Last week was a hard week for everybody, worldwide. The pressures of all the economic problems coming into play were a real roller coaster ride. With the stock markets worldwide plunging one day and rallying the next day, it was enough to leave your head spinning. By Friday evening, Feyma and I were ready for a little distraction, so we went out for dinner with my friends John Grant, and Migs Bassig, each of whom are also columnists here on LiP.
John was wanting to go to a local Italian Restaurant that I recently introduced him to, La Toscana. Their food is excellent, but I was in the mood to try something new. I had recently been hearing about a restaurant in town that I had never tried before, Bryan’s Grill and Café. I didn’t know much about the place, but had heard that the food was good. When Feyma and I picked up John and Migs, I informed them that we’d be trying a new place, didn’t give them much of a choice I think.
Bryan’s is located in a neighborhood subdivision, Palm Village subdivision, not too far from where we live. It wasn’t hard to find the place, although we had no idea where it was just directions from a friend. When we walked in, it wasn’t quite what I expected. I thought it looked a little downscale, and based on the descriptions of the food that I had heard I thought it would be quite the opposite. But, I wanted to try something new, so I thought let’s give it a try.
I ordered a Caesar salad and an orange honey glazed chicken with baked potatoes. Feyma ordered a spare rib with a peanut-based sauce, with Rice. John ordered a sirloin steak with potato wedges, and Migs ordered the same as Feyma’s. Oh yes, Feyma also ordered a shrimp cocktail.
When my salad and Feyma’s cocktail arrived, I was quite happy with it. Mostly, I was happy because the appetizers came before the main dish, which usually doesn’t happen here. The Caesar salad was excellent, also. The dressing on the salad was a little bit different than what you would normally expect on the Caesar salad, but delicious nonetheless. Feyma said that her shrimp cocktail was also excellent.
Shortly after we finished our appetizers (which Feyma and I also shared with John and Migs). Our main courses arrived. The plating of these main courses was absolutely stunning. It looked like something you’d see in a gourmet restaurant in London or Paris, possibly New York. This food looked like something that Gordon Ramsay was serving, not something you’d find in Davao city. When we tasted our dishes, the flavor was just as good as the looks too.
So, Friday really turned out to be a great evening. Good food, good friends, and we found a new restaurant that will surely be one of our favorites for sometime to come. Another pleasant thing about the place was the prices, very reasonable. Personally, I would say that this is one of the best restaurants in Davao city, and the prices are cheaper than some of the other restaurants too.
After we ate our meal, we had a chance to speak with Bryan, he is the owner and also the chef. Bryan was trained at a well-known culinary Institute, and I can say for certain that he really knows his business. when it comes to cooking and also presentation of the food, Bryan is in a class by himself. In addition, I found bride-to-be Bryan to be a very likable person, quite friendly. Although, I think he was a bit shy, but I’m sure that will be going back for additional visits and will probably see him shed his shyness, as we continue to return to his business.
In addition to the restaurant, Bryan also operates a bed and breakfast at the location, and has a beautiful swimming pool as well. The rates for swimming, and also for an overnight stay are very reasonable as well. It’s a place that I will be recommending to friends who want to stay in Davao in the future.
If you’re in Davao, I highly recommend a visit to Bryan’s Grill.
Hi Bob,
Looks like you have a most memorable experience at this restaurant. I have to put this on my list of places to visit when I return to Davao next spring. Also, can you provide more details about the bed-and-breakfast? Oh, those dishes look heavenly!
Cheers!
Hi Henry – You are right, the food was heavenly! I haven’t seen the rooms for the bed and breakfast, but based on everything else I saw, I am quite sure that they are adequate. For a double room it is P1550 per night with two occupants, and includes complimentary breakfast and free use of the swimming pool.
Looks good. How was John’s steak?
Hi Ron LaFleur – John said that his steak was great. However, I gave him a taste of my chicken, and he said it was better! My chicken also was a huge serving, and was also only P190!
excellent…will give it a try in Feb.!! Always on the lookout for a great reaturantl…especially if its served in proper order !…hmmm looked so good Bob ..I think I’ll go out and kill the pidgeons on the roof…mmmmmm
Hi brian – You won’t regret going to this place! As of right now, I would rate it as the best restaurant in Davao.
“Bryan is in a class by himself. In addition, I found bride-to-be a very likable person, quite friendly.”
