Konbetsa Kafé: Where coffee and conversation flows

KONBETSA Kafé—this is your newest destination on Saipan for a cup of freshly brewed coffee, refreshing glasses of smoothies, local favorites, hot conversations, and superb Oceanside views. The Konbetsa Kafé just opened on Friday to provide residents with the most ideal place to chat with other customers and share ideas and thoughts over a cup of coffee.

I stepped into the Konbetsa Kafé yesterday for the first time and was met with the pleasant aroma of coffee and a window view to die for. Ordering a cup of Almond Roca, I sipped my first cup for the day while exchanging pleasantries with the Konbetsa Kafé’s owner, Glenna Reyes.

Konbetsa Kafé presents an irresistible package with beautiful art works depicting local island views adorned the walls of the Konbetsa Kafé—all for sale, and the blue skies and ocean stretching endlessly outside the glass windows in addition to the very affordable coffee and merienda items.

“We want to give our diners here a totally local feel—from our menu to the decoration to the whole ambiance,” Reyes said.

Other coffee options include brewed coffee, iced blend, Amaretto, Hazelnut, Irish Crème, Kiwi and coconut at $2.50 a cup. Espresso shots are also available including Cappuccino, Mocha, American Espresso and Latte. If you want your coffee extra strong, add a dollar more for an extra shot.

Konbetsa Kafé also serves refreshing Frappe in Caramel Latte, Kona Mocha and White Chocolate Latte, or tempting glasses of Shakes using fresh fruits. My buddy tried the banana shake and immediately noted the fresh fruity flavor from real strawberries and not the preserved powder. Other must try shakes are cookies and cream, manha or coconut, and strawberry banana.

On warm sunny days, dip into a glass of Konbetsa Kafé’s various smoothie flavors such as Banana Delight, Berry Peachy, Cantaloupe Fusion, Melon Mingling, Peachy Mango and Piña Paradise, all for $3.75.

“At Konbetsa Kafé, you get the real taste of fresh fruits for our smoothies and shakes,” Reyes said.

Reyes said that they are looking at serving light breakfasts very soon.

“A lot of people want a light and quick breakfast—like fried rice, spam, sausage, fried eggs and we will be serving that soon,” Reyes said.

She added that they are looking at serving more fresh fruits and vegetable salads very soon.

“We want the Konbetsa Kafé to be a place for coffee, conversation and as a destination for healthy option,” Reyes said.

Local favorites

Konbetsa Kafé is your newest destination for a taste of the island favorites. Check out the Kafé’s counter for rows of local foods like tamales gisu, tamales mendioka, titiyas macha, buchibuchi payapa or kalamasa, manju, empanada, pan tuba, pan tosta or sticks, Chamorro cookies and rosketi—favorites that you usually only see at the street market.

I also tried a cup of hot Ahu, an island favorite dessert soup made with sugar, water, young coconut meat and tapioca starch which is available everyday for $1 a cup. Konbetsa Kafé also serves Charakilis chicken or tuna and Ilotis soup, which is cream of chicken and corn with coconut daily for a dollar a cup.

No Wi-Fi

Yes, you read it right. There is no No Wi-Fi and there will be no Wi-Fi at the Konbetsa Kafé. True to its name, Reyes said that she is not going to install internet connection because it will defeat the purpose of the Konbetsa Kafé.

“We want people to come here and converse with each other, not to stay at their tables for the whole day with their noses buried into their laptops,” Reyes said.

“Konbetsa is a Chamorro word that means “dialogue.” We want to maintain an atmosphere where people can talk politics, business, happenings and everything else under the sun,” Reyes said.

Make the Konbetsa Kafé the place to start and end your day. Reyes also welcomes local artists to showcase their artworks on a consignment basis for a certain period of time at the Konbetsa Kafé.

Konbetsa Kafé is located beside the Walk-in Closet which Reyes also owns at the Ladera Center along Beach Road in Chalan Laulau next to the Armed Forces Career Center.

Konbetsa Kafé is open Monday to Sunday, 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Major credit cards are accpted. For more information, call 234-2637.

First published HERE

Coconut Tei Restaurant: Your bento stop in Garapan

THE minute you pushed open the door of this Japanese restaurant located just across the Fiesta Resort and Spa in Garapan, you will see a bar/counter with Japanese lanterns hanging from a roof of coconut leaves like it was an altogether separate stall inside. Rows of bottles of sake, Shochu and Japanese wines lined the upper shelves of the counter.

The Coconut-Tei Restaurant in Garapan is a popular destination for tourists and locals and I had eaten lunch there four years ago but didn’t have a chance to check it out properly until yesterday with a buddy. Like most Japanese restaurants, the Coconut-Tei has those huge billboards outside displaying their menu and prices in English and Japanese.

The restaurant is known for its bento sets and I decided on the fried fish set from the bento choices after only a few minutes of browsing through the menu. The fish of the day were yellow fin and tuna and I opted for the yellow fin. After a long deliberation, my buddy went for the ham and egg bento set—a late breakfast. (Yes, breakfast is available until 2 p.m.)

