Looking Over, Overlooking at Lantaw SRP

I realized that I am not only writing about places, restaurants, and food here; I am writing about the memories made in them. I find it important to chronicle memories in order to make them linger in my forgetful mind. Thing is, I may go back to the same places in the future, but each visit would be unique in its own way with circumstances, people, and moments that transpired every time. However, I do not have the luxury of time to write about every place I find myself in, so I need to be selective.

It may not sound like it, but the paragraph above is my apology for unwritten entries that will never see the light of day here. 

Anyway, last May, some friends from Manila (Mae, Dalin, and Vince) came to Cebu for their Bohol-Cebu trip that involved going to ten places in Bohol on May 10 and to eleven places in Cebu on May 11. It must have been a jam-packed vacation weekend for them, yet they made time to have dinner with me. Awww.

We went to Lantaw Restaurant at the South Road Properties (SRP). Some quick facts: it is one of the three Lantaw Restaurants in Cebu, the other two are located in Busay and in Marigondon respectively. The word "lantaw" is a Visayan term that means looking over. True to the name, the three Lantaw Restaurants offer overlooking views of the sea (as in SRP and in Marigondon) or the mountains (as in Busay).

The first thing I noticed with the place was the way they made sure of the good ambiance. The place may be filled with tables and chairs to accommodate customers, but it did not feel crowded. One can feel the sea breeze from one side and watch the city lights on the other. There was also a DJ who played ambient music throughout our stay. Ambiance: 8/10.

The three of them wanted to taste foods that were uniquely Cebuano, so they ordered sinigang nga bakasi (eel), sinuglaw (grilled pork and raw fish combo), steamed talaba (oysters), and Cordova Express. Of course these viands were paired with cups of rice and four seasons juice drink. 

Defensive Mode Note: We prayed grace prior to taking pictures!

Among the four viands that we ordered, the Cordova Express and sinuglaw were the distinctly delicious ones. Cordova Express was a modified version of the Bicol Express, with seafoods and coconut meat as main ingredients. The grilled meat and raw fish combination of the sinuglaw was surprisingly good, too. However, the oysters used in the steamed talaba were not fresh; some even tasted kinda weird already. The sinigang nga bakasi was not really a standout for me. Each of us paid Php 200 for the meal. Food: 6/10.

Customer service was fast and efficient. They allowed us to stay for as long as possible, without dropping subtle hints that we should leave right away by the time we finished eating (eg taking away all our plates and asking if we wanted to order more foods, which by the way, I find rude). A word of warning, though: if you come to Lantaw SRP without a car, you would have to pay an additional Php 100 for them to call a cab for you. Service: 7/10.

It has been a year after our college graduation and I am quite amazed at how much and how little can change with that span of time. I mean, there are new career moves to make, new school years to face, and new challenges to overcome. I appreciate how little has changed with our friendship. The reeeaaally corny jokes and the desire to share experiences in life are still there.

To Mae, Dalin, and Vince, I wish you well in everything - may it be in your soul searching, in your medschool struggles or in your seminary journey. Until we meet each other again.

Until the next adventure,

Dena