Loading ...Pepper & Peppers
Posted by Blogie on 28 January 2008 • 5606 views, 7 today [link]
A group of young Dabawenyo entrepreneurs — coming from different fields of expertise but altogether passionate about good food — opened last 1 December 2007 a new restaurant that will certainly add color and flavor to the fast-growing restaurant scene in Davao. Pepper & Peppers.
Last 26 January 2008, Mike Sy, John Obsines and Carlos Alba hosted our band of foodies for a hearty lunch at their place. Pepper & Peppers is hip and classy. It really matters to discerning diners when the restaurant is well-appointed and uses quality materials. What more if the food is great!
The house specialty at Pepper & Peppers is the Iberian Chicken (₱375). It’s one whole chicken, marinated in herbs and spices (including lots of garlic), olive oil and unpeeled potatoes, and oven-baked for two hours! This is certainly a must-try for those of you who haven’t been there yet. This dish serves 4 to 6 people.
When I eat chicken, I go for the white-meat parts, but I know many people prefer the dark meat. The white meat is less tasty, but it’s healthier. In Pepper & Peppers’ Iberian Chicken, however, the whole chicken is superb. The breast was so juicy and savory, I was happy to give away the legs and wings to the rest of the gang. And the marinade! It was all I could do to stop myself from pouring it all over the chicken and rice.
For starters, we were served two types of salads: the Chicken Caesar’s Salad (₱75) and the Garden Fresh Salad (₱75). I helped myself to the latter, which had lettuce, strips of carrot, fresh tomatoes, jicama (singakamas), cucumber and bits of cheese. The first one also looked good, but it looked rather heavy, so I opted for the other one. Both salads can actually be split into two orders.
I’d also recommend their Chicken Croquetas. In Davao, I’ve only ever liked one source of croquetas, and that’s made by my good friend Silvia Gomez-Gempesaw. But the croquetas at Pepper & Peppers have opened my eyes to more possibilities…
Our enthusiastic hosts let us try quite a number of their other offerings. It was too much, actually, but nobody was complaining. There was the Peppered Steak (₱200), which was tender and cooked just right, but had too much rosemary in it, I think. The others enjoyed it though.
For a hassle-free but filling meal, you might want to order what they call El Grande (₱175). It’s prepared with a quarter chicken, hungarian sausage, beef slices, tiny shrimps and scrambled eggs. It also comes with a hefty serving of rice.
Seafoods? They have that, too. I forgot to check the menu if there were others, but we were served the Mixed Seafood Platter (₱165), which has fish, shrimp, squid, shellfish (imbao), all topped with a seasoned red sauce.
I shouldn’t forget to mention the pasta! They have several choices, but what we had last Saturday was their Spicy Portuguese Pasta (₱100). It’s really hot and the taste is simply awesome. Mind you, it’s herring that they put in there — but it doesn’t have that fishy aftertaste at all.
What I appreciate is the fact that Pepper & Peppers doesn’t scrimp on ingredients, and the servings are really ample. Many of their dishes can actually be good for two people already. If you’re going there as a group, a good way to eat there would be to order a couple of entrées and maybe two salads, and everybody just digs in.
Photos of the Davao Food Trip #5, courtesy of Ria Jose.
Pepper & Peppers is located at this new arcade called “The Site” on Jacinto Ext (near Bangko Sentral). According to the owners, though, the place has come to be called “Convenience Store Compound”, because of the store right in front. The restaurant is rather small (only about five or six tables inside), so it’s advisable to call ahead for reservations. For the Iberian Chicken, they ask that you order it two hours in advance. Tel.: (82)221-1396.
Free WiFi available!
Merry Christmas! «» Sunburst Fried Chicken «» Papa Ching’s Restaurant «» Yellow Fin Seafood Restaurant «» Antonio’s Bar & Grill
19 Responses to “Pepper & Peppers”
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10. Nov, 2008
[...] cool little joint in an arcade on Jacinto Extension. One of the owners is our very own Michael Sy. Click here to read about this [...]
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25. Dec, 2008
[...] I received a delightful gift from my friends at Pepper & Peppers — an Iberian Chicken in all its fantastic deliciousness. Since my parents are away for the [...]
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Ria Jose
28 Jan 2008
WOW! I’m so happy you used my newbie photos.
Looking to more food trips with you!
DFH
28 Jan 2008
We’ve been dying to try this place out since it opened. Sige sige will try it out na! Thanks Master Blogie!
Louhanna
28 Jan 2008
Finally! A review on Pepper & Peppers. Can’t stop thinking about the Iberian Chicken. Kahit la na ung chicken, the oil and the garlic over rice ulam pa rin…..YUMMY!!! Yun pa lang na-try ko dun eh. Will try the croquetas next time….
Bon
29 Jan 2008
Blogie – Another great review! Looks like you are loosing a lot of weight from the photos. You are definitely determined to get a six pack. It’s going to be a challenge with all the upcoming food trips.
Gosh, I would be so amazed if you can get DFH to come. I would even be more amazed if you can snap a photo of her and post it on your blog. Have you actually seen her in person? I’ve always been curios what she looks like.
