Dinner by the Seashore

CEBU, Philippines — Friday nights are known to be “action nights,” what with the weekend just one sleep away. People cannot seem to wait to loosen up. They start it right on Friday night.

But if it’s to be a special night, perhaps it’s worth making a little trip. Say, dinner in a place away from the noise and rush of the city and yet close enough to reach by a mere few minutes’ drive.  Now, Mactan Island comes to mind.

A nice destination would be Bluewater Maribago. The resort’s Allegro Restaurant sizzles with a seafood feast on Fridays, from 6 to 9 p.m. It’s part of a weeklong set of themed dinner buffets that include “Kabilin,” Visayan home-style cooking, on Sundays; “Savores del Sur,” featuring dishes from the Philippine South, on Mondays; “Tara sa Norte,” with top dishes from the country’s North, on Tuesdays; “Cebuano Street Fest” on Wednesdays; “Taste of Asia,” highlighting top Asian cuisines, on Thursdays; and “Barrio Fiesta,” with the best of Philippine fiesta fares, on Saturdays.

The Friday night seafood feast is called “Lapyahan,” for good reason. Aside from the fact that on this particular night Allegro Restaurant exudes an unmistakable seashore atmosphere, the buffet spread only has the freshest catch from the nearby seas. Great ambiance and great food – nothing could probably be better than that, except perhaps adding in great company!

The entertainment that goes with the seafood dinner is also a feast for the eyes, while adding to the island feel at the same time. Dancers in grass skirts sway lithely to the inviting drumbeats. There’s a point when one can’t help but suspend that next spoonful – as the music from “Hawaii 5-0” sweeps through the place.

It would be a nice idea to bring the whole family over.  The kids are sure to love it and, well, the no-longer-kids too. The food is really a standout; everything else is only added bonus.

Or it could be made into something romantic. The short trip to and from Bluewater Maribago could be a perfect time for sweet conversations. And at Allegro Restaurant a table may be pulled away, just for two.  

“Lapyahan,” by the way, is Cebuano for “seashore.” Allegro Restaurant is imbued with that refreshing scent of the seashore just a few steps away. And with the great variety of fresh seafood served on Friday nights, for all intents and purposes it’s truly dinner by the seashore!