Flavors of Davao: Good Times at Antonio's Bar & Grill

They say the best way to experience the heart and soul of any city is to go where the locals eat. And it just keeps getting better in Davao...

After a full day of crabs and shrimps at Blue Posts Boiling Crabs and Shrimps, macaroons at OHSAA, and durian at the local market, we cap our first day in Davao with a sumptuous feast of local flavors at Antonio's Bar & Grill (for more on Day One of our Davao adventure, see my earlier post, From Sea to Table: A Taste of Davao's Best at Blue Posts Boiling Crabs and Shrimps).

Located at the Ground Floor of SM City Davao, Antonio's Bar & Grill offers a wide selection of local and regional Filipino cuisine at affordable prices, it's the perfect spot for casual gatherings with friends and family. That evening, our group was treated to Antonio's Bar & Grill's signature dishes...

...starting with the refreshing Durian Shake (P 78). Sweet and creamy, nothing says Davao more like the King of Fruits. Then, a comforting bowl of Nilagpang na Turagsoy (P 235) was served, a light and flavorful broth with a soothing heat and chunks of grilled catfish.

Antonio's Bulalo (P 478), a hearty soup with bone marrow and vegetables, warms the palate with its familiar richness.

With Davao's abundance of fresh seafood, no feast is complete without Antonio's Bar & Grill's Kinilaw sa Itlog Maalat (P 195), with fresh tuna fillet cubes tossed in calamansi and vinegar mixed with ginger, onions, green mangoes, and sliced salted eggs for a flavorful punch. Each distinct layer of flavor and textural contrasts come together in a flavorful dish with fresh and clean notes.

The subtle sweetness of fresh vegetables get a flavorful kick with Antonio's Bar & Grill's Binagoongang Gulay (P 180), with assorted vegetables sauteed in fermented shrimp paste and creamy coconut milk topped with plump shrimps. You'll want some extra rice with this dish...

Antonio's Bar & Grill's Liempo (P 250), tender and juicy grilled pork belly topped with vegetables in a creamy coconut milk sauce should satisfy your pork cravings. And yes, extra rice, please.

Not to be missed is Antonio's Bar & Grill's Crispy Tuna, with fresh tuna marinated in herbs and deep-fried to a golden crispness. That crunch will keep you going back for seconds and thirds...

Here's Antonio's spin on fried chicken with their Pinaputok na Manok (P 436), deep-fried whole chicken richly seasoned and wrapped in banana leaves. Part of the fun is unwrapping the banana leaves releasing a fragrant aroma. The chicken is crispy on the outside, tender and juicy on the inside, just can't get better than that...

And if it's more seafood you want, Antonio's Bar & Grill does not disappoint. The Sizzling Bangus sa Gata, with boneless bangus topped with a creamy coconut sauce and vegetables...

...and Sizzling Pusit should do the trick. Comforting local flavors, you'll find it all here at Antonio's Bar & Grill.

But save room for dessert. Antonio's Bar & Grill's Ube Halaya (P 86) tastes as good as it looks...

...and the Suman sa Gata at Mangga (P 86) caps a sumptuous feast of local flavors on a sweet note. 

Antonio's Buko Salad (P 149), is another sweet treat and a must-try at Antonio's Bar & Grill. A cold beer rounds out my dinner, with yet another full day ahead in my Davao adventure.

Antonio's Bar & Grill is located at the Ground Floor, SM City Davao, 212 Quimpo Boulevard corner Tulip Drive, Davao City or call (082) 299-3904 for inquiries.

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