New location, new lunch specials at Konbetsa Kafé

    (Photos by Patrick Horton)

HAVE you checked out the new lunch specials offered everyday at Konbetsa Kafe’s new location?

You should.

Last week, after a hot trek to the boondocks around Ladder Beach we decided to have lunch at Konbetsa. Most of the tables were occupied with diners so we headed straight to a corner table where a food staffer handed us a couple of menus.

I browsed through it briefly but decided on one of the $6.95 specials of the day — pan-fried fillet of salmon. Pat decided to go for a cheeseburger.

I was served a small bowl of mongo bean soup as appetizer, followed shortly by a bigger bowl of beef soup. My pan-fried salmon came in two golden brown slices topped with bits of fried garlic, crispy kangkung strips, a quarter slice of lemon and a serving of rice.

Pat’s cheeseburger arrived with French fries which I attacked with gusto, offering my beef soup to him in exchange.

Konbetsa Kafe’s new location provides a comfortable, cool and relaxing ambiance that makes you want to just enjoy your meal and the easy flow of conversation among the other diners. The clear glass door and walls may not provide a spectacular ocean view to die for like its old location on Beach Road, but it still gives diners a view.

Check out the varying daily lunch specials at Konbetsa Kafe such as beef tendon (bulalo style), Mongo beans soup with Kineman kangkung, pork stir fry, fried chicken, pickled tomatoes and chalakilis mahi, Konbetsa wings and calamare set complimented with traditional coco and sausage spaghetti noodle soup, smoked pork and garlic fish with crab corn soup and coco takwan with tamales gisu, and more.

Konbetsa Café prides itself as the original home of local food dishes and where face-to-face conversation flows. Make it your ideal everyday destination for breakfast, lunch or dinner. Feast on chicken estufao, katdun pika, katdun mannok, tinaktak, tinala katne, amondigas, pork bistek, eskabechi, katdnn u’hang, fritada pork or beef, and more.

Konbetsa Kafé also offers a selection of noodles, sandwiches and burgers, sides including spam, tuna flakes, crab sticks, Portugese and Chamorro sausage, fried, garlic or shrimp fried rice, Chamorro soba selections, egg dishes, omelet choices, and salads.

If you are not that hungry, you can still go there to hang out with family and friends while enjoying your favorite drink: soda, chocolate, fruit juices, wine or beer. Chasers include tinala katne, smoked pork, katdun pika, chicken kelaguen with titiyas, lumpia, hot wings, poke, sashimi and calamari.

Enjoy coffee time with Konbetsa’s House flavor kafe with one refill for $2, or flavor coffee like iced blend, almond roca, amaretto, coconut, hazel nut, Irish crème or kiwi. You can also go for the specialty kafe like Espresso shot, Americano, Cappuccino, Latte, and Mochaccinno. To quench your thirst check out Konbetsa Kafé’s choices of shakes, real fruit smoothies and frappuccino.

Konbetsa Kafe is open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., Monday to Friday, from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Saturday and from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday at its new location at the RJ Plaza Building across from Joeten Dandan. Credit cards are accepted. For inquiries or reservations, call 234-2637 or email konbetsa.kafe@gmail.com.

 

First published at the Marianas Variety

New sushi and sashimi bar in Garapan

THE first thing that greeted me and my companion when we entered the smoky glass doors of this restaurant located at the second floor of the A1 Store in Garapan is the mouthwatering aroma of grilled beef, and the cozy atmosphere and spaciousness inside.

I have been to the place once before, when it was still the former Myung Dong Korean Restaurant. The place is now called Garapan Restaurant, Barbeque and Sushi Bar. Changes have been made to the place from the table arrangements to the newly installed sushi bar at the right side of the restaurant.

 

We headed to a table for four, the smallest of the tables available. A wait staff handed us two thick menus and left us to browse. If you don’t know what you want to eat yet, the menu makes it quite a challenge to come up with a choice from the wide selection of Korean and Japanese cuisines. A huge lighted billboard at the ground floor displays photos of the dishes served so you can make your choice even before you go up.

