It wasn’t our first time to eat at San Miguel By The Bay. We ate there last year, October, I think, to celebrate by brother’s college graduation. The restaurants there have this Dampa style of dining wherein you first have to shop for ingredients like fish, crabs, prawns, lobsters, and meats at the nearby wet market, and then have the bought ingredients cooked to whatever you want at the restaurants, all for a per-kilo cooking fee basis.
That October night, after shopping for squid (lumot), fish (lapu-lapu), and of course prawns at the nearby wet market, we had it cooked at the nearest restaurant, Shylin, since we really have no idea which of the paluto restaurants along the strip was the best, and since the gay guy that assisted us said that he, or she, would give us a discount. So we had grilled squid stuffed with garlic, onions, tomatoes, and ginger; sweet and sour lapu-lapu; and buttered prawns. We added a big bowl of steaming rice and a 1.5-liter Pepsi (no Coke). The buttered prawns and sweet and sour lapu-lapu were okay, but the grilled squid was rubbery.
Fast forward to last weekend. Since it was my wife’s birthday, greetings here and our dinner here, we decided that it would be better, and cheaper, if we treat her family to dinner at San Miguel By The Bay. There was also a fireworks display that night. This time though, we came armed with info that Trinity is a much better restaurant. So we shopped for a kilo of prawns and a kilo of liempo, and had it cooked (buttered and grilled) at Trinity. The grilled liempo was a bit on the charred side but was still very good, and the buttered prawns were absolutely delicious.
My wife said that they probably used margarine. Some info on margarine. Margarine produces trans-fatty acids in the body, and trans-fatty acids cause elevated cholesterol levels, hardening of the arteries, and cancer. It seems that people here refer to margarine as butter. So unless one has Insurance Quotes, I think it’s best not to order anything buttered from the seaside market.
Shylin: http://www.shylinrestaurantpalutuan.com/index.html
Trinity: http://www.trinitydampa.com/
San Miguel By the Bay
SM Mall of Asia
sarap talaga Dampa-style food! From what I’ve heard, mas mahal ang mga restos sa by the bay compared sa same restos sa Macapagal and sa Dampa. So if you’re looking for cheaper food, dun sa 2 na lang. But for a better ambiance (and fireworks), sa by the bay na!
Posted by mordsith at January 16, 2009, 11:12 amkg: I knew you'll love it. Mas masarap sana kung bumili kami ng crabs. Kaso mahirap kumain nun sa resto.
mordsith: Sabi nga. Wala na nga daw pumupunta dun, eh dati traffic lagi sa area na yun. I'd still choose MOA since tabi ng mall.
Posted by thehusbandspeaks at January 16, 2009, 11:44 amOnce pa la ng ako nakapunta sa seaside….I enjoyed it there, actually kahit saang dampa naman enjoy ako. Last Thurs nga, we were at dampa farmers…hay pig out sobra. hahaha
Happy weekend ricoh!!!
Posted by jeanny at January 17, 2009, 2:56 amI love dampa style food! Naalala ko tuloy yung Dampa sa libis! ANG SARAP KUMAIN!
Posted by jetty at January 17, 2009, 3:07 pmI also love this place! Food is good.
Posted by SearchingWellness at January 20, 2009, 9:14 pmdampa si libis is not good….marumi preparations nila and maraming langaw….eeeeeeeeew!try nyo sa sis moa,sarap dun.meron din sa sis macapagal kaso suplada yung jenny dun kakainis….
Posted by north at March 12, 2009, 3:49 pmJeanny: If only I could go there everyday! Haaay!
Jetty: Sana there’s something similar there.
SearchingWellness: But you have to choose good restos to have your food cooked.
North: hehe! Read some good reviews nga daw sa Sis. Will try next time! 
Thanks!
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grabee…heaven! I LOVE seafood!
Posted by kg at January 16, 2009, 10:54 am