After this whole long week, filled basically just with midterm exams and the most draining studying one could think of, my friend and I decided that we quite deserved a little treat. Instead of spending the weekend holed up in the rooms recovering from all the academic malaise, we opted for a friend date at Dean & DeLuca in IT Park, Cebu City.
For those who do not know it yet, Dean & DeLuca is a globally recognized cafe+bistro which originally comes from New York, but since then has undergone its expansion in different places of the world, and Cebu is fortunate to have its only outlet here in IT Park. This restaurant was known for its high-priced ingredients, good food offerings, and a cozy but sophisticated kind of feeling, which was very helpful in soothing troubled souls once they got through a rough week. I had been seeing posts about it all over the place, so I knew we had to check it out for ourselves.
We planned this for weekend, which I now realize may not have been the best thing if one does not fancy waiting. It was crowded. By the time we arrived all the tables were taken, and people were waiting outside. That really goes a long way in proving just how much this place is loved. Catch you if you were thinking of stopping by; I'd suggest you to maybe make reservations due in advance to skip waiting.
And since we could not get a table right away, we could spend some time viewing the whole interiors. A very elegant-near-home kind-of feel surrounds the whole restaurant, with warm lighting, sleek furniture, and a bakery section that showcases their freshly baked pastries. Originally, we preferred to seat ourselves on the second floor because we liked the dim lighting and coziness of the ambiance up there, but since we couldn't have that, we settled for what we could find for our party.
With no time wasted, we entered and ordered immediately. We picked the following:
🍗 Organic Chicken Parmigiano – A crispy yet tender organic chicken cutlet in rich tomato sauce topped with gooey melted cheese and complemented with a side of pasta. This dish gets a hard 10/10. The flavors worked well and there was a generous portion.
🍖 Pineapple-Glazed Pork Belly – This was another showstopper. Perfectly caramelized pork belly, with just the right amount of sweetness and saltiness that the glaze balanced beautifully with the richness of meat itself. The pineapple added a refreshing touch that cut through the heaviness.
Of course, we had to take a couple of snaps while waiting for the food. The presentation was seriously Instagram-worthy! The price is where all things come in really at about ₱300-₱400 and up for virtually everything on the menu—definitely priced on the higher side. On top of this, they have a service charge of ₱120 on the waiters. But honestly? That felt justified, considering how nice the staff was, genuinely smiling and welcoming while paying great attention to details. It was a further perk up.
Dinner wrapped up, and we proceeded upstairs for drinks. We thought: while we're at it, let's really splurge. We sat at the bar, ordering:
Dirty Martini
Amaretto Sour
Negroni
This is where it all started to go downhill. It was pretty clear that cocktails that were strong & bitter felt far from our alley. The Dirty Martini & Negroni were, by far, too strong for our liking—definitely not a preference for everyone. The Amaretto Sour, however, was a trippy surprise! It tasted of sweet bubblegum and was definitely easy to drink good. Not every cocktail was our kind of thing, but it was a memorable experience. At least now we know what we liked (and didn't)!
Leaving Dean&DeLuca, with our stomachs overloaded with food and drinks from earlier, we decided to squeeze one last stop in- a trip to 7/11. Outside on the curb, we enjoyed ice cream and laughed some more at our failed cocktail choices, holding onto the moment in all its simplicity. It was the ideal closure for the day.
Dean&DeLuca has easily climbed to be among my favorites in Cebu. From food to ambiance to service, everything was top-notch. The wait was long, and the price was steep, but I remember saying it was worth it. Whether it's a small celebration, catching up with a friend, or just treating oneself after a long week, this place is a solid choice.
Will I go back for sure? Yes. Will I order cocktails? Maybe not.
If you have been to Dean&Deluca, what dish do you swear by? And if you have not, then this is your message and sign to try! Until next time, Hivers!🤍