It has been raining in the evening these past few days in Davao City but that did not stop me from checking out some new places to eat.
F. Torres St. is one of the places that I usually pass by to grab dinner or just look for some new restaurant or cafe to eat.
The other day I was there to inquire about boxing classes in one of the gyms in the area. As I was about to go home, I noticed this new outdoor restaurant, Cafe 99, near the intersection of F. Torres St. and E. Jacinto Ext, just in front of Bo’s Coffee. It is located at the former stall of Minute Burger.
I did not have dinner at the outdoor restaurant but I ordered take out, their Pomodoro pasta (P99). The serving was quite generous and the quality was quite good for the price of P99. So I decided to come back to the place and dine there the following day, which was drizzling.
THE PLACE
Cafe 99 is an outdoor restaurant. There is a couple of chairs and tables beside and in front of the restaurant.
I kinda like the outdoor concept of it. I think it is a great place to have dinner with friends. I liked how I can observe what happens after 5:00 pm at the part of Davao city.
Though the outdoor concept is cool, I see that customers would have a bit of a problem during times when there is heavy downpour. At the same time, I see it would be a great place to hang out in when there is light rainfall or when there is a cool weather.
I also find that some might have a problem with it being an outdoor restaurant especially those who are conscious of the environment they are having dinner in.
Personally, I do not have a problem with it being an outdoor restaurant. I actually loved it since its a different kind of dining experience for me.
THE FOOD
For dinner I ordered their set meal, Mix n Match (P179), which includes a portion of meat and pasta of your choice. It is served with a side of salad and a glass of iced tea.
For meat you have the option of chicken, pork, or fish while for pasta you have the choice of pomodoro, carbonara, and creamy.
I opted for chicken and pomodoro.
The salad consisted of sliced apples, lettuce, cucumber, tomato, a slice of orange, and some kind of mustard dressing (it was kinda good though). There was cheese on top but I was not able to ask what kind it was. I think it was a combination of grated mozzarella and a dash of Parmesan cheese.
The salad was served at room temperature and was just okay.
The grilled chicken was perfectly cooked. It was juicy and I find it to be very tasty.
I also find the Pomodoro to be good. They use penne pasta, which I like since it is not messy to eat. I like how the sourness of the sauce was just right unlike some where their sauce is too sour.
Overall, for P179 I find the whole meal to be great. Despite the cheap price, it did not look or tasted like a cheap dish. It was clear that the owner took time to really prepare the food.
The quality of the food was good while the portion served was quite generous for a meal for one.
The only downside of the meal was the salad. I think if it was served cold, it would somehow tasted better.
In terms of pricing, the food here was quite cheap, less than P200. Prices start at P99 for solo servings while large servings starts at P149. Their Mix n Match set is at P179 and comes with iced tea while their Half-half set is at P159.
If you order the meal for takeout, just add P10. Food will be placed in a plastic container.
THE SERVICE
The service I experienced was very good. The server was very attentive and friendly to the customers. Food was also served in less than 15 minutes.
BOTTOM LINE
Generally, I find Cafe 99 as a great outdoor restaurant.
The food is cheap and I think the owner(s) did not sacrifice the quality. I think they are not using really expensive ingredients but yet they were able to maximize the much cheaper ingredients they have to come out with good and at the same time cheap food.
I find Cafe 99 to be great for those who are looking for decent takeout dinner. It is also nice for barkadas who just want to chat the night away.
They also close late at 12:00am, making them a good alternative to fast food or burger shops if you are looking for a late dinner.
LOCATION and CONTACT DETAILS
Cafe 99 is located along E. Jacinto Ext. corner F. Torres St. just in front of Bo’s Coffee
Business hours: 6:00 pm to 12:00 am.
Facebook: Cafe 99
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