East Meets West at La Terrasse Palawan

Whoever I am traveling with, I am always the first person in the group to be asked where do we eat. I don't know if its because they knew that I love to eat, they trust my judgement or they're too lazy to research but whatever the reason is, it gives me pride and joy that I get to choose where to dine, sometimes even what to order. Lucky for me though, its been consistently good each time!

Case in point, La Terrasse Restaurant, which is conveniently located just a few minutes away from Puerto Princesa International Airport. From Palawan Uno Hotel, we asked the driver of the hotel's service to drop us at the restaurant instead of the airport. With bags in tow, we entered La Terrasse and was instantly impressed with the restaurant's interior. It was a hot day but the bamboo wall panels provided shade from the sunlight and protection from the dusty streets.

What we ordered

Complimentary Bread Sticks with Pesto Dip

Mango Shake - Php100.00
Watermelon Shake - Php100.00
Buko Shake - Php100.00

Though more expensive than the usual prices in the restaurants around Puerto Princesa, we couldn't resist a perfectly blended fruit shake to cool down our body temperature. I restrained myself for ordering another glass of mango juice because I thought we ordered too much.

La Terrasse offers all organic and whole food (no MSG) so expect the prices of the dishes to be higher and the food preparation longer. The menu is a mix of Asian and European cuisine, a delightful change from quite a number of Filipino restaurants in the city.

Tuna Tartare - Php250.00

Anything with raw tuna on the menu and I'm sold! The dish has several sauces that you can pour into the tuna tartare but I prefer it raw with just a hint of fresh lemon.

Spicy Eggplant with Tofu - Php185.00

It was a steal for its price, savory and just the right amount of spicy to excite your taste buds.

Poached Fish Fillet - Php275.00

A complete meal on its own with cubes of potatoes and a mix of veggies underneath the poached fish, the play of flavors on every bite is worth the wait. Us being Pinoys, the server suggested having an extra rice to go with the fish but we're okay with the carbs it came with.

Barbecued Pork Ribs - Php320.00

I read somewhere that the pork ribs here is the house bestseller so I made sure that it would be my main. Yes, all other dishes above were for sharing and I wasn't joking when I said that we ordered too much! The ribs was amazing, it wasn't fall-off-the-bone soft but tender enough to cut with a fork. Though I suggest eating the ribs with your bare hands to enjoy it best.

Halo-Halo - Php100.00

La Terrasse's version of the Pinoy dessert Halo-Halo is a simple concoction of nata de coco and tapioca with coconut milk and topped with ice cream. It was unique but I wished it had more ingredients in it like fresh fruits maybe, because that's what a good Halo-Halo should be.

With its proximity to the airport, La Terrasse is a nice place to hang while waiting for your flight. The beautiful interiors, the delicious food, the mouth-watering presentation and the great service, this is one of those rare times I wish that my flight is delayed so I can stay longer and order more!

~o~o~o~

La Terrasse Restaurant

Rizal Avenue, Puerto Princesa City
Palawan, Philippines
Tel.: (6348) 434-1787

Kalui: An All Time Palawan Favorite

Anyone who has been to Palawan, whether a tourist or a local coming home to their beloved town, could agree that Kalui is the best restaurant in Puerto Princesa. In fact, its so popular that it is becoming a tourist spot on its own that most tour packages now include dining at Kalui in the itinerary. Reservation is a must because it is always full especially on weekends.

Your shoes and slippers must be left at the entrance. Kalui provides a basket or a locker where you and your group can keep your footwear to avoid being mixed up with others.

As most chairs were already taken at the reception area, we requested to get inside and wait at the art gallery located near the toilets at the back. These pieces of art are for sale by the way.

When our reserved table became available, the staff ushered us to our assigned seats. There are tables with chairs and tables where you sit on the floor so be specific if you have a preference as the latter tends to be uncomfortable after sitting for a long time. Since majority of the group were first timers, we decided to get the Kalui Special of the Day Set (Php395.00), good for sharing, and a few side orders so they can try all of the restaurant's bestsellers.

Tubbataha Salad - Php180.00

A delicious mix of tuna sashimi, seaweeds and fresh fruits in season. This is heaven in a bowl!

Grape Seaweed (Lato) Salad

Included in the Kalui Special of the Day Set are servings of fish steak, prawns, veggies, spicy squid, rice and starters. Lato has a strong salty flavor so adding other ingredients to this salad could make a whole lot of difference. Good thing we ordered Tubbataha Salad for a better alternative.

Banana and Vegetable Fritter

Everyone's favorite was the Banana Fritters (Maruya), wiped out in 60 seconds.

Fish Roll in Coconut Cream

The fish roll was basically grilled fish wrapped around the vegetable tempura and pork mince. The coconut sauce was creamy with just a hint of spicy. I loved the presentation but we were already full when this arrived so a plateful of serving was left untouched on the table.

Prawns

I still prefer grilled prawns but this was as fresh as it can get, if only they tone down on the butter.

Fish Steak

Now this fish steak was the best part of the set. Grilled to perfection, it was tasty and lightly smothered with sweet sauce, I could eat the entire thing by myself!

