The weather alternated between overcast and rainy when we ventured to Dapitan City in Zamboanga del Norte. It’s been a long trip, having gone from Tawi-Tawi to Zamboanga City and northwards to Dipolog so instead of letting the rains dampen our spirits, we took it as a sign to slow down on shooting and make the most out of the sleepy weather. Having billeted ourselves at one of the pension houses along the city’s Sunset Boulevard, we had the rare luxury of being steps away from eating places. We consider ourselves very lucky indeed to have stumbled upon Kamayan ni Manay just before the heavy rains came again and obscured the nice view of Dapitan Bay.
A welcome surprise
Lagal[og] said: The place easily stands out on the strip with its log cabin motif. The high ceiling gives the place an airy feel while the ambience is very homey and casual. In lieu of air conditioning, the restaurant is fully screened to keep the insects away while letting in fresh breezes from the bay. Since the place encourages kamayan (eating by hand), there ought to be a washing area. I don’t expect to find good quality liquid soap and large paper towels even in some establishments here in Manila so it was really a pleasant surprise to find them over here in Dapitan.
Ironwulf said: The place is just on the Sunset Boulevard facing the sea. Even if it was cloudy that day it sure has some views. There’s also an option to dine outside if you want. The stylish ball lamps made of bamboo mesh add a nice native touch to the place. It’s very comfortable just being there.
Finger-licking good
Lagal[og] said: In a word – finger-licking-delicious. The food they serve is really best enjoyed kamayan (eating by hand) style. The Halabos na Hipon (Boiled Shrimps) was tasty in its simplicity while the Inihaw na Baboy (Grilled Pork) was cooked just right so it’s tender and juicy. Maybe, it’s the way they serve the dishes on a native platter lined with banana leaves that makes it very enticing but the presentation goes a long way to enhance the dining experience.
Ironwulf said: I ordered the Inihaw na Nukos, a kind of grilled squid which sometimes I hesitate to order in some restaurants since this dish is a hit-or-miss for me. This one though is a hit because of its tender meat. The stuffed diced tomatoes and onions inside were also a welcome surprise, adding flavors to the crispy garlic topped on the squid itself. The Seafood Rolls was new to my palate. Instead of the usual grilled pork in lumpias, a variety of seafood was stuffed inside the deep fried rice flour wrap. It taste different but in a good way especially if you like seafood a lot.
Lagal[og] said: Considering the hefty servings and all that delicious food we had, it was a pleasant surprise to see our bill come to under P700. Clichés aside, the service was prompt and courteous so I’ll have to say I highly recommend this place even to those who would just visit the adjoining city of Dipolog. It really is worth coming over for.
Ironwulf said: It’s a real bargain of a place. Aside from the outstanding setting, the food is good and a real value. We stayed just a walking distance from this restaurant and saw that it was packed at night. I wasn’t surprised if it’s was a real hit. But don’t just take our word for it, you got to try eating here yourself.
Kamayan ni Manay
Sunset Boulevard, Dapitan City
Zamboanga del Norte
This is my type of establishment, airy and serves simple food. It looks pretty cheap too. I guess because of its location. I wonder if you can get that same price in Metro Manila?
photo cache, we liked it very as well because the mood was laidback and the food, unpretentious. i really doubt if a metro manila establishment would be able to match the prices given the same ambiance. the view of dapitan bay is also an added attraction.