Highside Restaurant: This Is a Man's World...

Walking into Highside Restaurant is like walking into a lair of testosterone where the James Brown classic “This is a Man’s World” comes to mind and the whole thing is unabashed about it. The set up is quite the sports bar du jour with the modern and vintage motorbikes, crude oil drams fitted as chairs, helmets, surf boards, skateboards, hubcaps, semi-monster tires, vintage license plates and NBA games streaming through the two flat screens mounted on the wall. 

Surely in a place like this, masculine aphorisms with a mild touch of mischief wouldn’t be wanting, just check out these tongue-in-cheek signages that will subconsciously make one chuckle until you psychoanalyze it. 

As the only girl inside this milieu at this time, I order what I deem as the manliest but proverbial dish in the menu and that would be a straightforward hamburger, the Burnout Burger to be exact. This burger has a mixture of beef and pork meat and it comes with complimentary thin fries and the default FF dip of the Philippines, the thousand island dressing. The dish arrives and I gobble it up to an acoustic rendition of Alice Cooper’s “I’ll Never Cry” blasting through their fireball surround sound. 

The burger happily doesn’t make me cry, as it in fact is tasty with good grilling flavors but it doesn’t burn me out either. It could be bigger, like the fist of an MMA fighter perhaps and the meat is not cooked through. We can play around with the done-ness of beef, but I don't we can do the same with pork, unless it’s a veritable sushi. The other items on the menu must be better as I hear that the chef is an award-winning import from a touristy island south of here. The staff members are easygoing and sophomoric in appearance and as for the internet habitué, sorry, this here is Wifi-free because they want us to party like it’s 1995. 

As I conclude my circumspection and my time at Highside, I look at the other side of the coin. I realize the intention of the owners with the decor, the ambience, and the reasonably-priced fare of roughly P35 - P300; Tacloban is yet to have a consummate sports bar where the guys coming from all walks of life can just be guys, talk, drink and munch on nuts and trail mixes like they do and perhaps go full boar in a spot that reminds them of a man cave. Highside is that right now; that or at the very least this joint is grazing the trail for more of it’s kind to come.

The Haiyan Food and Coffee Shop at Bislig, Tanauan, Leyte

I was finally able to check out this only game in about 5 towns coming from Sogod to the Palo, Leyte area named Haiyan Restaurant. As we can see the namesake, “Haiyan” is dervied from that devastating typhoon that ravaged Leyte in 2013. I wonder if the owners want to thumb their noses and defy said calamity by christening this eatery as such, or perhaps it's their way of exhibiting their resilience.

As for the entrées, some dishes are cafeteria arrangement while others a' la carte and most are classic Filipino dishes like Kinilaw (ceviche-type fish), pancit and other meat preparations, no annotations needed. Beside the main restaurant is a coffee shop as well and I also noticed a motel being erected within the premises, which will complete a trifecta of service and hospitality.

The décor is eclectic here, with the ubiquitous use of quality wood on the floor, walls, tables and chairs. The staff members are welcoming and helpful. The entire area is al fresco, so just be patient with a stray dog or 2 and the occasional vector visitors which can't be avoided but rest assured, the place is pleasantly rustic and even classy as a whole.

Oriental lattice woodwork.

 Creative and well thought out wood sculptures of lasses which has pocket of drawers.

Aslan Café and Restaurant, a Turkish Wonder in TC

Mural of the Hagia Sophia

Wow! Today I found this place that rouse me up from the mopes. This authentic Turkish restaurant is on the corner of Paterno and Gomez Sts. and a place that all of us should check out, for the flavors, the ambiance and to experience something what we would consider “out-wordly.” I have not been to Turkey but I have been to a few Mediterranean restaurants in my day and when I walked in here, I was genuinely transported. It gave me joy that this is here in our town. 

Mousa, one of the owners, is quite the amiable bloke.

The menu is in Turkish (with English translations), it has descriptions and includes kebabs, Turkish meatballs, a staple of pita bread (Turkish style which is thinner than the Greek's), egg dishes, salads, beef lamb, spiced up with their own unmistakable flavors and all are Halal. So far there were at least 30 items on the menu and I know now where I will be having dinner for the next 30 nights (more or less). How sweet it was for Mousa, the gracious, polite owner to give me complimentary Stuffed Grape Leaves with couscous when I asked if they had some. Their homemade hot sauce is not like any, the meatballs' breading is also very distinct. I am very biased to this café now.

Stuffed Grape Leaves Mediterranean to the core.

