbecued chicken, hotdog, chorizo, and dried squid among others. Green mango with bagoong is a sure appetizer and side dish, too.
One more thing, they have a great tasting iced tea served by the pitcher and 1-liter softdinks which makes it more economical if you dine there in groups.

Finally the ambiance, the setting, it's a perfect place to feel at home while enjoying a great meal that is veery budget friendly.

Going Up to MR. A

By Bingo Gonzalez

Mr. A is a resto-bar, which offers a fantastic view of the city. Located at a hilltop in Busay, Cebu City, Mr. A offers a romantic ambiance for dating couples as well as a quiet atmosphere for informal business talks or a night out with friends.

Somehow, dinner and drinks taken under a star-filled night sky and a view of the twinkling multicolored city lights, becomes so relaxing and special .

The restaurant offers a variety of dishes ranging from grilled fish to pasta. Sisig, a delicacy from Pampanga in the northern Philippines, made of grilled pork laced with vinegar and spices, is especially delicious.

It also offers good lengua, a Spanish dish popular in the Philippines, which is ox tongue with gravy.

There’s a good choice of wines, beer and non-alcoholic drinks .

Getting to Mr. A is winding uphill road in Nivel Hills, which is the start of the transcentral highway. Decorative streetlamps line the way until you make a right turn going up another hill. It is located atop a hill, overlooking the city.

At the foot of the hill, just before reaching the restaurant, there are billiard tables under a canopy where a game can be enjoyed with gentle breezes wafting. A near-by bar also offers drinks.

Don’t forget to bring a light jacket as the air can get nippy. But then again, this could be a good excuse to snuggle up and enjoy the moment more.

Bigby's... a place to be.

Bigby's Cafe
Ayala Entertainment Center
Ayala Center, Cebu City


By Neal Jason Cabahug

There are times when our tastebuds look for something uniquely nice. When I get into this, Bigby's is one of the great places that comes to my mind.

Just days ago, I went around the city finding a cool quiet place to pass my time by.
After hours of mindless driving, I stopped by Ayala with the intention of trying out new restaurants. Not that the restaurants I've been to were off my system already...it was just that I seemed to be looking for something. Walking past the food establishments in the Ayala mall with posters of their specialties stirring my confusion and heightening my hunger, I found myself settling in a corner table of the Bigby's restaurant.

The yellow-clothed staff's smiles made me feel at home instantly. And though my eyes were still busy looking through their menu, my voice already spoke out what was in my heart... "Deep sea pasta and grilled veggies panini please. Then a glass of my all-time favorite bottomless iced tea."

True that almost all eating centers offer iced tea as well, some just simply have their iced teas tasting super. And at Bigby's, it's bottomless! The nice thing is that the staff don't wait to be asked for a re-fill...they are there immediately beside you even if your glass is just half-empty.

Of course, what I ordered was just a "paper in a ream"... there are many other dishes to choose from. If you are the type who can't live without rice, they've got a mouth-watering grilled pork belly topped with spiced sauce and vegetable sidings.
Don't like meat? Love pasta? A monster for sandwiches? Can't start without soup? Bigby's is sure to fill you in with satisfaction.

Lemon Grass (Thai & Vietnamese Restaurant)

Lemon Grass (Thai and Vietnamese Restaurant)
Ayala Entertainment Center
Ayala Center, Cebu



By: Bert Mendoza

I have been to this restaurant twice and I just can’t help but appreciate its uniqueness and versatility in terms of taste. Lemon Grass Restaurant offers a combination of Thai and Vietnamese cuisine all rolled into one. Truly one of a kind that is. Although it is not that spacious, the ambiance and service is great. Foods are served on time and their staffs are very friendly and accommodating. Their waitresses look good in their Thai and Vietnamese costumes that are very colorful and eye catching. It will make you feel more comfortable and at home. It is a perfect venue for lunch and dinner dates.

Lemon Grass is very accessible. Located just inside the Ayala Entertainment Center, it is so easy to get there. Because it’s inside a big mall, everything is within your reach. If you ran out of cash, ATM machines are available nearby. After a sumptuous lunch or dinner, coffee shops like Bo’s and Starbucks are just outside. It is really very easy to go to considering the fact that it is right at the heart of Cebu’s financial district. Dining is indeed fun at Lemon Grass Restaurant.

Of course the most important of all are the foods served. If you are fond of Oriental cuisines that are full of spices, this restaurant is the place to go to. They serve a different kind of spring roll, which is very delectable. You should also try their shrimp soup, which is cooked the traditional Thai way full of spices and a good start up for another sumptuous lunch and dinner. Their “bagoong rice” is truly mouth watering which makes it my all time favorite. I never missed to order one whenever I go there. They also serve a variety of fish, beef and chicken menu all garnished with Thai and Vietnamese spices. For your drinks, try their lemonade juice. It is thirst quenching and one of a kind because of a special ingredient only Lemon Grass knows.

The introduction of restaurants such as Lemon Grass in Cebu is a milestone in the City’s culinary industry. It is only in this restaurant where the traditional cuisine of Asia’s two countries Thailand and Vietnam merged. It is just like you are in these countries yourself. You do not have to go that far in order to have a taste of Thai and Vietnamese cuisine. At Ayala Center Cebu, everything is already there and Lemon Grass is part of it. Lemon Grass Restaurant is an ideal place to indulge in for a satisfying Thai and Vietnamese culinary experience.