My companion ordered the $8 Gyu Don—while I decided to order something familiar, something I always order in Korean restaurants—a hot pot of bibimbap. I guess I wanted to check out how each Korean Restaurant serves this traditional dish.

A few minutes later, the wait staff served us a tray containing four little bowls of the ever-present traditional Korean appetizers—monggo sprouts, steamed kangkong leaves, kimchi and vegetables. My hot pot bibimbap followed shortly, with the vegetables neatly arranged by sections and a raw egg topped with sesame seeds at the center.

Wasting no time, I snapped a few photos before stirring everything in the pot. I always love to hear the sizzling sound food makes when it hits the sides of the hot pot.

I skipped the hot chili paste that is supposed to make the flavors of the bibimbap come out and asked for soy sauce instead. Our friendly waiter told us they keep an eye out for non-Korean diners who order Korean food because some of them may not be familiar with the spices to make the flavors come out and may not come back anymore. I assured him I was okay with the soy sauce.

My companion’s Gyu Don arrived—a bowl of rice with sliced beef and onions (he told the wait staff not to include the onions though). Our orders came with bowls of miso soup. Halfway into our meal, the restaurant owner Baek Soon Yoo served us a dish of fresh sashimi sprinkled with sesame seeds.

Yoo said they decided to change and expand their servings and reduce the food prices to accommodate everyone especially in these hard times.

Check out the everyday specials on the white board for a taste of the freshest sashimi and sushi available on island which includes fresh sahishi halibut, hamachi, salmon and tuna.

Garapan Restaurant Barbeque and Sushi Bar is at the Pacific Sunrise Building across from the Fiesta Resort & Spa. It can accommodate up to 180 people. It has special sections for tatami seating and VIP rooms for small private gatherings. The restaurant is open for lunch from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., and dinner from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. everyday. Cards are accepted. For reservations or inquiries, please call 233-7000 or 233-3577.

Seafood nights at Saipan World Resort

ARE you craving for a real seafood feast? Here is a new destination on Friday nights — the Buffet World of Saipan World Resort in Susupe.

Newly refurbished, the Buffet World offers a great selection of the freshest seafood on top of its barbeque, dessert and sushi stations.

A long line of diners was already waiting outside before  the Buffet World opened its doors on Friday night. The tables and the buffet lines filled up fast. I proceeded to the far end of the room where the sushi bar was. Sushi chef Joey Estuesta was busy arranging different kinds of sushi and they were “disappearing” faster than he could  prepare new ones.

There were also trays of steamed green mussels, steamed blue crabs, shrimp as well as fresh sashimi slices neatly arranged on boat-shaped platters.

The barbecue and dessert stations were also irresistible to diners.

Saipan World Resort sales and marketing department/local sales manager Michael Babauta said seafood night Friday  was their response to the strong demand for seafood from tourists and locals.

“Our executive chef and his team came up with a menu that will surely make you taste buds jump and sing,” Babauta said, adding that they also revamped the buffet line.

“Our executive chef wanted it to have a greater impact so we  now have better lighting, better fixtures and a better buffet line,” he said.

You have to check it out.

“We are inviting the community to a unique dining experience — mouthwatering seafood and succulent specials,” Babauta said.

The price is $27 for adults and half price for children, inclusive of unlimited drinks.

Seafood night starts at 6 p.m. every Friday. The restaurant is also open for breakfast at 7 a.m. and lunch from 11:30 a.m. Major credit cards are accepted. For reservations, call 234-5900 extension 388 or 377.

First published at the Marianas Variety

Dining with a ‘view to die for’

WHO wouldn’t love to have a lavish dining experience at a location that offers a breathtaking view of sun, skies and jungle — with sumptuous food at affordable prices?

Check out the newly reopened Monte Vista Steak House & Restaurant located at Navy Hill a short distance away from the WIC Clinic.

bibimbap

A friend and I were the first to arrive when the restaurant opened on Friday, and we headed straight to the farthest seat by the window—the prime seats that everybody would vie for.