 

The murals at Aslan depict iconic spots in Turkey such as the Hagia Sophia, the Brosphorus Bridge, ruins in Ephesus and in here I found something serendipitous: Shishas! It might be nice to look into this, inhale the water pipes and enjoy their coffee too! The coffee is traditional Turk and unambiguous. 

 Shishas (water pipes)

 

Rumi's proverb (shown above, Rumi's name in Turkish which appears as "Hz Mevlâna; Mousa informs me that this saying translates as, "This world is our test and one chooses to make it bad or good.") Mousa is good to converse with about Byzantium, Rumi, Gibran and so on. 

Mousa's mother is the mastermind behind the recipes, this made me so glad because this way we will be treated to authentic flavors, untarnished and uncompromising; soon, they will feature Baklavas! Wooo! I can't contain it. 

May I recommend this to all of you? Yes, it's unlike our Filipino dishes, it has a distinguished robust flavor but I've always believed that to experience new dishes is to be teleported to the very place where it came from and besides, cuisine, should be an ongoing education. 

Turkish meatballs and Pita bread

NB: The owners have been in our midst immediately after Typhoon Haiyan and have been involved in relief and rebuilding with the Turkish government. They were instrumental in facilitating Turkish President Abdullah Gül's visit which brought awareness to Tacloban. Already, they are making a story that will eventually dovetail right into the fabric of our island town. 

An abstract of a dervish dancer fashioned in Jalaluddin Rumi's time. I was a bit of a Rumi devotee in my early 20's and this brings me back. 

Hotel Lorenzo's Cafe

The other day’s city-wide black out combined with the hot and humid temps took me to the café part of Hotel Lorenzo in Avenida Veteranos. I was desperate for a cool ambient indoor space while walking around town hence, the impulse to come here. Hotel Lorenzo’s set up is pleasant enough and has the "big city" hotel feel up with its luminescent tiles, chandeliers and tall glass doors. One gets the feeling of Joe Firday’s “Just the facts Ma’am” attitude here, though yes, it has a homey touch to it too.

The café serves daily breakfast buffet to the tune of P280 I believe, but I was too late for that. When I came over, breakfast was being served alà carte and I ordered a light one with the Caribbean French Toast and un petit taz cafe creme. On the whole I believe the eatery exists to cater to the guests of the hotel, wi-fi connectivity is well accessed, and the staff was amiable enough. What can I say, the place was comfortable, straight to the point and clean.

Location: Avenida Veteranos
Prices: Varies, is wide range as menu extends from variable cuisines, all sorts of beverages and so on.
About: P85 - the mid 300’s

Perhaps I’ll come for the buffet breakfast next time, yeh? 

~~

The Restaurant at Hotel XYZ

As an establishment, XYZ and it's restaurant is posh in our island city. Very genial modern interior, with contemporary fixtures, lighting, design details and so on. As far as the restaurant, by now I have well established that almost all eateries have menus across the board though this is understandable for the place because the patrons are also far-reaching.

XYZ resto's dishes are from Filipino, Dim sum, Thai, American and even pastas are served up here. This restaurant both caters to the hotel guests and any sojourner who wants to sample their cuisine(s); I will say that based on the dim sum I ordered, food quality and preparation are tops. The dining atmosphere is luxurious as I mentioned and the staff is courteous and professional when facing a client.

Location: Zamora St.
Prices: from P85 - the mid hundreds

This hotel and restaurant does augment Tacloban particularly in the areas of tourism, business, hotel and cuisine.

~~~

That Spicy Addition to Tacloban City Named: White Spice

By far, my most favorite interior in all the independent business eateries here in TC is that of White Spice’s. It has this streamlined, clean, minimalist look about it that’s very well made. Stepping into it makes one think of the contemporary diminutive cafés in the word's metropolises that one will endear to because of it’s coziness and intimate atmosphere.

It helps that the food served here in White Spice are delicious. The menu is also a choice few but I believe is what they do best. So far, I have sampled the Fish and Chips and their version of the Baby Back ribs and I have no complaints. The staff is polite and professional, and I even got to chat with one of its partners. He informed me and my companion that proprietorship is shared by four young gents in their 20’s and they came up with this idea of White Spice. He further revealed that they will be opening a… wait for it… a grilled seafood place somewhere in the Marasbaras area. Coming soon!

I cannot recommend this place enough to people because in the relaxation-while-dining scale, White Spice was up there, no screams, no cacophony, and that was on a Saturday night . Dining here was enjoyable, focused and easy. There is no Wi-Fi connectivity though, because they encourage everyone to just converse amongst each other and perhaps read, that and eat more!

Location: MH del Pilar (below Opa Korean Restaurant)
Prices: P90’s - P270’s. 

