Midday and it was drizzling. We were inside Siliman University and wondering where we can have our lunch. Two students went by the waiting shed we were staying and the other one bade goodbye to her friend, “See you later at KRI Restaurant.”
Curious what KRI is, I consulted my friend Google. Finally, an answer to a question we didn’t raise but actually needed. We immediately took advantage of the locator app of a friend and followed the suggested route. In a matter of five minutes, we were holding KRI’s menu.
The menu has a lot and it’s one of my pet peeves everytime I dine in a restaurant. Anyway, they have some appetizers, soup, entrees, salad, sandwiches and burgers, all-day breakfast, noodles and pasta, and vegetarian dishes. The friendly crew patiently answered our questions with regard to the menu while she waited for our orders.
The gang decided for the following meals: Samurai Salmon (Php199), Spicy Shrimp and Tofu (Php199), General Tso’s Chicken (Php195), Roasted Pork Belly (Php199), Spaghetti Bolognese (Php180), and Smoked Salmon Sandwich (Php199). For drinks, we had some shakes that came along with a free coconut macaroon.
The ambiance of the restaurant is classy with abstract paintings on the walls and some art installations.
Hungry, we patiently waited for our food and were delighted when they were served. With the way the appearance of the meals was done, you can tell that the chef behind them has an in-depth culinary background.
Samurai Salmon was served on a rectangular plate with the pan-seared Togarashi-dusted salmon fillet on top of the rice with crispy vegetable spring rolls on the other end. The meal was accentuated with mustard and miso sauce. The dish, ordered by two friends, got different verdicts.
Asked why General Tso, the crew said that it was just created by the chef. General Tso’s Chicken is a sweet and hot, crispy and tender, garlicky chicken breast and thigh over rice. Meanwhile, the Roasted Pork Belly was described as a hearty grilled pork belly with a savory-tangy vinegar, garlic and soy sauce complemented with chopped siling labuyo for the right kick. The person who ordered the meal wasn’t pleased by the flowery description though.
On the other hand, my Spicy Shrimp and Tofu has the right amount of spiciness. I was amazed by the perfectly encrusted tofu but was disappointed with the taste of the shrimp. The seafood seemed to stay in their fridge for quite a time. Fortunately, the people who ordered Spaghetti Bolognese and Smoked Salmon Sandwich liked their food.
Entering a classy and artsy restaurant will set high expectations for the diners. This will be intensified by the way meals are being presented. It is challenging to meet these standards especially if customers are a bit picky. The thing that KRI could improve more is the quality of the meals they serve and this will complete their restaurant equation.
KRI Restaurant
53, Silliman Avenue, Dumaguete City
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