TBK Eats - at his favourite restaurants in Palawan

                    TBK eats roast chicken at Rustic Café on BM road, photo by Jhoanna

Around about this time last year I was living in Dubai waiting for my visa to enter the Philippines and join my belongings which had been in storage here for a year!  To stave off boredom we came up with a new brand- TBK Eats:

We visited some of Dubai's top restaurants and wrote blogs or filmed vlogs , or sometimes both:

We had Roast Beef and Roast Lamb at The Nine, a Gastropub at Sofitel Obelisk:

https://thebritishkabayan.blogspot.com/2022/02/tbk-eats-part-nine-nine-sofitel-obelisk.html

Thang and I went to Indego by Vineet and filmed a Vlog:

Indego by Vineet

We also did some in Bahrain - where we went to the Bahrain Food Festival and we selected our favourite restaurants in our 12 years there.

And now I have been here in Palawan for nearly a year and I thought it was time to tell you about my favourite restaurants here!

Jhoanna's Roast Chicken with Yorkshire pudding, Roast Potatoes, Stuffing Vegetables and gravy- Photo by Jhoanna

I had a Facebook message from the English guy who runs Rustic Café with his Pinay wife introducing himself and telling me about their menu, location and the fact they served English Food including Roast Chicken! I went to try it out and had another English Favourite, Fish and Chips and immediately liked the place and the friendly owners. He made Chester ( the dawg) very welcome and there was free parking and plenty of seats, good music and free Wi-Fi. A few weeks later we ordered the Roast Chicken and after Jhe delivered my shopping, cleaned my Hipon and helped make Paella we headed down BM road to Rustic Café. We were all given a warm welcome ( "what have you been up to Chester?") and the Chicken was served with hot gravy in a jug, and apologies made for the "American" stuffing! I opted for breast and Jhoanna had leg and when she was full after eating half a plate I finished hers off as well as mine! Next on the menu for me to try is the English Breakfast. They also do Pinoy food, are licenced and serve a range of coffees and soft drinks- so cater for all tastes. I will certainly be back- if you want to to find out more their Facebook page is: 

Rustic Cafe

                                          Sunset at Badjao Seafront, from their Facebook page

For something slightly more formal, and for all fish lovers, one of the first restaurants we went to after moving into Bagon Sikat was Badjao Seafront. Sometimes Chester and I go down there for our Morning walk- I think its about 4000 steps from my house ( 10 mins drive) . It is very popular so you need to book. They cater for all ages and nationalities and its reasonably priced. Maggie, my landlady , takes her family there often. They are situated in the Mangroves and the restaurant is built over the sea and there are magnificent views, especially of the sunset.

I took my scholars and friends there after they helped me move in to the Blue House and then we went again when Rhoda and Matilda came to stay with Kuya Alvin.

      Jhoanna, Danica and Chalsee eating at Badjao Seafront in May 2022

Their Facebook page is:

https://www.facebook.com/badjao.seafront

I just realised half my Facebook friends are restaurants!

                                  From their Facebook page

Another restaurant that Alvin introduced me to ( our first date!) was Kinabuch    ( no relation to Shinabutch in Taytay!) . We have been there several times but the last time the service was so slow we did not go back again.

                                  Just one page of their massive menu

Their Facebook official page is:

Kinabuchs Grill and Bar Official

                           Some of the Alimanguan Skimmers at Roma Pizzeria in PPC

If you like good home made Italian Food and Pizza then you are lucky to have ROMA Pension and Pizzeria in Puerto, Run by Robert Saccu ( from Sicily- who does the cooking) and his Pinay wife, Lynn. I first met Robert when I went to collect Rey Gabz who was staying there and he assured me his Pizza was " The real thing" . So when I took some of the Alimanguan Simmers our for Pizza we headed through the mud and roadworks to Roma, had a great meal ( 3 huge pizzas between 7 of us and the boys could not finish it all) and a round of free drinks! We will definitely be going back there ( once they fix the road outside!) . Another coincidence I am reminded of writing this blog is that Mick and Maggie and the kids like Roma too!