Through the huge glass window, you can see the blue stretch of the ocean and the skies, Saipan`s popular Managaha Island, and the Smiling Cove.

To our right, the blue waters of the swimming pool glistened in the noonday heat. A different setting await dinner patrons as the spotlight changes venue to the poolside where diners can watch the sunset and partake of barbeque set meals while enjoying the fresh breeze from the thick vegetation around the restaurant.

For its re-opening salvo on Friday, Monte Vista served a fusion of Korean, Western and Japanese menu and the choices of the $9.99 Monte Lunch menu.

I decided to see try the Monte Vista BBQ lunch set version and did not regret my choice. My companion went for the seafood marinara pasta which was served in a big platter—so big it was impossible for one to finish it all alone.

Monte Vista’s friendly wait staff directed us to the salad bar where we got fresh vegetables and dressings, Kimchi, and fresh fruits. Bottomless iced tea, water and hot coffee are also available along with the lunch buffet.

My BBQ set arrived in a deliciously arranged platter—a beef ribs dripping with sauce, marinated and barbequed to perfection, the meat tender and the flavors stays in your mouth after your last mouthful. The beef ribs came with a couple slices of chicken barbeque, vegetables and a serving of rice, and cream soup.

With the cup of coffee and the salad I just had, it was impossible to finish all that food.

Minutes later, two officemates arrived to try what Monte Vista has to offer and occupied the next table. I hopped over to their table to take photos of their orders—a mouthwatering sizzling hot stone bowl bibimbap and one order of Yakki Soba topped with tuna flakes.

We capped our lunch with more coffee and iced tea and had to take the rest of the food home. The servings are quite generous.

Tempting lunch items under the Korean menu includes Kimchi fried rice, Jeyuk bokum rice, squid bokum rice, bulgogi, galbitang, miso Jjigae and other Korean favorites. Choices available for those who would go for Western cuisine include beef pilaf soy sauce taste, ham and cheese sandwich, clubhouse sandwich, deep fried chicken, hamburger steak, chicken teriyaki, pork cutlet, vegetable and bacon pasta, pork katsu curry monte syle and more.

If you are into Japanese menu, try the Seafoods Pajeon, Yakki Udon and cold noodles. Monte Vista lunches are $8.99 and $9.99 with a 10 percent discount for locals. Monte Vista boasts of a comfortable bar and serving a wide variety of tropical drinks, soft drinks, vodka base or gin base drinks, beers, and non-alcoholic cocktail.

The restaurant space can accommodate up to 70 persons but the poolside can accommodate up to 200.

For now, Monte Vista is not yet open for dinner but they accept bookings and reservations for special occasions like weddings, birthdays, Christenings, and all other gatherings.

I can’t wait to try Monte Vista’s signature Monte Special Steak, New York Steak with Gravy Sauce, Rib Eye Steak with gravy sauce which will be available soon. It’s worth the drive up there.

For now, Monte Vista is open to the public for lunch from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. everyday but soon, when dinner becomes available, you can have a feast with their sunset barbeque sets at the poolside.

Credit cards are accepted. For inquiries and reservations,  call 322-3324 or visit http://www.saipanmontevista.com.

http://www.mvariety.com/special-features/out-to-eat/47810-dining-with-a-view-to-die-for.php

Say cheesecake

WHEN you hear the word “cheesecake,” two popular destinations would immediately pop up that serve the most sought-after cheesecake on Saipan—Hyatt Regency and Shenanigan’s Restaurant, both in Garapan.

An hour of unadulterated indulgence over cups of coffee and heavenly slices of cheesecakes for two consecutive nights at these two outlets rekindled the sweet cravings that I have shelved for some time.

Shenanigan's cheesecake

One night last week took two buddies and me to Shenanigans Restaurant for coffee and a slice of the restaurant’s most popular and addicting cheesecake. It was not my first time to try their cheesecake which come in several variations but with cheesecake, one could never have enough.