Alex D. Divinagracia
05 Feb 2008
We were there last Monday…not so satisfied with the service. The adobo that we ordered was too oily and dry… my porkchop was not too good either… we ordered beer and it took a lifetime na dumating…kung hindi pa ako tumayo at pumasok sa loob-hindi sya na serve at nakalimutan na! we were sitting outside then coz we were smoking… i think the waiter/waitress were busy entertaining those young people inside…my gosh..they got all the menus and we were left waiting outside…. we are a better capacity paying guest im sure!and you dont treat a travel agent like that?Anyway, better luck next time…
Mistalava
06 Feb 2008
I entertained friends at Pepper & Peppers on my recent trip to Davao. It was great! Unfortunately, when I ordered the croquettes the answer was the ubiquitous “sorry sir, out of stock”. I will be back on future visits. The place was a little hard to find from the street, buried in the back of the convenience complex. The Iberian Chicken is really the dish to go for.
certifiedfoodie
14 Feb 2008
wow! im readin this blog while im supposed to be doin sumthin else.. anyway, I have not visited this place yet but Im gonna try it really soon. Btw, can we submit our “reviews” of the places we have visited. I’m really a foodie, not a healthy eater though. But id love to share my new experiences with food.
for the love of food
24 Feb 2008
hi! i would like to comment about this restaurant, kasi my mom went here twice and after every visit she complains about the service…if you could advice the owner to look into their staff… in the two occasions that she went there, the waiter always made a mistake of only putting the order for only one person, when in fact she orders for two. and the people she brings there are usually important guests from outside Davao. It gives a bad impression to not only my mom but the restaurant and Davao.
Fr. Tom Martin
12 Jul 2008
Went there last night. We had coffee at near by coffee shop and decided to walk down the street looking at restaurants. We walked into the center where Pepper and Peppers was located. I saw the name and recalled it from your blog. We would have never found it if not just walking by because I do not recall any signage on the street. The decor was nice and it certainly was very clean. The wait staff was okay since we were the only ones in the restaurant. I happen to be one of those people that like for the wait staff to make suggestion and engage in some conversation which they do not, but others may prefer not being bothered by the wait staff. The garden salad was good, the nachos were certainly different than someone use to Tex-Mex food would be familar with, but they were okay, my friend had fish and he said it was good, I happen to have steak and found it tough and dry. Oh yes, the potato soup was good. Pepper and Peppers is a place if I was hungry and close by I would stop in, but certainly would not travel across town or take special guest to. There was a barber shop in the same center and my friend did get an excellent haircut after dinner so it was a trip well worthwhile.
Blogie
12 Jul 2008
Thanks for your feedback, Fr. Tom! Appreciate it.
orman
19 Oct 2008
hi blogie… the owners of p&p michael and bunny are friends since my ibank days. bunny had been cajoling me to try their iberian chicken. the first time i visited was unfortunate coz i already had dinner. so this time, i made sure i will have my fill. straight from the davao airport, we proceeded to p&p. of course, i knew about the 3-hour advice and promptly informed bunny about it. when i got there, walang tao dahil sunday and 2:30pm na… the staff was very friendly, offered us cold water and politely informed us that our order will be served in a few. bunny suggested the 999.00 bundle which consisted of the iberian chicken, four slices of porkchop, mixed seafood menudo and bottomless iced tea! the server suggested an order of crispy pork ears… and i am glad i succumbed to the “pressure” because it was delightfully crispy and succulent! and when the main course arrived, i realized how famished i was. the iberian chicken was heavenly! queber na sa cholesterol. i was so full that i forgot that along with the meal bundle were dessert… this should reached bunny coz am going to ask for it the next time around. now now i would like to be selfish and not share this superb resto and enjoy it by my lonesome but am gonna wish that davaoenos will discover why p&p is another feather to davao’s cap. bravo mike and bunny!
Blogie
19 Oct 2008
Hey Orman! Thanks for your feedback! Pumunta ka pala ng Davao ha?? Di mo man lang ako tinawagan…
Kat M.
23 Feb 2009
Pepper and Pepper’s interiors are gorgeous; very well-appointed. In fact, one of the finest in Davao for mid-priced restaurants. The service was okay, I think. BUT that’s about all the compliment I can give.
Contrary to your review, I found the Chicken Croquetas to be quite dry and lacking in flavor. Seemed more like under-seasoned breaded chicken cutlets to me. The mustard dip didn’t help either — it was too overpowering. They could’ve at least added cream or mayo to the mustard? Serving mustard (as is) with the croquetas can drown out the mild flavor of the chicken. The El Grande wasn’t any better. The chicken was ordinary at best, the sausage tasted too “commercial” and the egg on top of the rice (if I remember correctly) was too greasy and overcooked. Tasted that way too — with no milk or special seasoning whatsoever to make it more appetizing.
All I’m saying is, if you’re going to market yourself as a destination for “exquisite food,” you better step up to the plate. In doing otherwise, you not only lose customers, you lose credibility for your other restaurant ventures (if and when you do) as well.
Just saying.
Blogie
23 Feb 2009
Hello, Kat. Thanks for your feedback.
One sad thing about many restaurants in Davao is that they’re not consistent with food quality. For example, the last time I had the croquetas, it wasn’t dry at all and the mustard dip was just fine.
Don’t worry, I will let the owners know about your experience — I know they will look into it pronto.
Lyle
06 Apr 2009
Hi Blogie.
I called the number posted above, I think you posted the wrong number as the other party said I reached Metro Car.
Blogie
06 Apr 2009
You’re right! Wonder where I got that number from… Anyway, I’ve gotten the correct number from one of the owners na, and I’ve edited the post above. The number is 221-1396.
Rica Veloso
02 Oct 2009
Is there a way to get the recepi for Iberian Chicken? I tried it in Casa Armas Restaurant in Manila and it’s so delicious. Is there a possibility to share it with us.
My name Rica Velos (US resident)
My email: rica7_@hotmail.com
Thank you very much.