From the Roma Facebook page - "Thanks a lot for coming back Burnich Family"

Their Facebook page is: 

Roma Pizzeria 

Finally , in Puerto Princesa, the place I eat most, is Senordamla run by Chef Arnell at the Microtel at Emerald Playa beach. Chester ( the dawg) loves going here as he can run on the beach and swim. Chef Arnel has run the restaurant at the Microtel since 1996 ( I first ate there in 2013) and the food is always excellent, it is rarely busy for breakfast or lunch ( I do not go out at night) and the staff are very polite and friendly. Add to that the amazing setting by the pool and sea and the fact they are open all day. The Microtel staff are all TBK fans so now you know why I go there so often! We had a 21st birthday for Grecil there with 3 cakes for Jhoanna, Kit and Grecil ( Jhoanna and Kit missed out when Typhoon Odette hit on the night of their 2022 Christmas dinner) . I also take all my visiting guests like Rhoda, Matilda, Mark, Kit and Chalsee, Jhoann, Mark and the guy from Dalyoun hotel at Sabang!

Tatay, Chalsee, TJ, Grecil, John and Kit at Grecil's 21st at Senordamla

        Senordamla also do outside catering for many VIP functions in Palawan

              Spaghetti Carbonara, Fried Calamari, Coffee and Lemonade

Chester loves running in the shallow sea at the Microtel and swimming at High tide

                  My beautifully decorated Orange Juice at Sunmai

Staying with the beach theme I will include two restaurants from the North of Palawan which I visit whenever I am in Nacpan- Sunmai and Angkla

            Rodel and Grecil at her first 21st Birthday dinner at Sunmai

I have been a customer at Sunmai since 2014 and met Grecil there, when she was a waitress ( who I now sponsor at University where she is training to be a teacher). Several of her cousins and Kit's mum also work there and I know several people in the Glamping site next door- so I am always given a warm welcome. The location is great, near the car park and beach, and the food is superb with a very varied menu. They have a DJ and live music at night and the bartenders are superb and very artistic with their creations ( even my orange juice!). They now have a breakfast buffet and an egg chef!

Just down the beach from Sunmai is my favourite restaurant - Angkla Beach club. My first few meals there I had to complain when they bought the starter after the main course and then the starter , main course and dessert together. However when I took Elay there for her 18th Birthday lunch with the rest of the family the food and service were spot on and after I noticed at the top of the bill under Customer name it said "Sir Neil!"

    The Tupa Chops at Angkla were cooked to perfection and attractively presented

My favorite dish at Angkla- Banana Touron with vanilla popsicles

Finally we have Punta Playa on Lio Beach which I visit every time I am at Lio ( Near El Nido) and it never fails to serve up great Mediterranean food with a great view and lovely staff who always give me a warm welcome back. It is right in the beach so Chester is welcome and their Paella has become legendary, although I tend to have their colourful Salad Nicoise. The good news is they have just extended their opening hours to open 7 days a week ( they used to close on Monday). However people like me who like to eat lunch early should note they still do not open until Noon. 

·       One of my photos of Punta Playa which I posted on Google reviews last year was seen by 33,598 people

The Tuna in the Nicoise Salad is always cooked correctly ( just on the outside) and the veg so crunchy and colourful and the egg warm, so it's worth the wait!

 

                      The amazing Salad Nicoise at Punta Playa on Lio Beach

   Every time I visit Punta Playa I say hi to the Manager there and he always says      " Good to see you again sir, thanks for your continued support" 

It It is these little touches- using my name, welcoming me back, beautifully presented and correctly served food, great location, the dog welcomed, and the personal touch with the Manager or Owner saying hello, remembering you and follow up by email or on Facebook or responding to my reviews or blogs that make all the difference to me. 

   Conversely advertise something I like that you dont have ( steak) , constantly having dishes out of stock, lack of recognition, a different waiter every time, slow service ( Kinabuch) , waiting for the bill ( Red Crab) and cold food and plates and you will never see me again and I will tell everyone else. 

    Chicken curry at Shinabutch , Tatay- I love the mug they give me every visit!

M My apologies to all the other places I eat but have not mentioned like Liam's, Huni, Amos, Cadlao, Shinabuch, Ceciles, Ka Lui etc - maybe next time!