A few tables were occupied by late diners. A couple of diners came in after us, obviously coming from a swim with sand in their feet and towels slung on their shoulders and hair dripping wet. This means one thing—people are at ease to dine at this restaurant without having to worry about their looks or how they are dressed.

We were served miso soup in bowls which we sipped and were not even halfway through it when our orders came in large red bento boxes.

My fried yellow fish slices were served on a bed of spaghetti and ‘smothered’ with a generous amount of ketchup on top. Now, if you are not fond of ketchup, take note to inform the food staffers to leave your fish ketchup-free when you give your order. The set also came with a serving of steamed rice, a vegetable salad and side dishes, and a big mug of iced tea.

Yummy options

The Coconut-Tei Restaurant serves a variety of seafood dishes, including lobster sashimi or barbeque lobster which is not very common in other restaurants.

Check out the restaurant’s choices of appetizers for your favorites like sautéed kangkong, Kim-Chee, butter- sautéed squid, fried potatoes, spicy sauces, fried tofu, pork Kushi cutle, Hawaiian poke and more—all within the $5 to $15 price range.

If you want something hot and sizzling, the Coconut-Tei Restaurant serves beef steak on a hot plate, assorted sautéed seafood, sautéed chives and liver and others.

The Coconut-Tei Restaurant is also your foodstop for the sashimi and sushi using the freshest catch of the day.

On any day, if you just want to escape into a world of Japanese atmosphere, sip your favorite beer or try a glass of Japanese wine, the Coconut-Tei is one destination you can go to.

A section of the restaurant is set with two long tatami tables that Japanese diners usually use—the elevated section in Japanese restaurants where you have to slump on the floor and sit on mats and leave your footwear down. This is one section in Japanese restaurants that I have tried eating at just once in Tokyo but it’s very uncomfortable if you’re not used to it.

Check out Coconut-Tei’s breakfast items from 8 a.m. such as bacon and egg, fish BBQ, fried chicken, hamburger steak, noodles and ramen, and other yummy delights that will tease your palates early in the morning.

They open through lunch until 2 p.m., and from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. or later for dinner every day. All major credit cards are welcome. For inquiries/reservations please call 234-3923.

First published HERE

Oceanside Bar n’ Grill: Bringing oceanside flavors to Saipan

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THE new sign “Oceanside Bar n’ Grill” intrigued me after it went up a couple of weeks ago, raising questions about using that name when it was not at the ocean’s side.

My question was answered when I and three buddies checked the place out on Saturday evening. The restaurant owner came from Oceanside, California and wanted to bring the same atmosphere here.

We entered the Oceanside bar n’ Grill and were greeted with a brightly-lit restaurant setting with all the tables ready for diners. A few customers were playing darts, while some were seated on the bar enjoying their drinks.

Marilyn Ronquillo, Oceanside Bar n’ Grill’s owner showed us to a table for four and brought us menus. She convinced us to try their cocktails—which we did while we waited for what the restaurant has to offer in culinary showcase. 

Monthly Red

baked mussels

I ordered the Monthly Red from the cocktail menu—a pleasant blend of vodka, pineapple juice, coconut and strawberry in a tall cool glass topped with a slice of orange. My buddies ordered the Saipan Sunburn, which turned out to be a delightful blend of Malibu rum, banana, pineapple juice, cranberry and grapefruit, mango juice and Corona.

While waiting for our food, staffers served us nacho chips to nibble on but we pushed it aside when our first appetizer came—a flaming dish of baked mussels and a special sauce to go with it, an appetizer which Ronquillo said is one of the early favorites of diners. The flame had not died out yet when a delectable dish oftuna sashimi was served on a bed of fresh greens.

loco moco

A big plate of seafood linguini with cream sauce followed, which we all shared. What makes Oceanside’s seafood linguini stand out from all the other pasta we had tried before was a distinctive flavor of herbs and cream sauce with each bite we took. Served with toasted garlic bread and a variety of seafood for $9, this is something pasta lovers will come back for. Marinara sauce is another option.

Loco Moco, a rice-based Hawaiian inspired dish topped with a thick slab of hamburger patty and a sunny-side egg with rich, thick brown gravy was our next course. We were not yet halfway into it when staffers served us a plate of grilled beef short ribs with a serving of rice and salad followed by another dish with a huge slab of juicy chicken teriyaki bathedin a heavenly-tasting sauce.

seafood linguini with cream sauce

Everything looked and smelled heavenly.

No one touched the rice—we had no more space in our stomachs, but we attacked the food with gusto. It was almost scary to think we almost finished everything when we just came from a wedding reception. We felt guilty like we were eating our last supper.

Oceanside Bar n’ Grill had a soft opening a couple of weeks ago, but they will have a grand opening on March 17. The growing list of sumptuous selections on their menu is definitely something to try.

