Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
biryani (P195), samosas (P75), baba ganoush (P110) and
naan bread which you can wash down with a mango
lassi (P85). There's another branch on the second floor of
Ayala.
Daily 10am-8pm.
Vienna Kaffeehaus
General Maxilom Ave
T
032 688
8922,
W
viennakaffeehaus.com.
Founded more than
twenty years ago by an expat Austrian, the
Kaffeehaus
-
now a franchise with numerous branches - is a little corner
of imperial Europe in the tropics. There are nine types
of coffee including Viennese iced coffee and excellent
espresso. The lunch and dinner menu is also Austrian, with
wholesome goulash, schnitzel (P280) and delicious home-
made sauerkraut and sausage.
Daily 9am-midnight.
Café Georg
, on the ground floor of the MLD Building in
Banilad.
Daily 10am-9pm.
LAHUG AND BANILAD
A Café
Crossroads Mall, Banilad
T
032 505 5692,
W
theabacagroup.com/a-cafe.
Tucked away at the back
of the Crossroads Mall, this small but sophisticated café-
restaurant has a wide-ranging menu offering everything
from battered fish burgers (P375) to classic mac and
cheese, all served up by sleek staff clad in black.
Daily
7am-10pm.
Chika-An Sa Cebu
Salinas Drive
T
032 233 0350,
W
creativecuisinegourmetgroup.com/chikaan.
A Cebu
institution that serves popular rustic food such as chicken
or pork barbecue sticks (P36),
lechon kawali
(crispy pork;
P159), sizzling
bangus
(P149)
and
bulalo
. There's another
branch in SM City Mall.
Daily 11.30am-2pm & 6-10pm.
Golden Cowrie
Salinas Drive
T
032 233 4670,
W
golden
cowrienativerestaurant.com.
The interior is Philippine Zen
with cream walls and dark-wood furniture and there's a
pleasant outdoor dining area. Favourite dishes include
green mango salad (P65), blue marlin (P167) and pork Bicol
(P129). There are less atmospheric branches at Robinsons
Cybergate Fuente Osmeña and as
Hukad
, at The Terraces.
Daily 11am-2pm & 6-10pm.
Marina Seafood Restaurant
Nivel Hills, Lahug
T
032
233 9454.
Laidback native-style alfresco restaurant on a
hill above the city (a taxi from the centre will cost P100).
Two people can feast on tuna belly, grilled marlin and
shrimps with chilli and coconut for about P300 a head.
Daily 11am-8pm.
Olio
Crossroads Mall, Banilad
T
032 238 2391.
High-end
fusion restaurant specializing in seafood and steaks, with a
tempting but expensive (P1100-4700) wine list. The 400g
New York steak (P1400) is a carnivorous treat. Other good
meals include herb-crusted rack of lamb with crispy potatoes
(P1400), or for a light lunch there's mozzarella and tomato
salad (P550).
Daily 11am-2pm & 6-11pm.
★
6
AYALA CENTER, THE TERRACES AND
AROUND
Canvas
Level 2, The Terraces
T
032 417 1978.
Australian-owned art café serving a wonderfully eclectic
selection of fusion and single cuisine dishes. Appetizers
include wasabi- and
dalandan
- (a local sweet citrus fruit)
battered garlic prawns (P340), while mains run the
gauntlet from Japanese to traditional Aussie pub grub -
the beef and onion pie with mash and peas (P260) is a
surefire winner.
Daily 11am-11pm.
★
Cyma
Garden Level, The Terraces
T
032 417 1351,
W
cymarestaurants.com.
Delicious Greek salads,
dolmadakia
(stuffed vine leaves; P230), tzatziki (P275) and souvlaki in an
attractive Greek-themed restaurant. They also have branches
in Manila and Boracay.
Daily 11am-10.30pm.
La Buona Forchetta
139 Acacia St
T
032 231 3398.
Finding this place is half the fun, but once you're here the
staff are welcoming, the dining room is cosy and the food is
superb. Fresh pasta is the house speciality, but the pizzas
are also excellent (both P450-500).
Daily 11am-2pm &
6-11pm.
Lemon Grass Restaurant
Level 1, The Terraces
T
032
233 8601.
Bright restaurant with garden views. Thai and
Vietnamese dishes are as close to authentic as they can be,
with lots of well-seasoned and spicy coconut curries. The
banh xeo
(sizzling Vietnamese crêpes; P245) are also delicious,
and to refresh your palate there's citrus and herb lemonade
(P85) or Singha beer for P120.
Daily 11am-11pm.
Mesa
Level 1, The Terraces
T
032 505 6372.
This busy
restaurant serves traditional Filipino dishes with a modern
twist. Try
salpicao
ostrich (cooked with soy and garlic;
P345), pomelo salad with
latik
(coconut cream; P265) or
sea bass steamed in
dayap
(key lime) and chilli (P95 per
100g).
Daily 9am-10.30pm.
Oh Georg! Coffee & Dessert Bar
Level 1, Ayala Center
T
032 233 4735.
In a mall chock-full of fast-food
restaurants and coffee shops, this one deserves special
mention. The menu includes a usually delicious soup of
the day, Greek salads (P190) and a Mexican salad (P225)
that's big enough to share. There's another branch, called
Spice Fusion
Banilad Town Center (BTC)
T
032 344
2923.
A small, stylish and very popular fusion restaurant
with appealing dishes such as mango curry chicken (P288),
ginger clams and coffee curry pork ribs.
Daily 11am-2pm
& 6-10pm.
The Tinder Box
Next to Crossroads Mall
T
032 234
1681.
Classy restaurant with informal dining at the
downstairs deli or more refined service in the main dining
room. Hearty breakfasts include smoked farmer's ham
and Cheddar cheese omelette (P245), and imported US
steaks (P1225-1395) are dinner favourites with the
upscale clientele, which includes politicians and local
celebs. The deli has a great range of tasty goodies, while
the comfy leather sofas in the bar are the perfect place
for a pre-dinner cocktail (P222). There's a less-well stocked
branch at the airport.
Daily 7am-midnight.
