FOOD is an important part of what makes a hotel or resort a great place for a leisurely stay, and when it comes to the sprawling 6-hectare Crimson Resort & Spa Mactan in Cebu, food is not a problem. The place boasts of several dining facilities, which include Saffron Café, Tempo Lounge, Score Sports Bar and Azure Pool Bar, besides having a Crimson Pastry where guests can buy delicious bites such as Ensaymada and Banana Cake, plus a 24-hour in-room dining service. The truth is that food is so bountiful and so good at Crimson that it can be considered an awesome food destination in Cebu.
ALL-DAY DINING
Saffron Café is the resort’s main restaurant. A spacious glass-walled dining facility on the Ground Level of the main resort building that opens up to the breath-taking infinity pool, Saffron serves a la carte and buffet breakfast from 6:00 to 10:30 a.m. In-house guests get to enjoy a good buffet breakfast spread that includes assorted breads and pastries with jams and spreads, cheeses, cold cuts, salads and a salad bar, breakfast staples such as bacon and sausages, pancakes and waffles, cereals, congee and noodles, hot dishes, an egg station, fresh fruits, a wide selection of beverages, and desserts.
The café also puts together a daily buffet set-up for lunch, from 12:00 to 2:30 p.m., and for dinner, from 6:00 to 11:00 p.m.
In between, guests who get hungry can order from the a la carte menu. The menu offers such extensive choices that include salads, soups, entrees, main courses, grilled items, Asian dishes, pizza, pasta, sandwiches, baguettes and paninis.
Pizza and pasta are among the most popular choices, especially for merienda.
There are five exciting pizza flavors to choose from: Prosciutto, which has tomato ragu, imported Prosciutto, tomato and mozzarella cheese, topped with fresh rocket leaves (Php550); Frutti Di Mare, made up of tomato ragu, fresh prawns, squid, fish, local seafood and mozzarella cheese (Php580); Margherita, a simple pizza with tomato ragu, rosemary, garlic paste, sliced tomatoes and mozzarella cheese (Php440); Siciliana, which has tomato ragu, olives, capers, anchovies, Prosciutto, tomato and mozzarella cheese (Php520); and Thai Chicken, made up of tomato and coconut ragu, Thai marinated chicken, coriander, Thai basil, shredded pineapple and mozzarella cheese (Php500).
When it comes to pasta (Php480 per order), guests get to choose what type of pasta they like – Spaghetti, Penne, Fettuccine or Linguini – and what type of sauce they prefer – Alfredo, Carbonara, Marinara, Pesto or Bolognese.
MORE PRIVATE DINING
Since Saffron Café is filled with guests during breakfast hours, especially on weekends, Tempo Lounge on the Lobby Level of the main resort building provides an alternative, more private breakfast for Villa guests. A Villa Breakfast buffet is set up for guests staying in Villas, and it’s as extensive as the choices at Saffron Café. There are only a few items missing, such as the fried danggit (dried fish) that Cebu is very proud of, although the service staff promptly ask guests if they want some and procure them from Saffron Café should guests want them.
Tempo Lounge, however, is most popular for its Pan-Asian a la carte dinner menu, which is available from 6:00 to 11:00 p.m. Here, guests have a nice, quiet dinner while enjoying nice live entertainment. They can even make song requests to the singers, who willingly grant their requests.
The place is an ideal venue for sit-down dinners, and what’s cool about it is that you can enjoy a sit-down dinner without having to dress up for it. You can be in casual resort wear, and nobody will mind.
COCKTAILS
For cocktail hour, guests can visit Score Sports Bar to enjoy a drink or two, accompanied by cocktail bites, while watching sports games on TV or playing billiards or darts. Located at the Garden Level of the main resort building, Score Sports Bar also serves a la carte dishes from 12:00 noon to 12:00 midnight, although cocktail buffet spreads can be set up in the billiards area for groups to enjoy while having beer, wine or cocktail drinks. Late Night Happy Hour at the indoor bar with pool and billiards begins at 9:00 p.m. and ends at 12:00 midnight.
Come October this year (2014), Crimson Resort & Spa Mactan will open its Azure Pool Bar at Poolside. The resto-bar will serve a la carte dishes, which consists of lots of grills, salads and sandwiches all day long, and shall be holding a Happy Hour from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
– to be continued –
