Sea Green Cafe: A Feast Like No Other

Exploring new restaurants is often a hit-and-miss thing. Some new ones you try impress your palate that they instantly become a new favorite and you find yourself going back from time to time. Some, though, fail to make an impression you swear to never go back. Sea Green Cafe & Lifestyle Shop belongs to the first category. Without a hint of doubt in my mind.

This isn't an entirely new restaurant. They had been around for a while now; in fact, they recently celebrated their first anniversary with a lunch buffet offering. But it still remains a question how I never visited sooner. All along, I've been missing out on a delicious culinary treat that offers healthy food options, too. That is a win-win situation for any foodie like me.

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The one aspect of the restaurant, aside from the menu, that piqued my curiosity is the interior decor. Decked in predominantly white decor touches, it is simple and sophisticated rolled into one. I love the little touches of green, too. It screams comfort in every sense of the word.

One other thing that captured my attention about Sea Green Cafe is their promise of quality food. Fresh ingredients, handmade with love. That is how they described their food offerings. Quite promising, huh?

The meal started off with this appetizer - Vegetable and Kani Roll with Peanut Sauce (PhP 140). This is a very light dish, perfect to excite your palate without making you too full. The peanut sauce was rich and delicious. The combination of flavors worked out really well.

The first course for the night is this Pan Grilled Fish with Cauliflower Rice (PhP 195). The fish was the highlight of this dish. It is light and extremely juicy. It appears to me that the fish was steamed before being seared off in the pan for a few minutes. The inside of the meat is extremely soft and juicy, yet there is a smoky touch to the flavor. The Cauliflower Rice is a must for vegetarians out there. It makes this entire dish hearty yet light.

Next up is the Indian Style Buttered Prawns with Brown Rice (PhP 220). The prawns are large and plump. It is also cooked very well - still juicy and had the right texture to it. I love the seasoning on the curry sauce. There was the right amount of saltiness and spice. The brown rice that was served with it is also really good.

This Lime Cheesecake is one of the most unique yet best cheesecakes I've ever had. The tartness from the lime really comes through with the bite. The layers of cream cheese are not too heavy, too. Hence, every spoonful is light and very cleansing to the palate. This is highly recommended at Sea Green Cafe if you are seeking a good dessert.

This Tablea Cheesecake is as good as it looks. I love that there is still a pervading bittersweet taste to this cheesecake. Upon first look, I was scared that it might be too sweet and too chocolate-y. But you will appreciate how it tastes like tablea indeed. The slices of strawberry on top helps to neutralize the flavors in your palate. The slight tart flavor from the strawberry slices will clear your palate from that bittersweet taste. It really is a nice combination.

Granted that Sea Green Cafe is notable for its use of fresh and healthy ingredients to offer delicious food items to their clientele, they also top that with excellent service. They have friendly, warm, and prompt staff service.

Sea Green Cafe & Lifestyle Shop is located along Circumferential Road, Dona Vicenta Subdivision, Davao City. They are open from Mondays to Sundays. You can visit their Facebook page for more details.

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Visiting Rego's Cafe Again

Change is an integral part of our lives. You have to deal with these changes and cope with them if you want to survive. But change can be a scary thing. I am always anxious about changes in my life. And the same thing applies with my food choices. I get readily scared to try out something new in fear that it might not be as good as what I'm used to. I find myself going to the same restaurant over and over again to the point that the staff recognize me personally, if not by name at least by face. 

Before Rego's Cafe moved to Gaisano Mall The Peak, they were situated at Arellano Street, Jacinto Ext. Davao City. Even though that is still near downtown area, it is not part of our usual route. And yet, that did not stop us from dropping by every few months especially when I do get some cravings for their famed pasta dishes.

Surprisingly, a recent visit to Rego's Cafe did not consist of any pasta meal on our table, though. It was all about comfort food items! It was also nice to vary things up so we do not end up eating the same dishes repeatedly whenever we dine at Rego's.

Chili Con Carne - Good but far from great. Aling Foping's Chili con Carne is still the best with De Bonte Koe's being a close second. There were more ground beef in this Chili con Carne than beans - there should be an equal ratio of both ingredients. The sauce did not redeem it either because it was rather so-so. And the serving size was even disappointing for the price! It's one of those times wherein we seriously question whether it's worth taking a risk ordering new items rather than sticking with the ones we've tried before. Lessons learned.

Also Read: Aling Foping's Chili Con Carne

Gambas al Aljillo - This was another disappointing choice. I cook Gambas at home all the time and I can proudly say mine is better! I was happy with the size of the shrimps, though - that was the redeeming quality of this dish for me. And the plating was not bad at all.

This last dish we got was Rego's own version of Fish 'N Chips. A tiny tray comes with a serving of French fries and battered chicken fillet. Surprisingly, this might be the best out of the three dishes we've ordered. The batter on the chicken fillet is light enough that we can chew on the meat but it has maintained that crunchy texture to it. Both the meat and fries were also well seasoned. The only downside is that this was supposed to be an appetizer. However, this was the last dish served on our table. Was it supposed to be dessert, then?

What is your favorite dish at Rego's Cafe?

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My Top 6 Favorite Desserts (So Far!)

What is your favorite part of the meal? Mine would have to be dessert, hands down. For someone with a sweet tooth, this is not surprising at all. Desserts can make or break a dining experience for me so I tend to be very picky. In most cases, I hunt down restaurants with a good dessert selection and rush through the entree to satisfy my sweet tooth craving.