Shenanigan’s cheesecake comes in a heavy rectangular platter with splashes of chocolate syrup, whipped cream and orange slices—presented in such a way that would make you forget how to say no. Shenanigan’s cheesecake is made of chocolatey and fluffy soft sponge cake topped with a thick layer of fresh cream cheese. My buddy finished his cheesecake and wiped the whole plate clean down to the last morsel in minutes.

Shenanigan’s cheesecake variations are Pana Cotta cheesecake and Mascarpone Cheesecake with blueberry sauce, for $6.

On Friday evening, my two buddies and I sampled the Hyatt Regency’s famous cheesecakes with coffee at the Lobby Lounge. My buddies opted for one slice of the hotel’s blueberry cheesecake each, while I decided to have the Bailey’s cheesecake. A cheerful staffer from the DJ Corner delivered our cheesecakes at the Lobby Lounge where we were comfortably seated and we lost no time in digging into it.

The blueberry cheesecake dripped with a generous topping of blueberry puree, its sweet taste blending with the light and fluffy texture of the cake and making every bite melt in your mouth.

My Baileys cheesecake told a stronger story. Topped with macadamia nuts, each bite of the sumptuous velvety Baileys cheesecake gives you a slight flavor of Baileys in every bite—not overpowering but just a tinge of Baileys.

Cheesecakes have become a special favorite for all occasions and are available 24 hours a day at the Hyatt for $6.

Check out Shenanigan’s Restaurant and the Hyatt Regency Lobby Lounge to get a heavenly bite of cheesecake and join the growing throng of cheesecake addicts in the island. For inquiries, call Shenanigans at 233-8324 and Hyatt Regency at 234-1234.

Published here
http://www.mvariety.com/2012020543739/out-to-eat/say-cheesecake-43739.php

Ossobuco: Now you know

WHEN I walked into the cool confines of Giovanni’s Restaurant at the Hyatt on Friday night, I had no idea what I was going to have.

All I did was repeat the name ‘Ossobuco’ over and over in my mind until it easily rolled off my tongue. I did not do any research earlier to get an idea how this — one of the most counterfeited dishes in the Italian cuisine — looks or tastes like.

Giovanni’s cheerful food staffers led me and buddy Luis to a corner table and asked what we would like to drink. I opted to have coffee first while Luis asked for a tall glass of iced tea.

With our drinks, the food staffers served us the usual bread stick and Italian bread with a pesto dip.

Very soon, the main course arrived and I was in for a real surprise. Served on a hot platter of mouth-watering cross-cut veal shanks garnished with gremolata, the Ossobuco was an irresistible temptation at first sight.

Slicing off a bite-sized portion, I took my first bite and stopped. The veal is tender and well cooked, its buttery and rich flavors blending right to the core, and its incomparable flavor leaves you with a desire to have more after you swallow the last bite.

Ossobuco, or osso buco is the Italian term for “bone with a hole” and refers to the bone marrow at the center of the cross-cut veal shank. The tender meat at the center of the bone marrow is equally flavorful that the dish was reduced to a memory minutes later.

The Ossobuco came with a side dish of Parmessan Risotto and sautéed green asparagus which we also cleaned up in no time.

Hyatt executive chef Gabriele Colombo said that the veal they use for Ossobuco is very young, just a few months old.

He said the Ossobuco is the official dish chosen for the 5th Edition of the International Day of Italian Cuisines and will be served for dinner at Giovanni’s Restaurant until January 31 only.

“We invite all of you to try the classic dish — Ossobuco in Gremolata alla Milanese, a celebration of authentic and quality Italian cuisine all over the world,” Colombo said.

Giovanni’s Restaurant recommends Santa Cristina Toscana or Danzante Chianti as the ideal pair for this delectable Italian dish.

We decided to try one of Giovanni’s famous desserts — a serving of warm dark chocolate with a scoop of walnut ice cream and garnished with slices of orange, kiwi and strawberry splashed with chocolate streaks, another must-try heavenly concoction that only Hyatt’s culinary experts can bring to your table.

