Lantaw is a Visayan word which means to look beyond and that word has been used by a recent superstar restaurant in the same name ‘Lantaw’. Lantaw first became a superstar in their first branch located in Cordova, Cebu.
Lantaw is a sister branch of Moon Café, a Mexican style restaurant in Cebu which I also adore so much, and also with Thirsty, a very famous juice/shake stand located everywhere!
Lantaw has been also a talk of the town with its cozy sea-side ambiance and a place worth chilling. Not until their next branch came: Lantaw sa Busay.
Busay is a barangay (village) in Cebu situated on the mountainous part. Busay is known for the cool breeze and city view setting.
And what could be more perfect than having dinner overlooking the city lights?
GETTING TO LANTAW SA BUSAY
Lantaw is famous for a place that is hard to access YET gives you a perfect setting for pigging experience!
And a GREAT TIP: you go there in the evening.
If you have a car, GREAT! You can just access the Cebu Transcentral Highway and reach Mountain View Park because Lantaw is just along that road.
But if you like to travel with a little bit of adventure, there are ways on how to get there.
A week before, my partner and I decided to visit Mountain View Park: a park located at Busay. And also planned on visiting Lantaw sa Busay right after since it’s just within that vicinity.
On getting there without a car, you must take a Habal-habal (motorcycle) just across J. Y. Square, Lahug, Cebu City. You can see plenty of Habal-habal drivers waiting for passengers, and instantly they will ask you, “Mountain View? Or Lantaw?” They quite know why people go to Busay.
A ride is good for two and costs us only P50.00 per person. It is a fifteen minute ride from J. Y. Square to Lantaw itself. And while on the road; you can feel the cool breeze while climbing the mountainous part of Cebu, and also, not to mention a glimpse of the city lights afar.
You will stop exactly on the entrance of Lantaw sa Busay where you can see a big marquee and some Habal-habal drivers are waiting for guests to ride back to J. Y. Square.
LANTAW SA BUSAY
My partner and I were already exhausted climbing up and down and up again on the roads of Mountain View Park and on our way to Lantaw. We did not foresee how steep the roads were but just laughed about it instead.
When we reached Lantaw sa Busay, we were greeted warmly by their staff which holds the guest list.
AND ANOTHER TIP, you HAVE TO make a reservation days ahead of the date you are going to especially on weekends since a lot of people visit the site and same with their first branch. (Telephone Number is at the end of the post)
And since I did a reservation two days before we got there, we were seated at the far end of the place BUT with city view.
I was speechless with how vast and enchanting the flickering lights were. I was in awe with how perfect the spot is. The stunning landscape of the city was a paragon for a true lovers view. You can’t help but look outside that gives nostalgia. While sometimes, in perfect timing, you could see fireworks on the city’s atmosphere.
Their feisty staff greets you always with a smile on their faces, which I’m hoping it will not fade.
FOOD
Since we fed our eyes for beauty, we were there for the food, and of course to fill our famished stomachs.
Lantaw offers a variety of Filipino style cooking, from openers, main courses, soups, veggies to desserts. A specific Menu was offered to us and I liked how they have pictures of almost all of their offers, which most restaurants don’t have.
My partner and I chose a modified version of scallops (since I’m overfed with baked scallops in some restaurants in Cebu). It is called Spicy Scallops. Also, we ordered the undying Sinuglaw (Modified Ceviche) and Tuna Belly for our main course. And lastly Banana Turon for our dessert.
Spicy Scallops
Spicy Scallops costs P148.00 and did surprise me due to its familiar Pork n Beans taste. But I loved it. I loved every bit of the spicy-ness it gives me. Familiar but undoubtedly fun to eat.
Sinuglaw (Modified Ceviche)
Sinuglaw costs P165.00 failed. In awful failure, I really love Sinuglaw especially in Camotes and in Gerry’s Grill (A famous expensive restaurant in Cebu). My partner and I were too disappointed with it due to its bland taste which counterparts the pure taste of a ceviche! I don’t know how they lacked it with vinegar that gives you that 100% feel of salivation. Nah, it was disappointing. Nevertheless, we ate it.
Tuna Belly
Tuna Belly costs P175.00 and was also a bit bland yet you can still feel the taste of real fish. Some Tuna is cooked with too much spices or soy that covers the true flavor of the fish. I liked this one, so is my partner. But the serving was good enough for two people if you have other dishes, but if none, it was a little bit small, but just ENOUGH.
Banana Turon
The Banana Turon costs P110.00 and was too much disappointing. My partner did not like the taste of the wrapper and how it was blended with chocolate syrup and ice cream. The battling taste was not flattering at all. Gives a little bit of disgust in my gut.
For our drinks, we ordered a Thirsty treat which was Mango shake. As I’ve written above, Lantaw and Thirsty are sister company.
Their Rice costs P30.00 also, but that’s not a bit too worry since the serving is huge, unlike in other restaurants.
The waiter told us that their bestselling was the Baked Scallops; I wished I ordered that, but anyway, I’ve had enough with the baked scallops in Golden Courie (another Famous restaurant in Cebu), which is also a delish!
FINAL VERDICT
Lantaw sa Busay offers you a totally amazing ambiance and view. With its city overlooking terraces, to it’s cool breeze setting. I commend on how they got that spot and redefined pigging experience! I then discovered that when I decided to go to the loo, I passed by the main, and it was totally, totally beautiful and cozy.
The place was perfect, until the food came. Their style in cooking was a bit bland, yet, some people can appreciate bland taste, but not My partner and I. But a true Filipino would never go bland. Although the situation was like that; I was still full and happy.
I would also like to comment on their inaccessible WIFI. They have two connections there, and none of it was working. We can’t even pass through the password phase. I don’t know, it’s because maybe were in the balcony part of the place? But let’s admit, ‘Ang mabait na kapitbahay, walang password ang WIFI’ (A kind neighbor has no password on their WIFI) and internet is now EVERYTHING (data loads slow at the mountainous part).
Anyway, I totally enjoyed Lantaw sa Cebu, I would definitely go back there and taste their other offers! With the friendly staff to reasonable prices; it’s definitely worth it.
CONTACT LANTAW SA BUSAY for RESERVATIONS:
TELEPHONE – (032) 511 0379
CELLOHONE – 0933 950 5323
RATING:
SPICY SCALLOPS – 7
SINUGLAW – 4
TUNA BELLY – 7
BANANA TURON – 5
SERVICE – 8 (because they didn’t give us WIFI and a saucer)
LOCATION – 2 (inaccessible if no car) 7 (if you have a car)
AMBIANCE – 10,000,000,000
VALUE FOR MONEY – 8
COSTING (without car):
HABAL-HABAL – P50.00 x 2 = P100.00 x 2(going back) = 200
SPICY SCALLOPS – P148.00
SINUGLAW – P165.00
TUNA BELLY – P175.00
RICE (platter) – P80.00
Rice – P30.00
BANANA TURON – P110.00
MANGO SHAKE – P40.00 x 2 = P80.00
TOTAL FOOD = P868.00
GRAND TOTAL = P1, 068.00
One Setting Travels 