I’ve been so busy with the planning and preparations for WordCamp Philippines 2008 — an international bloggers’ event which we will hold at the College of St. Benilde in Manila, and at Bryan’s Grill & Café here in Davao — that I haven’t had the chance (or the energy) to try out new restaurants in town.
Last night, I had to tear myself away from all the WordCamp excitement and enjoy a couple of hours with a good friend and good food. And I was not disappointed. My buddy Alex and I had a satisfying experience at Siggi’s Grill & Restaurant, a relatively new place that offers mixed Western and Filipino cuisine.
Another friend, Luv-Luv Tan, who’s always on the look out for new dining places and always lets me know about them, was enthusiastic about Siggi’s yesterday. So, I thought I had to give it a try.
For starters, Alex and I had Bouillabaisse (P220), which the menu says is good for two (but I think it’s actually good for 3 or 4 people). When it was served, the aroma of the chowder was enough to trigger my appetite. It was choc-full of seafood, vegetables and lots of onion — you can tell that they don’t scrimp on their ingredients.
The taste, however, wasn’t what I was expecting. I had to grate extra black pepper to get the flavor out. But it wasn’t bad at all. In fact, I enjoyed it because the creaminess wasn’t overwhelming (a common mistake when preparing chowder).
For the main course, Alex had the venerable Grill Pork Chops (P150), and I had Char-Broiled Baby Back Ribs (P195). Can you believe their prices? The servings are just right, and each comes with a choice of garlic or java rice. Oh, and the rice was cooked perfectly. That’s something that can really make or break a Filipino’s dining experience, don’t you think?
My serving of rib was OK. It was very tender and flavorful, especially when applied with that special gravy they serve alongside. It had just the right amount of fat, not too much and not too little. Gotta watch the diet… On the menu, it says that it’s supposed to be sweetish (thankfully, not too sweet) and spicy (nope, I had to ask for chili flakes… because I love food that bites back! 
).
Alex had the better deal, though. I thought the Grilled Pork Chops item wasn’t such a big deal because it didn’t have any description on the menu. But I was gravely mistaken. It was good! And I’m a pork chop connoisseur if there ever was one. Of course I had a taste of it, and the meat was grilled to perfection, and was served sprinkled with rosemary and other spices, as well as garlic butter (I think). Definitely a highly recommended dish.
The restaurant is very comfortable. Nice, big chairs, wide tables, good illumination, greens all around. I like it that there are ‘levels’ to the space; it’s not just one rectangular area. They also have a semi-separate room for small gatherings.
Siggi’s is located on 37-A Mabini St., beside Badminton World. Other establishments near it are Tumble Tots and Tiny Kitchen Creations. For reservations, call 225-8642.
Siggi’s — “to dine for!”
