Karlo Pacana
La Gondola Restaurant at Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino
Looking for a romantic Italian experience while at the Waterfront? Read on.
The King of Sinulog along with three Cebu bloggers is off to have a bite at La Gondola located at the hotel’s gourmet walk. Named after a long narrow flat-bottomed boat propelled by sculling traditionally used on the canals of Venice, come take this culinary journey with us as we taste the best dishes this restaurant has in store for us.
Ambiance
Imagine cruising along the canals of Venice with the love of your life, night lamps lighting the old passageways. Docking at the pier of one of the finest restaurants, you are escorted to your reserved spot on a balcony by waiters clad in tuxedos. And one by one your dinner is served along with the most expensive bottle of wine from the vineyards of Italy. With white marble walls, wooden arches and elegant furniture, this is the concept of dining La Gondola has aspired for its guests.
Food
La Gondola serves bona fide Italian cuisine and we were fortunate enough to have tasted the best of all the categories on their full-service menu.
For our appetizer, we had the Insalata Caprese at PHP480 (tomato, mozzarella, basil and balsamic dressing) which for me was a new experience. This dish was very fragrant and guaranteed to get you in the mood to eat with its varying flavors.
For our soup, we had the Minestrone at PHP168 (assorted vegetable broth scented with pesto) which was a very healthy dish and tasted good as well.
For our pasta, we had the Traditional Lasagna at PHP288 (minced beef, tomato sauce, béchamel, gratinated with mozzarella and parmesan) which was very cheesy and meaty with just the right sourness that I could say that this was the best lasagna I have tasted so far.
On the seafood pasta, we had the Spaghetti allo Scoglio at PHP388 (tossed with calamari, prawn, mussel, basil and white wine sauce). This dish was well-presented and looked very inviting. The pasta was al diente and the flavors of the sea were intact.
For our pizza, we had the Pepperoni-Salame at PHP288 (tomato, mozzarella, spicy Italian sausage) and I loved its crispy 16-inch flat dough with ample toppings served straight from their wooden brick oven.
For our main course, we had the Rack of Lamb at PHP688 (oven baked with Rosemary Jus) with its flavorful aroma, tender meat and crunch vegetables with a sauce that you can’t get enough of.
For our desserts, we had the Lemon Tart with Meringue at PHP188 with a sour after taste that was not a favorite of mine. Thankfully, the Tiramisu at PHP188 (Mascarpone cheese, coffee, Savoiardi cookies) saved the day.
For our drinks, I had the Long Island Iced Tea at PHP260 (gin, tequila, vodka, rum and calamansi juice) which was a perfect palate cleanser and drink to cap off the day.
Price
A typical meal for two would cost around PHP1,500. Take note that there is an additional 12% VAT charge and 10% service charge to be added to the final bill.
Service
We were quite jam-packed for dinner and the food preparation took some time which was not a problem since clearly a lot of thought was put into the dish. The servers were very accommodating and attentive, we would definitely be back.
Overall, if you’re looking for a bona fide Italian experience, then La Gondola is for you.
Restaurant Information
La Gondola Restaurant is located at the Lobby Level Gourmet Walk of Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino along Salinas Drive, Lahug, Cebu City, 6000 Philippines. They are open daily from 11:00AM to 10:30PM. For reservations, call (032) 232 6888 local 8611. For more information, you may check Waterfront’s official Facebook page or their website.