Hi Bob! I just didn’t understand the above paragraph. And I have a question too. How was the serving though?
Hi ROY – I am sorry for the typo there. I was using voice input, and let a blooper slip by. That should read “I found Bryan to be a very likable person”. I have fixed it.
Serving size – for P190 I got a half chicken, two baked potatoes and vegetables! Quite a large serving!
wow..what a quick reply. 😉 Thanks Bob!
Hi ROY – Happy to be of assistance!
I have to agree with you Bob the food was very well presented and Bryan knows how to balance all the flavours on the plate too. Migs and I will be back again soon to ensure Bryan serves us again and again!!!
Hi Bob: I would love to go back to La Piscine! Or Bryan’s. Whatever it’s really called. It was wonderful sharing the dinner with you, Feyma, and John, who I think really enjoyed his meal and wedges. I know I did!
In comparison to here, the restaurants there seem to be a real bargain and I wish I had more confidence in taking full advantage of all the things they have on the menu.
I had recieved so many ” Health Precautins ” about going to The Philippines prior to my first visit at times I held back in eating things I may have liked to.
Your mention of the Ceaser Salad goes along with one of many precautions that were given to me by a travel doctor here. It mentions do not eat Any frest fruit or vegatables that may have been washed in Tap Water and in the case fo fresh fruit, only eat thick skinned fruit that you peel yourself ! Another one is not to consume Any dairy products as it may not have been made with Pasteurized dairy products.
Is it polite to ask in a restaurant if the fresh vegatables have been washed in tap water ? I realize that the quality and ” drinkability ” of tap water can vary from one water source to another but is there any kind of ” practical ” guideline you use as to what to eat or not to eat when dealing with an unknown city water system where you see everyone drinking bottled water ?
The reason I ask, is those pics you show in this blog appear to be somewhat of Gormet Quality at a bargain price compared to here but when I see the fresh vegatables it reminds me of the ” Travelers Health Precautions ” I recieved here.
I must have eaten in a total of about 10 different public eating establishments ( restaurants & fast food establishments ) in Iligan and Cagayan De Oro while I was there. I chose menu selections very carefully and had No salads or uncooked vegatables as I just didn’t want to take a chance on having any digestive or other health problems while I was there, and I didn’t !
There are always temptations and exceptions that we all give into at one time or another. One night at Jollibee, one of my local friends there sat across the table from me eating a Jolli-Zert ( ice cream based desert ). I debated in my own mind for several minutes to get one or not and I wanted to compare the taste, texture, etc. to equivalent products sold here in the USA. I finally gave in and ate one and had No Problem from eating that.
As I am planning to visit again, I really would like to try more things and I did miss eating an occasional salad and the ” Really Fresh ” fruit which is something not always easily available here.
Hi john – Yes, it was a great meal! Feyma and I will be going back tomorrow night, we have a dinner date with some other friends! I went swimming there today too. I really like the place!
Hi Migs – We certainly enjoyed the dinner too. I agree with you on the name… it can be La Piscine, Bryan’s or Arturo’s. They need to work on developing a single brand!
Hi Bob New York – Personally, I think that you got some bad advice. I eat and drink just about anything I find here, and have no troubles. Especially in Davao…. according to the United Nations, the City of Davao has the 2nd most pure tap water in the WORLD! In other places like Iligan or CdO, eating fresh fruits and uncooked veggies should present no problems.
You probably need to be more careful in the USA, given all the salmonella cases in recent months! 😆
Thanks for your encouragment Bob, I’ll be a bit more ” relaxed ” when ordering food on my next visit. Obviously you are eating there every day and writing these blogs almost daily so that is a practical way of guaging some of the items on these hand out sheets issued by travel doctors here. Maybe they want to be overcautious to avoid lawsuits from travelers when they get back home.
You do make a good point however that sickness from bad food can happen anywhere. As always, thanks for your thoughts and advice.
Wow Bob what a great tip for a restaurant this one is i will certainly be giving it a try….i remember “posting” to you some time ago about “food choice” being a problem to me but now it isn’t…..i have found some great places to eat and certainly at least half of them have been suggested by you on this bog, including De bonte Koe, hennies place and Al’s diner, cocos and now Bryans grille and cafe looks great i will try it….soon…
Bob,
The restuant sound great. Elena and I have to plan an evening there. Maybe we will run into you.
