Metro Davao prides itself with various food venues that truly appeals to both our appetite and cravings; truly a Land of Promise for Filipinos and foreigners alike. Title absolutely justified! Ask anyone from the city for their favorite restaurants and you’ll surely get excited to try every food destination being suggested.
There are several classifications of restaurants based on the menu style, pricing, preparation, as well as the way the customers are being served and certainly, one of the sought after restaurants in Southern Mindanao are the fine dining restaurants.
Defined as full service restaurants with a specific meal course, interiors of fine dining restaurants showcase higher quality and sophistication. The restaurateur employs highly trained staff featuring a more formal and decent attire. Fine dining is perceived to be a privilege of a select few, unlike fast-food, family style, and casual dining restaurants because of the classy ambiance and highly satisfying food choices.
Below are the three highly recommended fine dining spots in Davao:
Lotus Court, Marco Polo Davao
Located in the heart of the city; at the junction of Claro M. Recto Street and Manuel Roxas Avenue, is the Marco Polo Davao. Winning the 2007 Hotel of the Year Award, besting all other Marco Polo hotels in Cebu, and Beijing, Hong Kong, Shenzhen, Xiamen and Wuhan in China, proves that Marco Polo Davao emerges as a true-world class hotel. You may choose any of the five restaurants serving exquisite cuisines from international buffet at Café Marco to Cantonese delight at Lotus Court.
Lotus Court, Marco Polo’s premier fine dining Cantonese restaurant offers the finest choices of fresh quality seafood, served in an elegant and stylish setting, highlighted with warm Filipino hospitality. With four private rooms that are truly perfect for private parties, family or social gatherings, and business meetings, the restaurant is located at the 3rd floor of the hotel. Also, it has a total seating capacity of 228 persons.
Lotus Court is open on:
Lunch: 11:00 am to 2:30 pm
Dinner: 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm
For inquiries and reservations you may reach them at (082) 221-0888 local 7232.
La Parilla, Waterfront Insular Hotel Davao
Relax and dine at the La Parilla Grill and Restaurant, as you treat yourself to sumptuous food creations. Located at Lanang, Davao City and nestled all along the picturesque Davao Gulf, La Parilla never fails to satisfy every guests of the Waterfront Insular Hotel Davao. The modernly designed Filipiniana interiors with luxurious amenities and of course a tropical taste to the flavors of Davao welcome every foreign and local guest to an exceptionally Davao dining experience.
The open-air Seafood Restaurant offers seasoned-inspired menus and signature entreés. Anticipation rises to a new level as everyone looks forward for the Lobster Night. Yes! Have your stomachs ready for a mouth-watering lobster dinner; great with chili sauce. Other well-remembered options are tuna kinilaw and the grilled prawns, among other savory specialties in the midst of a nightly live entertainment. A 90-person total seating capacity restaurant, La Parilla is open from Tuesdays to Saturdays, 5:00 PM – 11:00 pm. Dining at the “al fresco“, La Parilla will certainly bring the fond friendships and close family ties together and bolder.
For further information and queries, La Parilla Grill and Restaurant can be reached at (082) 233-2881 loc. 8701
Claude’s Café de Ville
In a quest for a more private and romantic restaurant, one can dine in a relative silence to complete the highly adored French and Continental fine dining. Davao takes pride for having Claude’s Café de Ville as the well-loved restaurant for French Provencal and Mediterranean Cuisine. Now on its 15th year of operations, Claude’s Café de Ville remains to enjoy a regular patronage from businessmen, executives, and tourists with Chef Claude Le Neindre and his wife Theresa Villanueva Le Neindre taking the role as the primary drivers of its success and legacy.
It’s a crowd-drawer for their steaks and Ceasar salad; remarkably the best in town. Few of the top favorites include the rib eye in mushroom sauce, Lamb Chops Vert Pré, shrimp cocktail smothered with light dressing, tomatoes and avocado, Crepe Samurai, Roast Chicken Forrestierre, and salmon patae with a slice of a lightly toasted French bread. Because of its quality food offerings marked with classiness and variety, Maurice Arcache, a well-known social arbiter and columnist featured Claude’s Café de Ville in his book entitled Cosmo Dine in 1997. Feature write-ups in the Philippine Daily Inquirer, Philippine F and B Magazine and other lifestyle magazines proves that it’s a dining place worthy to be regarded as the first and only authentic French and Mediterranean Cuisine in the South.
Claude’s Café de Ville is located at 29 Rizal St, Paseo de Habana, Davao City. You may call them at (082) 222-4287.
Other Options
Categorized as semi-fine dining restaurants, below are a few to consider:
Café Mediterranean
Chimes Bldg., Gov. Sales St. Chinatown District Davao City
(082) 225-0975
Bigby’s Café and Restaurant
Metro Lifestyle Center, Jacinto Extension, Davao City
(082) 221-0111
Ground Flr. SM City Davao
(082) 298-0111
Polo Bistro
4th Flr. Marco Polo Hotel Davao
(082) 221-0888
Swiss Deli Davao
Lanang, Davao City
(082) 2340271
Hola España Bodega de Vinos y Deli
Damosa Gateway, Lanang, Davao City
(082) 2346877
Above is just a part and parcel of what Davaoeños are adept of doing. Davao City has a lot more to offer to the Filipinos and to the rest of the world. Culinary expertise along with the much valued and appreciated services speaks something of Davao’s dedication in providing global productivity and efficiency.
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This article is written by Julius Neil Piala. A true-blooded Davaoneo, Julius has earned a degree in Communications Arts from the prestigious Santo Tomas University in Manila. He has traveled extensively around the Philippines.