With Valentine’s Day fast approaching, the Pakalistas thought it would be a great idea to have a Valentine’s Day post. The concept is to list the perfect restaurants for a date this V Day before the event itself. Perfect is such a subjective term though, so you guys may not agree. But here goes…
No mall-based Cebu restaurants for us this Valentine’s Day. Regardless of the good eats that can be had in malls, these restaurants are great for group dates but not for romantic dates. True, it’s not the place but who you’re with that matters, but getting inundated with people and their noise would never be considered romantic however hard you try.
Got Lots of Money?
You can’t put a price tag on love, but you can on all its accessories. – Melanie Clark
For couples with lots of dough, these are the Pakalistas’ recommendations. Most likely, you need reservations to these places. In no particular order…
La Tegola Cucina Italiana (Busay)
Upper Busay, Cebu City
Telephone: 419-2220 233-7435
Fedge: I like Italian dishes especially pizza and pasta. And I am so craving for a Spinach Ravioli! Yes, wala na nasayop ug type Shel, spinach gyud nah. Ingon ana ka lami ilang Spinach Ravioli nga kalimot ko nga veggie nah. Nindot sad didto sa Busay kay medyo secluded, refreshing view of Cebu, and duol nalang para mo diritso sa Tops inig human.
Berg: The location and the view is a big plus. I took my New Yorker cousins and friends there the other night and everybody went “woooow! woah!” – great first impression. Their soups didn’t leave much to be desired though so maybe you guys should just skip that one and order appetizers instead, and of course the entrees. Make sure to bring a coat especially for the lady because it’s quite cold there. If they’re not playing the right type of music, ask them to play something more fit for the occasion. Ask them nicely, and they’ll oblige. Bon Appetit!
Abaca Resort & Restaurant
Punta Engano Road, Mactan Island
Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu
Telephone: 495-3461 236-0311
Email: relax@abacaresort.com
Berg: Even though it’s quite pricey (read: dollar rate), it’s worth it. The ambiance is superb, and the food is heavenly. Make sure you get reservations, that is if it isn’t fully booked already.
Chateau de Busay
Lower Busay Hills, Nivel Hills
Lahug, Cebu City
Telephone: 231-2000
Email: chateaudebusay@hotmail.com
Shel: I haven’t been to this Cebu restaurant although I live nearby. I highly recommend it though based on my friends’ experiences. Check out their website to see the view.
Cowrie Cove in Shangri-la Mactan Resort & Spa
Punta Engano Road, Mactan Island
Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu
Telephone: 231-8224
Berg: Good food coupled with the breathtaking view of the beach and the sunset, ain’t that what a lot of people would find romantic?
Islands Banca Cruises
Scuba World, Punta Engaño Mactan
Lapu-lapu City, Cebu
Telephone: +63-917-630-0736
Email: info@islandsbanca.com
Berg: Imagine this… you and that someone special having a romantic dinner at a private white beach in Pandanon Island during sunset serenaded by a violinist plus your very own butler. How romantic is that?! Visit www.islandsbanca.com for more info and for bookings. Hurry up because there are only a few available boats left in time for V Day.
Limited Budget?
Since not all of us can afford these expensive restaurants, these are the restaurants in Cebu that would be nice for dates with limited budget.
1. Arano in Guadalupe – (recommended by Berg, Fedge, Eyean, and Julie)
Berg: A more affordable option with homey atmosphere, Spanish cuisine with a Filipino twist, their paella is a must try. I went there a few years ago on V Day and they were full, we had to wait for our table. To be fair with, they made an effort to spruce up the place befitting the special occasion.
Julie: I prefer the garden side of the resto kay more romantic, this is a good choice because it’s not located in the mall — meaning, di kaau saba and gubot – the food is good and affordable.
2. Cafe Georg
Fedge: It’s quiet, sakto ra ang parkinganan, nindot ang interiors kay warm and inviting ang colors.
Julie: It’s not located in the mall, the place seats less than 30 pax, so you and your date will have some privacy, and food is okay.
Shel: This place is even smaller than Ambassador’s Cafe. Unless you live in Sto. Nino Village, in which case your neighbors will recognize you easily, this place is good for private dates even though you have a limited budget. The restaurant is classy, and the food is okay. Don’t expect full meals here though, and by full I mean something with rice.
V Day Breakfast
V Day falls on a Saturday, and breakfast for two can be romantic too.
So for V Day Breakfast, take your pick at restaurants in Asiatown IT Park. Eyean would recommend Ila Puti for breakfast or brunch.
No Budget?
Watch nalang movie oi, okay ra man sab ang popcorn!
If love is the answer, could you rephrase the question? – Lily Tomlin
Seriously, V Day is as special as you only want it to be.
So for a picnic by the beach or the mountains, a good choice would be to buy food on the go from grillers like AA’s, pizza places like Calda Pizza or Alberto’s, some wine perhaps from the Tinder box in Banilad, or Ralph’s Wines or The Wine Shop.
Be creative and spontaneous, even your friendly neighborhood fishball cart can be the romantic place to be on V Day if you make the most out of it. Just make an effort and have the right person or company to spend the day with. Remember, it’s not where you but who you’re with. *wink*
True love comes quietly, without banners or flashing lights. If you hear bells, get your ears checked.
– Erich Segal
Photo credits: Eyean
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February 9th, 2009 at 1:38 pm
i like the post. anymore great resto near the city?
February 10th, 2009 at 6:32 am
Hi Neilaxe, thanks for dropping by the blog. Near the city … La Bouna, La Tegola near Waterfront… Pino in Lahug has classy ambiance and good Filipino food. Do check out our Cebu Restaurants Directory (Under Pages) for more ideas.
January 27th, 2010 at 10:47 pm
hi… i’m giving a surprise visit to my fiance this valentine’s day… where would you recommend us to have our romantic dinner? i hope you can give us the latest list of restos(casual or formal dining) we can dine this v-day… Muchas gracias in advance…