Cravings Satisfied at Pino!

Our whole team agreed to have lunch out of the office at least once a month. I have always loved Filipino dishes and for this month, the restaurant of our choice was Pino!, located on Wilson St. in Lahug, Cebu City. In Cebuano, the word "pino" is used as an adjective to mean fine or refined. As a restaurant, Pino!, signifies the owners' dedication to serve the best Filipino cuisine in the classiest way possible.

The moment we entered the place, I knew we were up for something good. From the Colonial-period interior design to their combination of Filipino and Spanish dishes with an Oyster Bar and dessert buffet with bottomless iced tea at an affordable price of P299... I wasn't disappointed.

Recommended dishes at Pino Filipino Cuisine Restaurant:

Calamares are slices of fresh squid dipped in Japanese batter and deep fried for a very crispy result.

Chicken Relleno is a boneless chicken stuffed with a mix of pork, ham, sausages, relish and cheese.

Kalderetang Baka is a classic Filipino dish of chunks of beef ribs simmered in garlic, onions, tomato sauce and bay leaves. Cubes of potatoes, carrots and bell peppers are added to enhance the color of the dish.

Halaan is a clam broth cooked with ginger and tomatoes.

Bam-i is a noodle dish of Cebuanos. It is a concotion of egg noodles and vermicelli noodles with strips of pork, seafoods and vegetables.

Paella Negra calls for squid ink in white rice with olive oil, garlic, paprika, green peppers and seafood broth. The dish's dark color comes from squid ink which also enhances its seafood flavor.

Bistek Tagalog is the Filipino beef steak. These are thin slices of tender beef, simmered in a marinade of soy sauce, calamansi (Philippine lemon), and pepper.

Brazo de Mercedes cubes are meringue cubes with a faint flavor of native lime and a filling of egg yolk-based pastry cream.

Maja Blanca con Mais is a soft cake of steamed coconut cream with corn.

At the end of our lunch break, I finally had my cravings fully satisfied. So delicious I wanted to go back the next day for another round of an eat all you can buffet that's distinctly Cebuano in taste, full of flavor, sinfully irresistible... the kind that reminds you of food prepared at home by Grandma.