The recent Kadayawan festival has made us realize a few things. One of them is that people are now more comfortable going out, dining out, or even shopping. While I still feel uneasy with a huge crowd, dining in resto has been a normal routine for me. I think you can never take the foodie out of me even with a pandemic still looming around.
I do not know for some but there is always a feel-good atmosphere for me whenever we visit a nice restaurant. It could be from the desire to always want to explore or for that delight to eat something new, exciting, and delicious.
“To explore, for the delight of eating something new, exciting and delicious”
Stories from the pandemic
I always believe that stories come out whenever we eat. If dining tables could tell secrets and stories, they would have libraries of endless narratives from different people. This is what happened when my friends from Davao Digital Influencers Inc visited Lanai Filipino Diner and Drinks. We had good food and great stories.
Owners Marijoe and Alan Kintanar were also greatly affected by the pandemic–closing stores and businesses being hit by the lockdown. Their store Cuenco’s was a personal favorite of mine and learning from them the story of how they navigated through the pandemic reminded me of how resilient Filipinos really are.
Now, they transformed their former resto and catering business into a modern Filipino restaurant highlighting a very relaxing veranda. With the help of their food consultant, Chef Kenneth, Lanai is born.
Filipino Diner and Drinks
Lanai offers your favorite Filipino dishes. You will notice a good selection of different Sisig–from beef, squid, and pork (Kapampangan style) and we tried the oyster sisig as well. There are choices for your appetizer (or abre gana) that would really stir your appetite.
Filipino diners will not be complete without grilled items, gata, and of course, sabaw. Lanai also offers your favorite dessert (pang himagas) such as leche flan, mango float, and chocnut and banana (Lanai’s version of turon ala mode).
So if you are dining in Lanai, here are my suggestion:
- Order any of their Sisig (price ranging from P165 to P220). If you are a non-pork eater, there are choices for you, too.
- Try the Spicy Shrimp (P295). This is Lanai’s version of gambas with malunggay leaf as garnish. Perfect flavor for me.
- For a Davao flavor, try the Pomelo Salad (P195). This is a no-boring salad because of the dilis and just the right dressing that keeps the dilis crispy but enough to enjoy the greens and pomelo.
- Make sure to try Hinalang na Kansi (P295). This is both a sabaw and ulam but a really really good fusion of hinalang and kansi.
- If you want to have a ‘kanin na, ulam pa’ experience, you can order any of their rice (P40 to P90)
- Order cocktails and enjoy the rest of the evening with friends.
Lanai is not just a Filipino diner but it also elevates your experience with their bar. They offer cocktails with just the right kick and local flavors that you can enjoy. A Filipino resto with a bar? Yes, why not!
Lanai Filipino Diner & Drinks is located at Autoville Compound, F. Torres Street, Davo City. If you feel lost and know where Trellis and Vines was located before, you are in the correct place.