Fresh Fruits with Muscovado Sugar

Everything is cooked by order so bring loads of patience, inform your companions that waiting is to be expected and eat snacks first if you must. There's also no air-conditioning in the restaurant so wear light clothing and preferably pants to protect you from mosquito bites. But above all, come with an empty stomach and be prepared to be blown away by all the simple yet delicious food that you can try in Kalui because once you've tried it, you'll be hooked for life!

Palawan Revisited: Kalui Restaurant (2013)
Palawan Food Trip: Kalui Restaurant (2012)

~o~o~o~

Kalui Restaurant

369 Rizal Avenue, Puerto Princesa City
Palawan, Philippines
Tel.: (6348) 433-2580

Ka Inato Restaurant: Where Classic Meets Bizarre

Ka Inato is a popular restaurant among locals that serves delicious Filipino dishes at reasonable prices. After dropping our bags at Palawan Uno Hotel, we took 2 tricycles and asked the driver to bring us to Ka Inato along Rizal Avenue. Its been years since my last visit and I was surprised that there are now 2 branches located just 10 minutes apart from each other. The newest branch is air-conditioned but we prefer the original Ka Inato where you dine al fresco.

Our group was first to arrive just in time for its 11am opening, but not for long as patrons started coming in. The staff told us that it is best to call and reserve a table especially during dinner time.

What we ordered

Watermelon Shake - Php80.00

Buko Shake - Php85.00

Calamansi Shake - Php75.00

Original Chix Inato Wing - Php105.00

Original Chix Inato Leg - Php95.00

The restaurant is known for its barbecued (inasal) chicken, a classic Filipino favorite, so we made sure to include a few in our orders. It was tasty and the serving was good for sharing though I find it ordinary and not worth the long wait. Besides, there are so many interesting restaurants around Puerto Princesa if you're bold and adventurous enough to try something different.

Crocoribs (Spicy Crocodile Spareribs) - Php320.00

Crocorocodo (Crocodile Sisig) - Php320.00

Eating crocodile meat was something I had reservations about. The thought of eating those scary creatures gave me chills but my friends assured me that beneath the scaly and tough skin is just regular meat. More so when I learned that crocodile meat is healthier as it is low in fat and cholesterol yet high in protein. When cooked right, it resembles chicken meat with its white color but only firmer. Among the 3, we liked the Sizzling Crocodile Sisig the most.

Crocoroll (Croco Meat in Coconut & Turmeric) - Php320.00

Kambak-Kambak (Kambing at Baka) - Php180.00

Kambing or goat meat is quite hard to prepare mainly because of its odor and gamey flavor. Its an acquired taste, as most unusual dishes available in Palawan, but Ka Inato was successful in making sure that the odor and flavor was masked so you'll not really feel like you're eating goat meat. They also made the meat tender enough to make it easy to chew.

After our sumptuous lunch, Ka Inato gave us this complimentary dessert called nilupak, which is basically mashed cassava with condensed milk and topped with caramel sauce. This delicious Pinoy treat is most commonly enjoyed as a snack because its heavy and very filling.

More new and old Palawan restaurant favorites coming up soon!

~o~o~o~

Ka Inato

Rizal Avenue, Brgy. Bancao-Bancao
Puerto Princesa City, Palawan, Philippines

Tel.: (6348) 434-2288

Palawan Uno Hotel

It was a last minute decision for me to join my friends in their short trip to Palawan's capital city. In fact, our hotel was booked just as we were heading to the arrival of the Puerto Princesa International Airport using Agoda's app on my phone, one of the many conveniences of modern technology especially for frequent travelers. After a 10-minute tricycle ride, we finally reached Palawan Uno Hotel, easy to spot as it is located along Puerto Princesa's National Highway.

As it is still a few weeks before the summer ends, the hotel's occupancy was high when we arrived. Check in is set at 2PM but we made sure to sign all the forms before heading out for an early lunch. The staff offered to keep our bags and deliver it to our respective rooms once they became available. The lobby was homey and comfortable, and the air-conditioning running in full blast was a welcome relief from the hot weather outside. We were also served with extra sweet orange juice that no one bothered to drink, just ice cold water to quench our thirst.

Our group came back to Palawan Uno Hotel after having lunch at Ka Inato and a quick trip to the public market to buy roasted cashew nuts, our favorite pasalubong from Palawan. After getting our key cards, we rode the elevator going to our rooms located in the 3rd level. The superior room that we got at a discounted rate of Php2,076 per night (regular rate is Php3,800 per night) at Agoda.com was a spacious 28sqm room with 2 single beds, LED television with cable channels, mini bar and refrigerator, a safety deposit box and toilet and bath with complete amenities.

Pros: Fast and free wifi in the room, courteous staff, central location with ATM machine outside the hotel, clean swimming pool, and complimentary airport transfers and breakfast.

Cons: Hard mattress, limited cable channels, thin walls and bad sewer odors in the bathroom.

I would probably book another hotel on my next visit to Puerto Princesa even if I have to pay more. Based on the reviews I read, I am now torn between Princesa Garden Island Resort and Spa or the relatively new Canvas Boutique Hotel, has anyone tried any/both hotels yet?

~o~o~o~

Palawan Uno Hotel

National Highway, Brgy. San Pedro
Puerto Princesa City, Palawan, Philippines

Tel.: (6348) 433-9999

Website: http://palawanunohotel.com