Suggested by a Davaoeña: Marina Tuna

Two suggestions I took from a Davaoeña: Museo Dabawenyo (for the brain) and Marina Tuna (for the stomach).

Marina Tuna

2nd Floor Sky Garden, SM Lanang Premier, Davao City

(082) 285 1783 / 0906 411 6422

Km 8, Pampanga, Sasa, Davao City
(082) 233 2666

 

"Home of the Best Tuna and Seafood"

Clockwise from top left: California maki, sinugbang manok in malunggay sauce combo, tuna sisig, chicken teriyaki

Marina Tuna is supposed to be the "Home of the Best Tuna and Seafood," but we still opted to get some chicken, and the only seafood on our table was the tuna sisig. Of the four, the standout was the tuna sisig. (As it should be because Marina Tuna is the "Home of the Best Tuna" not the "Home of the Best Chicken!") The tuna sisig wasn't anything I have had before (and I have had a ton of sisig in my life: from pork to chicken to squid to tofu to tuna). I think I could eat the whole platter of tuna sisig.

My friend, who has been with me throughout this butt-rosying trip, felt so generous that he decided to pay for lunch. Or maybe he was just tired of all the cheap food we had throughout the trip (with the exception of the finger lickin' good crabs in Cagwait). Whatever the case, thank you, mi amigo! I know this meal cost you a lot. Marina Tuna isn't cheap. Dishes go from Php130 up to Php450, with most of it priced Php200 above.

How a friend's generosity cost him:

California maki Php220

Sinugbang manok in malunggay sauce combo Php148

Tuna sisig Php230

Chicken teriyaki Php220

Butt–rosying Route:
A Beauty T(r)ip
In the Beginning: Cagwait, Surigao del Sur
The Quickest Island Hopping Ever
Hinatuan's Enchanted River
Bislig's Marvelous Waterfall
Cateel Just for Aliwagwag Falls
Pit Stop: Aveflor Inn and Museo Dabawenyo
Suggested by a Davaoeña: Marina Tuna (you're here!)
Sunset Beach Park and Monfort Bat Colony in Samal Island
Butt–rosying Route Equals...

Pit Stop: Aveflor Inn and Museo Dabawenyo

The long bus ride through the mountains of Compostela Valley left me pooped and longing for a bed to sleep in. The bed I found was at the fourth floor of:

Aveflor Inn

108-3 CM Recto Avenue, Davao City

(082) 227 8152 / 0932 466 2802

Room rates: Php 600 to Php 1150

Let's go over the pros and con:
☺ Accessible location. Jeepneys pass the area.
☺ Clean room and toilet and bath.
☺ WiFi available...
☹ ...but only at the third floor, at the stairwell. (This is the only con I can think of.)

Museo Dabawenyo

I didn't plan anything for Davao, and when there is no plan, I send an SOS (Seeking fOr Suggestions) to local friends. Of the long list of suggestions, I only picked two: Museo Dabawenyo, because I like museums, and Marina Tuna, because I like food.

Museo Dabawenyo is a small museum with six galleries full of photos and words! This museum tells about Davao, its history, and its people (the ten ethno-linguistic groups).

If you're too lazy to read (there's a mountain of information to absorb), then skip this place. If not, put your nerd glasses on and go!

Museo Dabawenyo
Corner A Pichon and CM Recto Streets, Davao City
(082) 222 6011
Monday to Fridays 9AM–6PM
Free admission

No cameras allowed in the museum. Bags, too, are not allowed inside, and should be left at the package counter.

Butt–rosying Route:
A Beauty T(r)ip
In the Beginning: Cagwait, Surigao del Sur
The Quickest Island Hopping Ever
Hinatuan's Enchanted River
Bislig's Marvelous Waterfall
Cateel Just for Aliwagwag Falls
Pit Stop: Aveflor Inn and Museo Dabawenyo (you're here!)
Suggested by a Davaoeña: Marina Tuna
Sunset Beach Park and Monfort Bat Colony in Samal Island
Butt–rosying Route Equals...