~~~~

Âyo Cafe: Something Pleasant Away from the City

Away from the bustle of Tacloban City proper and along Apitong Road sits this attractive café named “Âyo.” Nestled in a strip mall structure area, it’s a good place of reprieve when one is traversing the diversion road on the Maharlika Hwy. The resto has a mixed fare of Filipino and international cuisine, pasta and sandwiches, drinks are served primarily in pitchers and the clientele consists of people who only know where it is. To be candid, it’s making me wonder whether the proprietors (which are also the owners of Sunzibar and Canto Fresco) consciously opened this eatery here especially for customers who do not want to be bothered by the agitation in the city. Be that as it may, it is enjoyable as a place to eat.

Âyo does have tasty preparations but the Chef’s specials on the board is pricey as they come understandably because the ingredients are a rarity in Tacloban and Leyte. Example: Lamb Chops w/ Couscous Salad for P800, special cuts of beef and other entrées prepared with international flair for just as much.  Happily, these are not all that they serve. On the menu are more reasonably priced items which share an affinity for the items served in Sunzibar. Parking is not hard to come by because as I mentioned, Âyo is not at the hubbub of TC.

Location: Apitong Road, towards the right if you are heading north of Maharlika Mwy
Prices: from the P150’s to the higher triple digits

PS: Âyo was named after the Cebuano/Visayan word for “good.” if you don’t believe me, check out the decal of the word's definition on the upper right of the wall of the place (pictured on the collage). A clever touch yes?

~~

Ocho Grill: Sutokil Extraordinaire

no photo of the Tipay, it was consumed before the cam could click!

Ocho Grill is a culinary mecca for the whole island of Leyte. When this resto emerged years ago, it was an instant hit and if you've ever been, you would know why. The concept of "Sutokil" which is short for sugba-tola-kinilaw, translated in English: grill, soup and raw, marinated in vinegar (alá ceviche) was solidified in our city by this restaurant. All manner of seafood, meats and vegetables are arrayed in their raw form while the patrons would hand over the items to be prepared to their liking either grilled, as a soup/broth, ceviche-style or even deep fried, et violá, your food will be served to be enjoyed at your table. 

I visited this eatery a few times before and I will say, it has only gotten better. It seems that they have perfected how to grill the scallops (Tipay) which is garnished with garlic and butter and wherein all these elements are cooked while in the scallop shell making the shell it's own cooking ware. Mind you though, Ocho didn't pioneer this technique of grilling scallops but they have elevated it into a work of culinary art. Try all the items if you are able, one visit at a time because of a truth, I haven't found anything that I didn't approve of yet, that includes the Grilled Panga (Grilled Tuna cheek) and the calamari. From the prawns, large sea bass, pompanos, mullets, tuna, to the pork belly, beef shanks, chicken cuts and so on and so on, all combinations and possibilities are delectable.

And here lately, they have added gratifying assorted cakes and what a plus it is. Ocho is quite a good food staple in Tacloban and the clientele ranges from Juan dela Cruz the average to the Juan dela Cruz at the other side of the spectrum. People from all walks of life and even clientele from all over world have graced Ocho, as it's a default place for Leyteños or Samareños to take foreigners to if they want to eat worthy Filipino food.

Location: Sen. Enage St. 

Prices: from 120's - 300's and even higher. 

It maybe pricey for lowly folks like me but it's good if one wants to splurge on a birthday or anniversary and such.

A post script:

