A Cowboy's Appetite

CEBU, Philippines – Concept restaurants have become quite common these days, especially serving distinct cuisines. There's Japanese restaurant here, Thai restaurant there, and Korean, Indian, Persian and others as well. Of course, there's also the Filipino restaurant, Chinese restaurant, seafood restaurant etc.

It's a nice idea, no doubt. Whatever the specific food craving at the time, one can simply go to the place that serves the particular type of food desired. But what if it's the whole family dining out, or a whole group of friends, with different cravings for a meal?

Well, fortunately, there are also concept restaurants that serve a variety of meals, not strictly sticking to just one culinary type. These places have distinct concepts, notwithstanding. A good example is Rodeo Grill, at the third level of SM City Cebu, a new dining place that's creating quite a rave among the city's foodies.

As the name itself suggests, Rodeo Grill has a cowboy motif. The interior design clearly conveys a "cowboy" atmosphere, appropriately matched by the uniform of the service crew and the house music. It's a grill place - strongly hinting of ranch stuff - but not all the gustatory treats one finds there is grilled.

The current bestseller, though, is the Sgt. Peppers Sizzler, steak that comes with wonderful house-specialty gravy, with vegetables and a cup of rice on the side. The meat is so tender and, interestingly, so juicy too - not to mention the exquisite flavor. Interesting, because usually meat so tender is drained of its juices in the process of tenderizing. 

There are vegetable dishes, noodles, salmon soup, and a winner version of the famous Cebu lechon belly.  The "cowboy" image of Rodeo Grill is actually to suggest that diners can have a really relaxed and comfortable time there - over really good meal. There's no need for the rigidity required at most fine dinners elsewhere.

It's no wonder that the 150-seater Rodeo Grill at SM City Cebu is filled up to about 70 percent on average days - and to overflowing on weekends. Whole families come, and group of friends as well. It's the same scene at its branch along Archbishop Reyes Avenue, beside Elizabeth Hotel.

But, as the cliché goes: "The taste of the pudding is in the eating." No words are enough to describe an experience, especially taste. Great dining has come to the mall - there's now no excuse to miss it. Rodeo Grill is ready for any cowboy's appetite!