The next time you hear the word Ossobuco, now you know that you share something special with over 1,700 culinary professionals working in 17 countries and the millions of food lovers who have the chance to try this famous tender, juicy symbol of the most tempting Italian cuisine.

Taste it for yourself and see why it’s one of the most counterfeited Italian dishes in the world.

The Ossobucco in Gremolata alla Milanese served with parmesan risotto dinner is only $30 per person. Giovanni’s Restaurant opens from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

For inquiries or reservations, please call 234-1234.

ossobuco-now-you-know [43382] | Out to Eat.

Of steaks and bottomless wines at the Costa

DO you want it raw, medium, medium rare, or well done? Have you experienced closing your eyes and getting lost in the wonderful flavors of succulent slices of steak dipped in a special sauce? You don’t have to go far to experience it.

At the Costa Restaurant at the Aqua Resort Club, you can have your steak and eat it too—just the way you want it.

The sizzling sounds of the juices dribbling into the fire and the mouth-watering aroma emanating from the grills as expert chefs flip over juicy pieces of 7-oz steaks is a common sight at the at the Costa Restaurant of the Aqua Resort Club on Saturday nights—the special night of the week when everybody heads out to the place for a taste of the island’s best Certified Angus Beef Rib Eye steak.

Aqua Resort Club overall restaurant manager Rom Manzon said that since July last year, the Steak Dinner Buffet on Saturday nights had been a regular hit with locals and tourists alike.

“Give your Saturday nights a whole new delightful meaning by digging into our eat-all-you-can and drink-all-you-can buffet highlighting our special rib eye steak,” Manzon said.

Always a fan of well done or overcooked steak, I dared to try a medium rare steak on Saturday night while my two buddies went for medium.

While waiting for our steak, we roamed around the huge restaurant, too confused what to pick up and where to start. Everything looked and smelled heavenly. Picking up a plate, I scooped a ladle of mashed potatoes and some slices of beef mechado before going back to the table.

Minutes later, our steak was delivered to our table—two orders of medium rare, and one medium steak. Picking up a fork and knife, I sliced off one end of one bite-size portion and took my first small bite starting at the reddish pink center of my steak. It was perfect, with the flavors blending all the way into the tender meat.

The special pepper corn sauce Aqua Resort specifically made for the steak added more to the flavors. A glass of Robert Mondavi wine complemented the steak perfectly.

To pair off with your steak, Aqua Resort Club has teamed up with Pacific Wines and Spirits who provides bottomless red and white Robert Mondavi wines, or beer. If you want more, it is not a problem. You can order as many steaks as you can eat, and drink as much wine or beer as you can take.

Check out the appetizers which varies from time to time, the salad bar which boasts of the restaurant’s famous Caesar Salad, the main dishes, the coffee station, the beverage station where you can have juices and soda, the must-stop-over dessert section which displays sumptuous cakes, leche flan, pies and other irresistible desserts, and the special wine section where you can have glasses of ice-cold Robert Mondavi wines and beers.

The all-you-can eat and all-you can drink Steak Dinner Buffet at the Costa Restaurant is only $24 per person for locals which is 20 percent off the regular rate.

Costa Restaurant’s huge glass windows provide diners with a fantastic view of the pool, colorful flowers and lush greenery, vast blue skies and the ocean beyond.

Costa Restaurant can accommodate up to a hundred individuals. All major credit cards are accepted.

On Saturday nights, make the Costa Restaurant your destination from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. for all the steak and wine you want.

For inquiries, please call 322 -1234, reservation direct line 322-1222 or email info@aquaresortsaipan.com.

This article was first published HERE

Coffee stops: Have it hot or cold

Irish Latte

UNABLE to summon enough appetite to eat a hearty meal over the weekend, I opted to scout for coffee stops.

With my official coffee buddy on a “flu leave,” I ventured out alone on Friday night and ended at the recently opened Zoom Café across from the Saipan World Resort in Susupe.