 the succeeding venture of Ocho brought about the Tipay visual I originally wanted to share!

~~~~~

Seafood and Ribs Warehouse

Got to check out a new Warehouse-themed Seafood and Ribs place that just opened in the Candahug area. Basically one will be drawn here for the sake of it's ambiance. The design and interior here reminds me of the Steak and BBQ franchises in the US like Texas Roadhouse or Cody’s and it’s very well done, very satisfactory.  Food preparation is “Sutokil" (grill, broth and ceviche style). The seafood and meat items are all raw, situated by the front door, one chooses the items, you hand and dictate how you want the food prepared to the staff and it is served to your table. Based on stature and food fare, Seafood and Ribs Warehouse may propose as a competition to Ocho Grill, the good news for Warehouse is that they are polar opposites in location so patrons from the Marasbaras, Palo area and further south can easily access a Sutokil at this resto.

My gauge for the viability of the “sutokil” is how the grilled scallops (Tipay) are done, I found that the Tipay in Warehouse could use a bit more grilling and seasoning. The tiger prawns were excellent though, so much that I couldn’t take a photo of it as it got consumed in no time. The clientele are somewhat upper scale and I believe everyone that can are coming over as it’s the honeymoon stage.

Location: Candahug, Palo
Prices: ranging from P200 - 500 (special items are at market price, prawns for example is P200/gram.)

It’s worth checking out for the curious, try it and see for yourself.  

~

Sunzibar Café

Sunzibar, located at Burgos across Habagat, the outdoors store, has Tortillas freshly made every day. Though the menu goes across the board from Mexican, Italian and Asian dishes perhaps it’s the Tortillas that bears their flagship. I had the barbecued pork belly; it had a good flavor, the fresh salad was a nice touch too. My companion had Quesadillas and Beef Teriyaki. We liked all of it despite the wide range of flavors and the red berry ice tea was refreshing.

I am now beginning to see why most restos in TC are like Jules Verne’s novel "Around the World in 80 Days" in terms of flavors as opposed to honing on to a specialty, I believe this is the case so that eateries will have the ability to accommodate the restless palate of the Taclobanons that swing from that kind to this kind of cuisine at any given time.

The interior deco here is mostly rustic with hard wood as their canvass and the Diego Rivera-inspired paintings makes for colorful accents. Amenities like the bathroom are to be raved about, we all appreciate it when establishments care in this manner.  I was told that the owners of Sunzibar are the same as Canto Fresco and that they share a kitchen. I observed one customer order pizza from Canto and I think that versatility is a plus; there is no WiFi connectivity. With Sunzibar's longevity (from 2000), I am sure people have already checked this joint out numerously and that’s a good thing!

Location: Burgos St.
Prices: ranging from P85 - P150-ish
~~

Sal's : for Grown Ups?

Sal's is located in Burgos, exactly under a resto-bar named Capitan Tiago. The clientele when we had lunch here anyway, were business gents and ladies and Korean investors. Wheeling and dealing were being discussed though suited to our island town scale. The eavesdropping was not intentional because the voices were really audible.

The menu consists of mainly Filipino dishes, the ones we are familiar with but are prepared and adorned richly. The pineapple which is a universal symbol of hospitality is a part of this restaurant's design-scape and logo. The decor is an eclectic mix of glass, ceramic and flickery lights. I was taken with the buttered chicken which is of course fried, therefore fatty but was light! How is that possible?

It would also be good to note that Sal's is a franchise straight from the soul of Ormoc (which explains the pineapples), if this sounds familiar, it's because this is from that Sal's with the charming circular, al fresco dining restaurant close to the heart of Ormoc City. 

Just check out Sal's when you have the time if you haven't already and wear your grown up suit because, though they have color and a friendly ambiance, the guests can be... serious.

Location: Burgos St.
Prices: ranging from P85 - P200-ish
~~~

Happy Jacq's, an Eatery:

Happy Jacq's, a pretty place that serves fried ham sandwich which reminds me somewhat of a Monte Cristo. The menu crosses over from Filipino to Italian to American sandwiches and desserts. Nicely decorated interior, colorful, a hodgepodge of colorful urban, mid century details. Prices are reasonable and some items are notably tasty. Happy Jacq's is located in MH del Pilar, Tacloban City; in the marquee it states they are a croissant place as well but I am yet to have one there. The coffee though is very well done and that's why I keep on coming back!

Location: MH del Pilar
Dishes: Filipino, American
Prices: ranges from P60 - 150is
~~~

Surp-Rice: Rice Topping Mania Hits Tacloban:

From as far as I can remember, the rice topping in a bowl came from Dimsum in Ding Hua in Cebu, Philippines. But upon returning this time around to Leyte, I have seen that rice toppings are as ubiquitous as rice is in this country, even in staple fast food centers like Chowking.

Surp-Rice Restaurant located in Burgos has mostly just toppings of varied meats on rice on the menu, the interior is somewhat hip too and I like it. Check out this decal of the spoken word about the pleasures of eating found in the eatery:

Location: Burgos St.
Prices: reasonable, promise
~~

Fall in Love with Chew Love:

A cute café that will charm clients with the outstanding murals, bright and uplifting disposition, capable internet and tasty fare. 

a feminine and country French-y feel here

dining outside will transport you to a vintage quaint town in Europe?

interior: promotes a relaxed and casual dining atmosphere

Location: Burgos St. Tacloban City
Prices: P60s, P80s - 140s (ave)
~~~~~