Café Laguna braces for competition

To stay competitive in the food industry now that more Manila players are joining the ranks of Cebu’s food district, Laguna Garden Café underwent renovation process that completely changed its interior look.

In an interview with Café Laguna’s Manager and Franchise Director Jill U. Viado, she revealed that Laguna Garden Café is about to unveil its newest, more sophisticated look in line with its anniversary celebration in a grand party celebration this October 28.She added that the renovation has been done along with the Ayala Mall administration’s ongoing expansion and renovation plans for its activity and entertainment center in the former lagoon area.

Viado expressed their excitement with Ayala Mall’s development design concept for its entertainment center and revealed that the restaurant will be among the projected garden row concept along with other new restaurant locators.

Although they anticipate that the competition will become stiffer later on once the locators from Manila occupies the area, they are confident to say that they already have prepared for the challenge and the renovation is one proof to that.

Viado added that with Laguna Garden Café’s new look, the restaurant will be ready to compete with the new locators and is set to become one of the highlights in the new Ayala Mall strip. Though Viado admitted that their sales have lowered when the renovation started, she is optimistic that their efforts will pay off once the center opens. 

“We ensure that something very beautiful is coming here. It will be more sophisticated in design with lighter, cooler atmosphere and with improved facilities to accommodate more guests and bigger crowd,” she said.

With the overall renovation of the Laguna Garden Café owners aim to promote Filipino products not only through the quality of food they serve along with the unforgettable  dining experience that comes with it but also showcase Filipino’s best in terms of  furniture and selected pieces of antique collections.

Owners also ensure that with their upgraded interiors, they will still retain their Filipino restaurant identity by serving the best Filipino meals that their patrons have loved through these years.

Laguna Garden Café is actually celebrating its 8th year this year and as one of the first locators in Ayala, Café Laguna is celebrating its 13th glorious year. And through these years they have observed a change of Cebuano’s lifestyle in line with the growth of their client base.

“Our corporate groups and tourist patrons have grown that’s why we kept on expanding and innovating the business so that we will not be left out with the latest trends in the business,” added Café Laguna’s matriarch Julita Urbina.

Brought about by its humble beginnings, Café Laguna has become one of the most admired and multi-awarded high-end restaurants in the food district even if its owners are not native Cebuanos.

“Running a restaurant business is no joke because you have to plan your strategy especially now that many players are competing. But all the family members are helping run the business that’s why it has grown this way,” Viado relished.

And knowing that a trusted name like themselves need not extend so much effort on promotions, Viado said that “we plan and anticipate about things so we constantly improve our products and do more researches to make our service better. We always try to improve and make a difference. Our quality speaks for itself and people know that we serve good food.”