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Antonio’s Bar & Grill

Posted by Blogie on 7 May 2009  •  6202 views, 25 today   [link]  

Antonio's Bar & GrillAntonio’s Bar & Grill has two restaurants in Davao City: the first one in SM City, the other and better-looking one in the new Metro Lifestyle commercial building on the corner of Jacinto Ext. and F. Torres St. The newer place is much more inviting and furnished like a stylish bistro. The comfortable tables and booths, as well as the engaging décor, seem to inspire patrons to relish Antonio’s Filipino delicacies, and come back for more.

Last night I went to eat at Antonio’s for the first time, and a couple of food-tripping friends joined me. We had a lovely meal and enjoyed the ambience (it’s always nice to have a good number of other diners around, don’t you think?) and the excellent service. The waitstaff who attended to our needs were very helpful, polite, and always wore a smile.

Shrimp Tempura @ Antonio'sFor starters, we had the Shrimp Tempura. They’re not a Japanese restaurant, so I tried not to expect too much. It was good, though, not bad at all. The shrimps were big and the batter was crispy enough and not soggy with oil. The el cheapo hot-sauce dip was a bit of a spoiler… but like I said, Antonio’s isn’t a Japanese restaurant. One order is good for two people.

Inihaw na Liempo @ Antonio'sThe Inihaw na Liempo was a pleasant surprise. I found it good that they serve the pork belly in thin strips, marinated well and grilled just right. There was a bit of toughness around the edges, but that’s sometimes to be expected in barbecue. The smoky flavor was really good, though, and it was all I could do to keep myself from stuffing my face! And, I appreciated very much the care they apparently take in preparing their dipping sauces. In many other restaurants that serve grilled food, they just give you out-of-the-bottle stuff for dipping. At Antonio’s, the inihaw orders come with a soy-sauce dip that’s mixed with some spices and other condiments (but I couldn’t quite identify them…). Lip-smacking good!

Inihaw na Bangus @ Antonio'sWhat my friends and I found suspicious right away, however, was the Inihaw na Bangus that we had. The way the milkfish was prepared and presented seemed really delectable, but the fish itself was, well, fishy. The meat didn’t look the way it should — it was grayish and crumbly. After trying some of it, it made my tongue itch a little. The fish wasn’t very fresh. Too bad. On the flip side, the staff was really concerned about it and promised to look into the matter. Judging by the way they take care of their customers, I’m sure it won’t happen again.

Stir-Fried Vegetables @ Antonio'sWhat made our meal most satisfying was our order of Stir-Fried Vegetables. The broccoli, cauliflower, carrot, bell pepper and other green goodies were really fresh and succulent. It wasn’t too oily, and I loved the subtle flavoring (oyster sauce, pepper, and very light on the salt). It’s the dish that I would recommend to round off a table full of grilled and fried food!

The family-style garlic rice, I should also mention, was fabulous. For me, rice can make or break a meal. Sometimes, no matter how good the food is, if the rice is bad, everything goes down a notch. At Antonio’s, the garlic rice is steamed to perfection, and lightly cooked again with golden garlic and sprinkled with a little celery. Yummy!

I’ve heard that Antonio’s is also known for their steaks and Crispy Tadyang. That I will have to see next time I dine there.

The Antonio’s Bar & Grill branch at the Metro Lifestyle compound has a conference room, which can also be used for small parties. For reservations, call 225-4394. Both branches are open all week for lunch and dinner.

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Category: Restaurant
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16 Responses to “Antonio’s Bar & Grill”

  1. Donald Serrano

    08 May 2009

    wow kalami sa mga pagkaon diha. hehe

    Reply to this comment

  2. Cidy

    17 May 2009

    Looks yummy! Never been there pa, masubukan nga if ever I’ll be in Davao before end of this month.. *nakakagutom ang mga pictures dito*

    Reply to this comment

  3. hayna

    18 May 2009

    how much is their foods?

    Reply to this comment

    • Blogie

      19 May 2009

      Hello hayna. Sorry I wasn’t able to take note of the prices. Antonio’s food rates are mid-range, very reasonable.

      Reply to this comment

  4. DavaoBase

    19 May 2009

    Wow, and here I thought Antonio’s is already a staple here in Davao.

    Here’s what we always order in Antonio’s SM: Sizzling Bangus Belly and Lechon Paksiw sa Bocaue. For people who like sinful food (i.e. creamy, oily, and finger-licking), we highly recommend these dishes.

    Reply to this comment

  5. badet

    30 Jun 2009

    lami jud aU fud sa antonio’s.. lalo na mga drinks.. lamian gayud!

    Reply to this comment

  6. luwi

    22 Jul 2009

    we always dine here with my family…i happened to meet the owner of the resto….he suggested me some of the dishes…i tried it, and it was insanely good!!!

    a must try at antonio’s
    1. sizzling bangus belly
    2. lechon paksiw sa bocaue
    3. krispy tuna belly (saraaap)
    4. special pinakbet with bagoong..
    5. for dessert: MANGO SAGO!!! ( perfect way to end the meal)!!!

    should try okay???

    Reply to this comment

  7. Coco

    30 Aug 2009

    wow! dami na palang bago sa Davao.. mapuntahan nga yan pag-uwi ko next year ;-)

    Reply to this comment

  8. leebay

    01 Dec 2009

    i love th food and the place… keptcoming back for more.. loved their sm branch but i always crave for their metro lifestyle branch.. cozy and fun.. foods great too..

    Reply to this comment

  9. vanessa biazon

    16 Dec 2009

    wheww i and my bf really enjoyed our stay in davao..your trip is not complete if you dont eat at antonios..miss u sir jun…

    Reply to this comment

  10. jc

    14 Feb 2010

    how much ang prices dito? ranges ng prices?

    Reply to this comment

  11. ching

    23 Apr 2010

    yes………..the best talaga ang Antonio’s, great food! and good service…………… you try also pinaputok na manok sobrang sarap…. i like also their Buco durian shake…….kakagutom…

    Reply to this comment

  12. maribeth kocher roguel

    22 May 2010

    JUST WANT TO LET YOU KNOW THAT WHEN I WAS IN DAVAO FOR MONTH VACATION…YOUR RESTAURANT WAS A BIG PART OF OUR DAILY ROUTE….MY HUSBAND AND I LOVE YOUR FOOD…IF YOU ASK YOUR SUPERVISOR IN SM DAVAO…I AM SURE THAT HE WILL REMEBER US…WE ARE VERY HAPPY WITH THE SERVICES…TELL YOUR SUPERVISOR THAT I WAS THE BIG TIPPER OF THE PLACE AND ORDER BUKO SALAD WITH MY EVERY MEAL….ONLY ONE THING THOUGH….IF YOU CAN IMPROVE YOUR RESTROOMS..THEN EVERYTHING WILL BE PERFECT…

    Reply to this comment

  13. arnie

    29 Jun 2010

    can u send me the package for a wedding pwede ba kyo mag cater sa beach..tnx

    Reply to this comment

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