Today, I accompanied a friend who was on her last day vacation in Iloilo City with her family. Though I had plans on the usual tourist spots and eats, the unplanned one proved to be one of the most enjoyable. En route to Jaro Plaza, I decided that we take Jaro CPU Derecho jeepneys that will still ply its original route all the way to the domestic seaport to give them a glimpse of Calle Real and the Port area. Maybe it was their frustration of having cancelled their Guimaras trip the day before that made them excited upon seeing the sea and the island looming beyond that we made an impromptu stop at the ravaged and unattractive Fort San Pedro area.
After highly appreciating the views of Guimaras island and the sea, despite the uninviting "view deck", the need for a restroom gave us no choice but to visit Fort San Pedro Drive Inn. I can't remember the last time I've been actually inside since usually it's the views outside that is more inviting. Inside, it offers more good views of the sea and the island of Guimaras but the mediocre dining facilities they have don't make them appealing to tourists and even locals. I didn't even bother taking pictures of those chairs and tables in their various dining areas (which I now regret.)
Which made me think why the owners don't give a damn in making their restaurant appeal more to tourists and locals with discriminating taste? I mean Breakthrough and Tatoy's are much further away yet they are magnets to tourists, balikbayans and locals alike. Fort San Pedro Drive Inn can make this a 3-way fight between restaurants having a good view of the sea and Guimaras - if that appeals nonetheless on top of the food they serve.
Andnow on the subject of the food itself. It made me curious, the time I had lunch with friends at Esca's Garden Restaurant, seeing an item prominently displayed on the menu - Fort San Pedro Chicken Inasal. Described as "still the same recipe since 1963", it made me jumped into conclusion that this could be one of the best selling items of the Fort San Pedro Drive Inn. My research then sort of found a connection between Esca's and Fort San Pedro when I read this feature about Afrique's. Since Afrique's and Esca's are sister restaurant it tied both ends so to speak. But still I can't be sure of these facts though.
The chicken inasal tasted good enough but it was overwhelmed by the other food items on the table. And here's another chicken inasal that was quite spectacular that time - maybe I was just hungry.
So to end it all, I really wish this part of Iloilo City would be greatly improved, not on Fort San Pedro Drive Inn but the whole length of the seafront facing Guimaras for it will surely be an attraction to tourists and locals alike. And here's wishing for more gastronomical attractions in the area too!
After highly appreciating the views of Guimaras island and the sea, despite the uninviting "view deck", the need for a restroom gave us no choice but to visit Fort San Pedro Drive Inn. I can't remember the last time I've been actually inside since usually it's the views outside that is more inviting. Inside, it offers more good views of the sea and the island of Guimaras but the mediocre dining facilities they have don't make them appealing to tourists and even locals. I didn't even bother taking pictures of those chairs and tables in their various dining areas (which I now regret.)
Which made me think why the owners don't give a damn in making their restaurant appeal more to tourists and locals with discriminating taste? I mean Breakthrough and Tatoy's are much further away yet they are magnets to tourists, balikbayans and locals alike. Fort San Pedro Drive Inn can make this a 3-way fight between restaurants having a good view of the sea and Guimaras - if that appeals nonetheless on top of the food they serve.
Andnow on the subject of the food itself. It made me curious, the time I had lunch with friends at Esca's Garden Restaurant, seeing an item prominently displayed on the menu - Fort San Pedro Chicken Inasal. Described as "still the same recipe since 1963", it made me jumped into conclusion that this could be one of the best selling items of the Fort San Pedro Drive Inn. My research then sort of found a connection between Esca's and Fort San Pedro when I read this feature about Afrique's. Since Afrique's and Esca's are sister restaurant it tied both ends so to speak. But still I can't be sure of these facts though.
The chicken inasal tasted good enough but it was overwhelmed by the other food items on the table. And here's another chicken inasal that was quite spectacular that time - maybe I was just hungry.
So to end it all, I really wish this part of Iloilo City would be greatly improved, not on Fort San Pedro Drive Inn but the whole length of the seafront facing Guimaras for it will surely be an attraction to tourists and locals alike. And here's wishing for more gastronomical attractions in the area too!