“We are serving an international fusion to cater to the varied tastes and preferences of our diners,” Ronquillo said.

Check out the other appetizers in Oceanside Bar n’ Grill’s menu such as buffalo wings, calamari, chicken kelaguen, French fries, fried chicken wings, hot pepper poppers, onion rings, poke, tuna, cheese quesadilla with chicken, and nachos con Pollo, all within the $6 to $8 price range.

A wide selection of Oceanside’s original cocktails and traditional cocktails, shooters, as well as non-alcoholic beverages and shakes are also available. Darts and a pool table are available for sports enthusiasts. Wi-Fi is also available.

Oceanside Bar n’ Grill is located at the former Flair Bar in Garapan and is open Mondays to Thursdays from 5 p.m. to 12 midnight, and from 5 p.m. to 2 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. Food items at the Oceanside Bar n’ Grill fall below the $10 mark and the servings are generous.

Happy hours are from 5 to 7 p.m. where domestic beers are only $2.50 and imported beer costs $3.50 per bottle.Only cash is accepted for now. For reservations/inquiries please call 233-6724 or email osidebarngrill@yahoo.com.

bringing-oceanside-flavors-to-saipan [44682] | Out to Eat.

Grilled steaks at Joe’s Bar

THE red carpet this time did not lead us to the Oscar’s Academy Awards but to Joe’s SteakHouse Capital in Garapan on Saturday night.

The steakhouse had been in our target list for some time but we have not been able to finalize it until Saturday.

Briefly browsing through the menu, I decided to try the grilled short ribs Angus Beef for $12.95 while Andrew ordered the fried chicken quarter leg for $10.95. Alexie decided to try the Pedirone Chino from pasta section. Joe’s Steakhouse bartender Niko served us corn soup and iced tea minutes after we placed our orders.

My grilled short ribs came first, served with vegetables, corn and a serving of steamed rice. I immediately raised my hands in surrender and looked at Andrew for rescue because I knew there was no way I could finish it. He grinned in assurance but that grin was wiped off his face when his chicken leg quarter was laid on the table—huge pieces of crunchy deep fried chicken, a big serving of mashed potatoes and vegetables.

I forked a mouthful of Alexie’s pasta, which was sautéed in olive oil with garlic, bacon, onion, bell pepper and a dash of hot pepper topped with Parmesan cheese. If my plate was not too full, I would have grabbed her garlic bread.

I had a huge chicken piece from Andrew while he made fast work of my grilled ribs. We were not yet done when Niko hinted that dessert was coming—a slice of yummy brownies and an irresistible chocolate mousse for each of us. I spooned a bite of my mousse and pushed it to Andrew to finish. He did and his earlier grin was replaced with a glassy look. We got up with drowsy and with full stomachs, and with a take-home pack because Andrew was unable to finish his chicken. 

Other choices are grilled fish fillet topped with garlic butter, hamburger steak, grilled or battered shrimp, grilled pork chop, BBQ baby back ribs and crispy pata cooked whole and sliced.

Joe’s SteakHouse provides a cozy atmosphere with its dimly lit interior, charming paintings on the walls, rows of wines and more wines available on each table, and a huge LCD screen mounted on the wall.

All steak and seafood orders are served with your choice of soup of the day or mixed garden salad, choice of steamed rice, French fries or baked or mashed potatoes, and bottomless iced tea.

If you want your steak served in sizzling plate, it’s an option too!

Try the 8-oz Certified Angus Beef rib eye steak, the 8-oz New York strip loin, 6-oz tenderloin, 8-oz beef top tenderloin, or go all out for the 16-oz. beef porterhouse, or the mixed grill which includes 8-oz. top sirloin, shrimp and fish fillet—all within the $29.95 to $39.95 range.

The appetizer list includes all time favorites like chicken or beef kelaguen, deep-fried calamari, chips and salsa, and lumpia.

Check out Joe’s selection of pastas—spaghetti and meatballs, spaghetti Ala Carbonara, and Shrimp Scampi, or go for soba and have it plain, with spam and egg, or with shrimp. Joe’s also serves a variety of salads like mixed garden, grilled shrimp salad, grilled chicken salad and Cole slaw, from $2.75 to $9.95.

Our dinner at Joe’s Bar and Steakhouse Grill erased our notion of “sky-high prices”, and we learned a lesson not to go there when you’re not very hungry.

If you just want to have a drink with friends, follow the red carpet outside the restaurant door and it will lead you to straight to the bar. Tables are also available outside if you want to dine in an outdoor setting.

Joe’s SteakHouse Bar and Restaurant is located across from Fiesta Resort & Spa in Garapan. They offer lunch buffet for $12.95 on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Ala Cart lunch is available on Tuesdays, Thursdays and burger specialties on Saturdays. They are closed on Sundays. Major credit cards are welcome, with a $20 minimum purchase. For inquiries or reservations, please call 233-5367.

First published HERE