Like many suburban eateries, Cebu Restaurant is a victim of the strip mall it calls home. It's a great little place that most people will never discover unless they make a wrong turn coming out of the Best Buy parking lot. On a weekday evening, the place was empty with only a few diners, a young waiter/host/busboy and some cooks making noise in the back.
The small, family-owned restaurant refers to itself as a "Euro-Asian dining adventure," and it lives up to the billing. It's usually a good sign when the menu has so many appetizing dishes that it's hard to make a decision. We ended up ordering the $12 bistek con limon (a heaping pile of sirloin cooked in a tangy citrus sauce) and the $18 grilled milkfish (Asian whitefish with an eggplant and plantain salsa). Accompanied by a few scoops of white rice, both dishes were fresh and delicious. Before our plates were clean, we were already talking about what to try next time. The adobo chicken, seafood paella and calamares frito were a few of the leading candidates. An $11 Sunday buffet from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. presents the perfect chance to try many of Cebu's offerings.
The restaurant has a cool, modern feel with ambient music, round sweeping curves jutting out from the ceiling and Christmas lights along the wall. Unfortunately, the large front windows look out into a sea of cars and asphalt. At the back of the restaurant, there is a strange, shrine-like table with candles and a few framed pictures, including an autographed photo of Steve Dolinsky (the Hungry Hound from the local ABC affiliate), who apparently also enjoyed his experience at Cebu.
Centerstage Reviewer: Jim Collins
