Friday, June 22, 2007 dining

by Jen Freeman
 

Cyma

Cyma, in Greek, means "to flourish", and this little restaurant certainly seems to be living up to it's name. It's not so easy to find, being tucked away in a quiet corner of the mall, but it was full to bursting point and we had to wait for a table.

Once seated, we were served by a friendly waiter who advised us about the menu options, and described in detail what comprised each dish - something many other
Boracay restaurant staff are often unable to do.

There's such a warmth and friendliness about this cosy restaurant, and the delicious aromas assail the senses before you even step inside.

Amongst other things, our group enjoyed the Mezedes Selection, Saganaki (flaming cheese), Spinach and Artichoke Fondue, Lamb Gyros, Marlin Steak, Ossobuca Pasta, Chicken Kebabs, and a tasty anchovy dish (the name of which I can't remember).
 

There's such a warmth and friendliness about this cosy restaurant, and the delicious aromas assail the senses before you even step inside. Amongst other things, our group enjoyed the Mezedes Selection, Saganaki (flaming cheese), Spinach and Artichoke Fondue, Lamb Gyros, Marlin Steak, Ossobuca Pasta, Chicken Kebabs, and a tasty anchovy dish (the name of which I can't remember).

 

The mouthwatering food is served quickly by the attentive staff, and you can watch your meal being prepared at the open kitchen. I'd highly recommend this little restaurant, but book in advance during high season to avoid disappointment.

Thursday, June 21, 2007

I'd been dying to get back to this popular Spanish Tapas restaurant in the mall since my first visit with friends a few months ago. Then, we munched on cold cuts and appetizers while enjoying a couple of beers. This time, Joe and I headed for the main course menu with something a bit more substantial in mind.

According to the the background information on the menu, the owners are not Spanish, nor have they lived in Spain, but they were inspired to open Ole by their love of Spanish cuisine. Not having been to Spain myself, I am unable to comment on the authenticity of the food, but I did notice a couple of Spaniards sitting at tables outside, and that's a good sign.

As a starter, we ordered a dish of artichoke, ham and onions in olive oil, served with garlic bread. I'd had this dish before, and liked it so much I even learned to make it at home. This time it was a little heavy on the onions, but still really good.

For our main course we ordered chicken skewers (the Spanish name escapes me) and chicken breasts in a mushroom, wine and cream sauce. This is where we made our mistake, if you can call it that. Both dishes were very large, and had we known in advance we would have ordered just one and shared it between the two of us.

The food was excellent though, and the waitress was happy to box up what we couldn't finish so that we could take it home. Evidently our friends at the next table experienced the same thing, as they came over to share a plate of delicious seafood spaghetti which they too were unable to finish.

Ole is a little pricy, but bearing in mind the size of the portions, it balances out. Unless you are particularly ravenous, one main course will probably be enough for two. All in all, we thought this place was great - friendly staff, efficient service, nice ambience, and of course, good food.

We must have passed Mongkok a hundred times since it opened, but a couple of days ago we finally decided to give this restaurant a try. We grabbed a table outside (much cooler) and began to peruse the menus. Bewilderingly, there were two of these - one with photos and no prices, and one with prices and no photos, so having found something on one which looked appetizing, we then had to search for it again to discover the cost.

There are a number of interesting items on offer, such as Century Egg, Fish Head Dimsum, Tripe Dimsum and more than one dish involving chickens feet. However, we were feeling a little more conservative and chose Salt and Pepper Squid, (below) together with Beef & Broccoli with Oyster Sauce, and Salad Shrimp Puffs. Our side order of fried rice had to be specially arranged, as the only fried rice listed on the menu was the Yang Chow Fried Rice, which comes with meat and vegetables, and is almost a dish in itself. The chef was able to accommodate us without any problems though.

The squid was excellent - soft and tender, cooked in a light batter, with just the right amount of mild chillis. It came with a vinegar dip, which was the perfect compliment to the dish.

The squid was excellent - soft and tender, cooked in a light batter, with just the right amount of mild chillis. It came with a vinegar dip, which was the perfect compliment to the dish.

The Beef and Broccoli was also pretty tasty - though I personally found the meat a little fatty and slightly chewy, the broccoli was cooked to perfection (on the crunchy side, just how I like it) and the sauce (with carrots, ginger and green onions) was delicious

The Salad Shrimp Puffs were a little disappointing though. Perhaps they had been cooked in advance and then reheated, as the edges were nice and crispy while the middles were soggy and not very appetizing. The mayo dip was pretty uninspiring too.

