The Bean Connection Silliman

    

    Some of the city's homegrown coffee shops make Starbucks and CBTL look boring if you ask me. Check out The Bean Connection's 2nd branch which opened today at Portal West. Charming and cozy, TBC 2 has more character than your run-of-the-mill overpriced upscale coffee shop.

Ana Maria

Queen Elizabeth cake

     Ana Maria is one of the oldest pastry shops in Dumaguete; their caramel brownies, silvanas and Queen Elizabeth cakes are the tastiest in my book. They also serve light meals like pasta and chili con carne. They have the 2 stores, this one is at Silliman Avenue, the other one is at EJ Blanco Drive, Brgy. Piapi.

Scooby's Silliman

         Scooby's is the city's first fastfood chain and it dominated the market before the 'big-ass bee' came in 1996. I've not eaten here in years so I forgot how their food tastes. Their burger patty actually tastes a lot like Jollibee's albeit thicker. This branch is at Portal West, one of 4 stores in Dumaguete (2 full-sized restaurants, a kiosk at Robinsons Place foodcourt, a snack bar cum internet cafe fronting NORECO plus a 5th one in Tanjay). 

Moon Cafe Silliman Ave.

made to look like a colorful Mexican cantina, Moon Cafe is popular throughout the Visayas and Mindanao

hazelnut cappuccino and chimichangas

          I eat at Moon Cafe more often than any other restaurant in the city. This one at Silliman Ave. is their second branch here. The restaurant, originally from Cebu, has grown popular in Dumaguete and it seems both branches never run out of diners. Their moderately-priced Mexican-inspired food enjoys a strong following. On the menu are quesadillas, burrito, pizza, baby back ribs, burger steak, spaghetti, mozzarella-topped fried chicken & fish, grilled tuna belly/jaw and many others.

Captain Ribbers

I usually see a lot of students, young professionals hang out here

The pork brigade

savory baby back ribs w potato chunks on the side

chilli rockets

     

        Captain Ribbers is a ribs and grill joint at Silliman Avenue. The restaurant reminds me of a saloon in one of those Western cowboy movies albeit toned up with bright colors and funky decor. The restaurant is presently under renovation, putting a roofed enclosure on what used to be its alfresco area.

Chantilly

          Chantilly at Silliman Avenue is one of the oldest pastry and cake shops in the city. Must-trys include their banana cream pie and white chocolate cake. They're also known for their signature Chantilly bread (soft bread filled with egg, ham, mayo & lettuce), carbonara spaghetti (they use a sweet milk-based sauce instead of the usual heavy cream) and delicious salisbury steak. 

Canto Fresco

Collage of old Dumaguete photos

Dumaguete Sunrise - an alcoholic mix

Cheese pops

Rustic margherita pizza

        Canto Fresco is one of the many restaurants lining Silliman Avenue. It's a pizza, pasta and booze joint located in a rustic 2-storey open-air building. They also have a branch at the Tacloban astrodome.

Kri Restaurant

Clean, modern kitchen

hummus, falafel, pita

Nori-wrapped tuna

Deconstructed lamb burger

     Another one of my favorites is Kri, a cozy neighborhood fusion restaurant at Silliman Avenue. They have the most sophisticated menu & wine list among Dumaguete's restaurants. I'm no foodie expert and it's pointless really to critique food because taste is subjective but this place has been featured in a number of food publications and is top-rated on Trip Advisor. When in Dumaguete, drop by Kri.