The spacious café was deserted except for a group of four customers when I came in.

I was halfway through my iced Blueberry Latte when buddy Andrew arrived to rescue me from being alone, but he’s not a coffee drinker.

Zoom Café serves a selection of hot or cold espresso, special latte, frappeno, Bingsu and fruit drinks for non-coffee lovers like yogurt smoothies and fruit juices.

Zoom Café also serves signature chicken delights such as sweet and sour chicken, soy sauce or hot sauce chicken (my favorite).

Kafé Pacifica

At past 2 p.m. yesterday, I dragged officemate Junhan to try out a coffee shop I had not tried before.

Tucked at one corner of the DFS Galleria is a brightly lit, cozy coffee shop which provides shoppers (or non-shoppers) an ideal place to hang out, sip their favorite coffee or tea and have their favorite sandwiches and snacks.

Browsing through the menu, I settled on a hot cup of regular Irish Latte. Health-conscious and non-coffee Junhan ordered a cold bottle of green tea despite my extolling the virtues of coffee.

The heavenly aroma of Irish Latte soon wafted in the air as I anticipated the first sip of the hot and foamy liquid elixir that would officially start my day.

Kafé Pacifica, with its beige and cream tables, ceilings and walls, is a welcome respite for anyone who wants to enjoy his coffee in a pleasant environment.

Kafé Pacifica serves a wide selection of hot or cold coffee — including espresso, Americano, cappuccino, latte, vanilla, almond latte, macadamia latte, hazel nut, and more flavors from $3.50 to $5.25 a cup. Brewed and decaf coffee is also available.

Kafé Pacifica also serves special pasta delights like spaghetti Italian meat sauce, carbonara and chicken Alfredo, a variety of sandwiches, pastries and croissants, fruit smoothies, juice, a sumptuous selection of waffles, ice cream, sundaes, banana splits, milkshakes and more. Free wireless internet is available.

Coffee, taken with the right company, has more satisfying flavor. On both of my weekend coffee escapades I was with non-coffee drinkers, but wait till Alexie is on her feet again or Alan, who describes coffee as “the elixir of the gods,” but alas, he’s 10K miles away!

Join us as we continue scouting for the best coffee shops on island in the next issues.

Kafé Pacifica is open from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Zoom Café is open from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Major credit cards are accepted at both coffee shops. For inquiries and reservations, call Zoom Café in Susupe at 234-1010 or Kafé Pacifica at 233-7274.

This article was first published HERE

(http://mvariety.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=42011:coffee-stops-have-it-hot-or-cold&catid=35:out-to-eat&Itemid=86)

Late night donuts and coffee stop in Susupe

THE sudden craving to bite into a fluffy dme at pasonut hit t midnight on Saturday, and everybody knows there’s no other place to go for the best donuts available but Winchell’s in Susupe, or Garapan if you’re in the area.

Deciding to take the longer drive, I and two buddies drove to the Winchell’s outlet across from the Saipan Grand Hotel.

Buddy Andrew ordered a donut and hot soup while Jimboy went for a cold chocolate drink and donuts. I gave in to the temptation and chose a large, hot cup of vanilla coffee.

There’s nothing extraordinary about Winchell’s in Susupe. It’s just your usual coffee house/donut stop but aside from the affordable coffee and wide selection of donuts and sandwiches, the place provides an atmosphere that makes you want to stay for a while.­ It’s one place where you can see late night or early morning diners working on their laptops and sipping iced or  hot coffee.

The mirrored walls and ceilings, immaculate tables and comfortable chairs and the pleasant aroma of fresh coffee lingering in the air make the place ideal for late night or early morning coffee and chats with friends and family.

Winchell’s provides a wide variety of warm and fresh donuts and bakery products every day, including cinnamon rolls, muffins, bagels, croissants, burgers and more. For $2.75, you can get a 16oz cup of hot or cold cappuccino. Add 50 cents to go large and get a 20-oz cup to satisfy your thirst.

Regular coffee is also available, as well as hot tea and hot chocolate.

