Summer heat infiltrated the pool deck of Marco Polo Davao as kids cheerfully swim in the hotel’s lap pool. I searched for my shades to cover my eyes from the pervasive rays of the sun and found comforts inside Polo Bistro Pool Lounge. The outdoor restaurant basically serves ala carte food from starters and sandwiches, grills, soup and salads, pasta and pizza, and desserts.
Menu for the day includes Fried Mozzarella Cheese Sticks with Marinara Sauce (starter), Quinoa Salad with Smoked Salmon and Green Asparagus (salad), Tiger King Prawns, Sirloin Steak, and Baby Back Ribs (entrees), and Pandan and Jackfruit Parfait, Mangosteen Mousse, and Durian Crepe (dessert).
To start the full course meal was the Fried Mozzarella Cheese Sticks with Marinara Sauce (Php300) with 5 whopping mozzarella sticks that are about 3 inches long. The cheese sticks were fried into perfection with a crunchy coating yet chewy and creamy mozzarella filling. Sadly, I wasn’t able to try dipping it in the Marinara Sauce.
Quinoa Salad with Smoked Salmon and Green Asparagus (Php450) came next with a generous scoop of quinoa, finely sliced salmon, with greens and mangoes on the side. Aside from the well-cooked grain and fresh salmon, the amazing ingredient that made the salad explosive was the slices of sweet mangoes.
The next course was the Tiger King Prawns (Php780). I was expecting for buttery or garlicky prawns to be served but I got plainly grilled prawns instead. It turned out that the prawn’s sweetness and oceany flavor can already stand on its own freshness without the help of any extra spices or aroma.
I prefer medium for a steak though the Sirloin Steak (Php980) served was I think going to medium well. Because of this, I didn’t set any expectation for the meat and patiently took a cut. The steak’s juiciness was still there, meat was also tender and not that fatty. The minimal usage of spices gave justice to the natural flavor of the meat.
Then we moved on to the Baby Back Ribs (Php570) which is one of the famous meals in Polo Bistro. The slab of meat was covered with hefty cuts of sweet mangoes, with BBQ sauce, and pomelo salad. It was good but since I don’t have the appetite for sweet sauces on meats, the Sirloin Steak was the winner on the entrees that were served.
A visit to Marco Polo Davao is incomplete without sampling the mouth-watering desserts. Pandan and Jackfruit Parfait were delightfully served in bamboo tubes that will entice you to have a spoonful of happiness. Pandan is the evident flavor but the taste of jackfruit will seal the sweet touch on your buds. The mousse of the Mangosteen Mousse is fluffy and creamy. Lastly, the Durian Crepe was generously filled in with smooth, thick, and custardy durian meat.
After feeling a bit full with the full-course meal, I continued to watch hotel guests crowding the poolside. As the sweltering summer heat continues to trace its way to make me uncomfortable, I find the dining experience in Marco Polo’s Polo Bistro invigorating by savoring all the delicately prepared dishes.
Planning a stay in Marco Polo Davao, book your room here.
POLO BISTRO POOL LOUNGE
Marco Polo Davao 4/F Pooldeck
C.M. Recto Street, Davao City
Contact No: +6 82-221-0888
Website: Click here.
This was part of the Davao Food Appreciation Tour 2015 organized by the Davao Bloggers Society. DFAT 2015 was powered by SMART Communications, sponsored by Visit Davao FUN Sale courtesy of DOT Region XI and Bonamine, Fujifilm Philippines, Team Instax, San Miguel Brewery, Out of Town Blogs, My Skin Origins, and Go Viajero Transport Services.
Special thanks to Air Asia for flying us to Davao from Cebu. For domestic and international flights, visit their website at http://www.airasia.com/ph. For more DFAT posts, click here.