Bob,
By the way, where exactly is Palm Village and the resturant. Could you give some directions.
Thanks again for all your articles.
Hi Bob New York – I think that as a traveler you are probably more susceptible to food and beverage problems than somebody who lives here. Having lived here, I have probably developed some immunity toward such problems. However, I do believe that you can relax a bit and enjoy the great foods available here a bit more.
Hi rick b – You and Ann will enjoy Bryan’s, I am certain of it. Maybe one of these days, we’ll have to get together for a meal there!
Hi Bruce – Yes, maybe we’ll see you there, you never know. Palm Village is between Victoria Plaza and Dacudao Road. About 700 Meters or so behind Victoria Plaza. Just go down the street with a canal running along the north side and watch for the “Palm Village” sign, where you will turn left. After entering the subdivision, take the first left (almost immediately), and in about 1 block you will see the place on the right side of the road.
Enjoy! The food is great! And very affordable.
hahaha i’ve never been this restuarant Bryan’s Grill i try next time coz i know my hubby love it,coz we always there in JACKRIDGE’S the overlooking restuarant in matina which is near to us. thank you anyway
Hi venus – Yes, give Bryan’s a try! The food is excellent. I like Jack’s Ridge too – great view! The food at Jack’s Ridge is “OK lang” but not special like Bryan’s is! 😯
I am home, I got fat and now I see this and I wanna go and try them out, LOL LOL LOL!
Food LOOKS YUMMY!
Hi Cheryll Ann – Let’s make it a date! When you are back in Davao, you, Feyma and I will have dinner there! Guess what… in one week, I have been to Bryan’s 5 times now! Twice was for swimming, though. 😆
HI,
Certainly enjoyed reading all the comments, especially that guy from the States who happens to be afraid of drinking or eating the ice cream. I was in the US,
Washington DC for almost twenty days and I can tell h im now that I had the worst food, the worst, diarrhoea and the worst service. ABove all, what really put me off was the imposition of tip as much as 20 percent. How can Americans demand a tip when they should be ashamed of asking for it? After all, if they
come from the richest country in the world, why on earth do they beg for a tip?
Sure, you’d say, it’s part of tradition, or it’s to augment their salaries, still, as
the richest country in the world, they should put a stop to it. Above all, it’s really ignorance on their part to make silly comments like that. I live in Europe, have been for 28n years and believe me, the staff aren’t that clean. Many waiters pick their noses while standing around for customers, they do not know how to lay the fork and knife. i.e.. they hold the mouth instead of the handle, they do not,
I repeat, do not wash their hands, especially handling raw meet or fish. No sir,
hygiene, I mean, PERSONAL hygiene among Europeans leave much to be
desired. Believe me, as in FRance and Spain, they’d rather have clean bathrooms . So, they end up not using it often, just too present their bathroom and toilet as squeeky clean. They are really not hygienic in terms of personal habit, unlike the Filipinos. At least, Filipinos in general wash themselves, personal hygience is top of the list, that’s why many Brits would rather marry
the women there. I can tell you that my British husband beams proudly when they tell them how clean his Filipina wife is. An English couple we stayed with said that they had a 20 year old French guy who only had a wash and shower the day
he left England! That’s hygiene for you,heheheeh.
E
HI hill,
I am a filipina and am very happy to hear that from you… We Filipina’s do believe in hygiene topping to our list because it is were our beauty comes from, Cleanliness… =>
Hoping to have you here in Davao Soon… Know what Antonio’s Bar and Grill is the place to be for cleanliness and safe food.
Hi hill roberts- Here in the Philippines, many nice restaurants go beyond what you are talking about when it comes to tipping. They just add it to the bill as a service charge. I tip generously here in the Philippines, but if they add 15 or 20% service charge, then I don’t leave any additional tip.
HI Bob!
Have you also tried Antonio’s Bar and Grill? I bet this restaurant is the best…. You would really taste the Savor of Davao… I’ll keep on coming back! Wanna come with me? ….jejejeje
Hi grace – Yes, I have tried Antonio’s… but sorry to say, it’s not for me. Take care.
hi.. how much is the sirloin steak with potato wedges?????
I am sorry, Yvonne, it’s been several years since I wrote this article, and I don’t recall how much that was. Also, that price would probably no longer be correct anyway.