Start your day with a combination of two donuts and a 16 oz. cup of coffee for $3. Choose your own combination of two donuts, one fancy donut, four pieces of pandesal or one muffin, or the new Winchell’s hamburger for $4.25 and mini-burger for only $1.25.

Winchell’s serves a variety of sandwiches such as ham, turkey, bacon, lettuce and tomato, prime rib, tuna, spam, egg with Chamorro sausage, veggies for the weight watchers, and more choices.

You can pick your own toppings from a selection of classic mayonnaise, honey mustard, ranch, and more.

Despite having been around for years, Winchell’s too has felt the sting of the hard economic times. Effective Oct. 17, Winchell’s Donut House in Susupe will only be open 24 hours on Friday and Saturday. They will open from 5:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. from Monday to Thursday, and from 12:01 a.m. to 10:30 pm. on Sunday. The Garapan outlet remains open 24 hours a day.

Major credit cards are accepted. For inquiries/reservations, call 235-0247 or 233-5566.

http://mvariety.com/special-features/out-to-eat/41277-late-night-donuts-and-coffee-stop-in-susupe.html

Good food, good times at Naked Fish

AN unexpected lunch call from one of my out to eat buddies dragged me out of bed and directed me to Naked Fish Bar & Grill on Saturday noon.

Not yet conditioned to eat, I glanced idly at the lunch menu and ordered for the first thing that caught my attention from the seafood section — Fish Meuneire.

My companions opted for the special $6 lunch of pork financiera served with creamy corn soup and bottomless iced tea and a serving of the chef salad with vinaigrette dressing.

When the cheerful wait staff delivered my order, instant hunger took over as the palatable aroma of partially grilled mahi-mahi bathed in melted butter and topped with strips of bacon and shrimp bits assailed my nostrils. For $9.50, my order included a serving of rice, French fries and fresh vegetables.

Pushing the news on TV showing the gory details of the plane that crashed during an air show in Reno to the back of my mind and Michael Bublé’s voice in the background, I dug into my plate, savoring the delightful blend of butter and fresh fish.

Other seafood options for lunch are garlic fish, grilled mahi, naked shrimp, seafood curry and garlic octopus — all served with rice or French fries from $7.50 to $12.75.

You can also check out Naked Fish Bar & Grill’s selection of steaks like chef steak, curry steak, hamburger steak and New York steak which comes with a serving of rice or French fries. Side dishes like baked potato, garlic fried rice and soup of the day is also available. For pasta lovers, Naked Fish serves seafood carbonara, regular carbonara and seafood spaghetti. They also serve a variety of sandwiches from $6.50 and up including the Naked Sandwich, Submarine Sandwich, Fish Burger and Naked Burger.

My companions ordered a slice of cheesecake topped with a scoop of ice cream and splashed with chocolate syrup for dessert and cleaned up the plate in world record time. I opted for a cup of freshly brewed Americano coffee, glorying in each sip and draining it down to the last drop. Other coffee options available are Espresso, Caffelatte and Cappucino and $3 and $4 a cup.

You can also try their irresistible milkshakes and ice cream for $3.

Naked Fish Bar & Grill is your best destination to hang out, listen to live music from different performing bands, have coffee or celebrate special events with your favorite drinks, watch sports or any other channel from several LCD sets mounted on the walls, or just to while the time.

The huge glass walls provide diners the best view of the ocean and the roadside. If you’re not in the mood for music or company, you can still enjoy your food or drinks at the tables outside.

The place is also one of the favorite hangouts for dart players in the island.

Naked Fish Bar & Grill’s beverage list includes several choices of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks like beers and wines. Saturday nights at the Naked Fish Bar & Grill feature live music with special prices and promotions on your favorite beers.

Under new management, Naked Fish Bar & Grill, located on Beach Road Garapan, is owned by Butch Sigua of the Team Advance Group. Major credit cards are accepted. For reservation or inquiries, call 235-FISH (3474).

Good food, good times at Naked Fish | out-to-eat.