Revenge of the Hikers: Picobello Ristorante Italiano

I burned too many calories during the three-day hike up and down Mt. Apo that eating-all-I-can crabs wasn't enough. I was craving for pizza the next day. I speed-texted Davao-based friends and friends who have been to Davao asking for a recommendation. The majority's choice? Picobello Ristorante Italiano.

We speed-walked it to Gaisano Grand Citimall, just a block from where we were staying. I eagerly pressed the mall elevator's up button. At the fifth level, the entire floor looked abandoned with boarded up sections. But a few steps away, I spot Picobello Ristorante Italiano and was welcomed by this sign:

I checked my watch. It read 4:50PM. Ten minutes to go! We hurried in, picked a seat, and quickly flipped to the pizza section of the menu. In three minutes, we had placed an order for two pizzas and a drink: Quattro Stagioni pizza, Dell'Ortolano pizza, and a glass of their special iced tea.

One for me and one for you

Their ten-inch diameter pizzas are cooked in a wood-fired brick oven.  We didn't have to wait too long for our Quattro Stagioni pizza and Dell'Ortolano pizza. The Quattro Stagioni had mushrooms, artichoke, ham, anchovies, capers, and olives. The Dell'Ortolano had zucchini, eggplant, bell peppers, and mushroom. I liked the Quattro Stagioni because it had most of the toppings I love: artichoke, capers, olives. Dell'Ortolano was also a good choice. Vegetarians would go for this, I am sure. What made their iced tea special? Lychees!

A tall glass of special iced tea and a big bottle of Tabasco sauce

As evidenced by their six-page menu, Picobello not only makes pizza but other Italian dishes as well. I wish we had Picobello (and their buy one get one pizza) in Cebu.

Picobello Ristorante Italiano
5F Gaisano Grand Citimall, Duterte St., Davao City
(082) 235 3417 / 235 3418

UPDATE May 2015:
Picobello Ristorante Italiano
2F, The Shoppes at Woodlane, Davao City
Daily 11AM - 10PM


How we packed on Picobello pizzas and unpacked our pockets:
Quattro Stagioni Php 315
Dell'Ortolano free
Special iced tea Php 85

Mt. Apo in Two Parts:
The Ups and Downs of Mt. Apo
Mt. Apo Itinerary

Revenge of the Hikers:

Let's Crab Eat

Picobello Ristorante Italiano (you're here!)

Revenge of the Hikers: Let's Crab Eat

In the four hours spent descending Mt. Apo, these thoughts looped through my head: One foot in front of the other. Big meal in Davao City. One foot in front of the other. Big meal in Davao City.

Upon reaching the city, we freshened up as fast as we could, then hailed a taxi so we could Crab Eat! (I don't usually take a taxi but I couldn't risk wasting time looking for the place and I just had to get my revenge quick!)

I was expecting everything on Let's Crab Eat's buffet to be crabs. I was wrong. Let's Crab Eat not only offered crabs, but fish, shrimp, meat, pasta, vegetables, soup, salad, fruits, and sweets, too. I don't know if I should be disappointed or not (crabs! I wanted all crabs!). With this spread for Php395 per head (not including drinks), maybe it's not so bad... I think I will zero in on the crabs and shrimps.

I zeroed in on the shrimps and crabs. I did.

I had a bit of everything but I think I ate more than Php395 worth of crabs and shrimps. Yes, it was good. Tasty. Fresh. A happy, crab-and-shrimp-stuffed stomach walked out of Let's Crab Eat's door!

Let's Crab Eat!
F. Torres St., Davao City
(082) 282 2722

How this eat-all-I-can retaliation bore a hole in Mustachio's pocket:

Buffet Php 395

Iced tea Php 45

Taxi from D' Counter Dormitory to Let's Crab Eat Php 58

Mt. Apo in Two Parts:
The Ups and Downs of Mt. Apo
Mt. Apo Itinerary

Revenge of the Hikers:

Let's Crab Eat (you're here!)

Picobello Ristorante Italiano