I would like to think that I had sampled quite a few restaurants in Davao and along the way, tasted a hefty amount of delicious desserts too. Check out below for my top picks - but before we get to the top six, here are the ones that I really liked but did not make the top six:

Zabadani Cafe's Baklava - Baklava is a dessert that might not appeal to many but for those who love pistachios, this one's for you. The aroma and the variety of texture that goes with this dessert is what makes it unique. The flavor can be quite strong, though, so make sure to brace yourself for a dessert that gives quite a kick to your palate. For now, I've only tried Zabadani Cafe's Baklava, but if you know of any other Davao restaurants who have one on the menu, leave me a comment so we can try it.

Annipie's Cinnamon Rolls - I was seriously contemplating putting this on my top 6 but given that Annipie's cinnamon rolls have become a local culinary tradition should give it enough justice. It don't need any more hype. Anyone who gets to taste it will surely leave them wanting more.

Pearl Farm's Dessert Section -The array of desserts at Pearl Farm's buffet spread is unbelievable. And you know what's the best part is? A lot of these desserts make use of Davao's produce, which is why you can expect to find lots of fresh fruits in there.

Grub Resto Cafe's Homerun Pie - Homerun pie from Grub Resto Cafe is pretty much like it's name - this dessert scored a definite homerun for my taste bud! If you're a big fan of peanut butter, it's a must try. But even if you aren't, you'd still appreciate the perfect blend of texture from the crunchy crust and the soft and melts-in-your-mouth kind of sensation from the creme topping.

Now, onto the top six...

6. Cello's Doughnuts and Dip

Quite possibly the best doughtnut I've ever had. Cello's has never failed me when it comes to providing satisfying donuts. The secret is in the dough itself, not just the toppings. And I believe that is what makes them unique from other more famous doughnut brands. You can take away the toppings and you'd still be quite satisfied with what is left.

5. The French Baker's French Macaroons

On first look, you might underestimate this dessert, especially since it is small in size too. But don't you dare! The French Baker's macaroons are out-of-this-world. That first bite is such a pleasant surprise to your taste buds. Then, you get a bit of the filling and there is more of the wonderful flavor filling up your mouth.

4. Bon Appetit's Apple Tart with Homemade Vanilla Ice Cream

I'd like to believe that French cuisine features some of the best desserts in the world. When I visited Bon Appetit Le Boutique for the first time, I made sure to try out their desserts and I was in for some luck! I sampled quite possibly one of my favorite desserts of all-time (hence, it's on this list!) - the Apple Tart with Homemade Vanilla Ice Cream. The crust is sweet but not too sweet and I love the crunch to the crust, too. The crust's texture provides a nice contrast to the soft ice cream that is nearly melting on the top. Must try!

3. Lachi's New York Cheesecake

To not include Lachi's cheesecake in the list would be to dishonor a Davao culinary tradition. Even though Lachi's is located far from the metropolis center of Davao, diners do not mind hunting down this nook in order to be treated to amazing yet reasonably priced food. But I beg you to not miss their cheesecakes, or any desserts for that matter, because they're one of the best in the city (if not the best!). You can thank me later!

2. Cafe Andessa's Choco Banana Fritters ala Mode

Turon is a popular Filipino dessert that I love to eat growing up. However, never did I think that turon could be turned into something gourmet. Cafe Andessa blew me away with their Choco Banna Fritters ala Mode that, once you've tried it, will give you a whole new perspective about this Filipino merienda treat! If you dine at Cafe Andessa, try it - I'll let you be the judge!

1. Hog's Breath Cafe's Mississippi Mud Cake

If you love chocolate cakes, I can guarantee that Hog's Breath Cafe's Mississippi Mud Cake is going to end up in your favorite desserts list, too. From what I've heard, the top chefs of Hog's Breath Cafe are highly secretive about this recipe and rightfully so. It is a gem of a dessert and I did not even think twice about placing them at number one despite the fact that the other five desserts on this list are huge favorites of mine.

Which is your favorite dessert from any restaurant in Davao?

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Comfort Food at Grub Resto Cafe

What is your idea of comfort food? Mine is anything that reminds me of home with mom's home style cooking. Even though I am guilty of dining out to experience gourmet dishes, or the ones you don't normally eat at home, it is also nice to get a taste of home from your favorite restaurants. Thus, I order the occasional soup to warm up the tummy, especially when the weather is chilly.

You might have read my previous posts on Grub Resto Cafe and how I was all praises about their reasonably priced yet excellent dishes! However, they also have a huge selection of vegetarian and comfort food items if you are seeking variety.

One example is this Chicken Macaroni Soup. It is one of my favorite soups that my mother used to prepare for us, especially during rainy seasons. The use of milk and cream helps to add a rich flavor to this dish while the combination of vegetables and chicken makes it a healthy fare, too. Love that this soup tasted just like my mom used to make. The aroma from the ginger also help to liven up the flavor of the soup! I can eat this everyday!

For the veggie lovers or those watching their carb intake closely, this Veggie Wrap dish at Grub Resto Cafe is a must-try! This wheat wrap is a healthy alternative to pita bread without sacrificing flavor. Meanwhile, the combination of crunch and subtle flavor from the curly lettuce, carrots, and different kinds of vegetables as filling is bound to make any vegetarian go gaga over this dish! Each order comes with its own garlic and mayo dip. It is a very simple recipe that is delicious and quite healthy, too.

Have you had your taste of these dishes at Grub Resto Cafe?

Grub Resto Cafe is located at Duterte St., Davao City right across Shakey's.

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