All in all I have mixed feelings about this place. To be honest, we already had pre-conceived ideas about this kind of neon-lit, generic chain restaurant, and in many ways we were pleasantly surprised. However the prices were higher than I expected (though not ridiculously high), and this conflicted with some other aspects
of the place. For example, our drinks being served to the table in the can, complete with cracked plastic glasses? - a little shoddy.

The staff were attentive, though at one point I almost wanted to asked them to back off a little while we were eating and give us some space - they hovered a bit too much. The ambience was OK - not what you'd call romantic, due to the busy location in the mall plaza, but nice nonetheless. Live music was provided by the Hobbit House band across the street, and its fun people-watching as the diminutive sized touts tried to hustle the customers inside for an overpriced beer. Would we go back? Yes, if only for another plate of that pepper squid, and perhaps to try the appetizing looking soups..

Tuesday, June 12, 2007

Crafty's Rooftop
 

Whether you are exhausted from a shopping spree in the mall, or just want to escape from the crowds on White Beach, Crafty's Rooftop Bar is a great place to enjoy a meal and a drink. Situated on the roof of the new Craft's superstore, the bar and coffee shop offer excellent views of the sunset - and a cool refreshing breeze.

Despite being relatively new, the place already has a crowd of devoted regular customers, lured back time and time again by the tasty food and friendly company. I have developed quite an addiction to their deli-style sandwiches.

As well as regular white and brown bread, you can also order them on Ciabatta or Foccacia bread. There is a wide range of fillings to choose from - my favourite is the smoked salmon with cream cheese, but the steak with caramelised onions and the chicken with roasted vegetables are also delicious.

Other tasty treats include breakfasts (possibly the best English breakfast on the island), baked potatoes (with choice of fillings), burgers, salads, toasted sandwiches, stuffed potato skins and delicious cakes.

Crafty's Bar have recently started serving quite an extensive menu of Indian food during the evenings, and the bar also claims to have the widest selection of imported beers in Boracay.

Reputed to be the best budget restaurant on the island, Smoke Resto (at the back of the mall, wet market section) serves reasonably priced Filipino dishes, sizzling skillets and freshly grilled specials. Should you desire, you can purchase your own fresh seafood and avail of the cooking service at this restaurant, for a small fee.

As well as Filipino breakfasts (beef tapa, longanisa etc) omelettes, sandwiches and noodles are available, and main course dishes include tasty meals such as Creamy Oriental Chicken, Spicy Garlic Pork, Beef Teriyake, Pan Grilled Chicken with BBQ Sauce, Bicol Express, Stuffed Squid with Sizzled Vegetables, Fish Curry, Steamed Crab in Lemon & Garlic and Calamares Fritos.

Smoke is a friendly and relaxed eatery, popular with Filipinos and foreigners alike. Chill to the reggae beats and watch the world go by as you enjoy a tasty meal without breaking the bank!

Saturday, June 9, 20073

Lemon Cafe
 

In the busy mall plaza, the soothing lemon coloured décor at the aptly named Lemon Café is a veritable oasis of calm, and offers the perfect respite from the heat of the day - as well as being an ideal vantage point for a spot of people watching. The restaurant serves a selection of breakfast options and light meals, and the emphasis here is on “creative modern cuisine”, with dishes which are both delicious and healthy. The breads and patisserie selections are prepared on site at the café’s own little bakery, and the menu lists dishes as diverse as eggs benedict, Thai lemon chicken ciabatta and pan-fried fillet of Mahi Mahi (served on warm potato salad with spicy caper dressing).

A popular lunchtime favourite is the Lemons Club Sandwich (chicken, bacon and prawns with salad and pesto mayo), and the Steak & Onion Sandwich though simple, is juicy and full of flavour.

Additional main courses are usually displayed on the specials board, and these innovative creations earned chef Peter Montemayor the first prize in Boracay's Iron Chef competition last April..

While Lemon Cafe might not be the first place which springs to mind when thinking of dinner, there is a good choice of main meals on offer, such as Roasted Chicken with Lemon and Thyme. Be sure to try one of the refreshing iced juice drinks, such as the mint and pineapple crush, and for dessert the chocolate mousse and the caramel cup are mouthwateringly good.