Dining by the bay
Many childhood memories will probably flash back when you enter Harbor View Restaurant in Rizal Park. In the 1980s, this was the place where families would take the boat tour around Manila Bay on a weekend morning, followed by a hearty al fresco lunch at Harbor View.
Going to the restaurant was a treat in itself, as kids would prance on the planks along the way and marvel at the live sea creatures swimming in aquariums right at the entrance. Little did they know, of course, that some of those fish would end up on their table, forked and picked clean. We recall bumping into classmates and their families at the restaurant, with us wondering aloud if Manila had run out of places to eat.
Looking back, it’s hardly a surprise why the place was packed to the rafters back then. Not only was the food amazing, there was the atmosphere that made dining quite a unique experience.
Twenty-five years later, we can still say the same about Harbor View. Now considered a landmark in the area, Harbor View continues to draw everyone from heads of state to showbiz actors, from balikbayans to foreign tourists. Who would have guessed that Harbor View actually worked its way up to make this happen?
Harbor View director Sheila Dizon-Carlos tells us how her father, Demi Dizon, came up with the restaurant. “A lot of tourists were asking my dad where they could eat the best Filipino cuisine in Manila. He thought up a place where he could showcase the best of the Philippines,” she says.
Finding a site for Harbor View was a challenge, until her mother’s keen eye for opportunity saw an old warehouse by the bay. She remarks, “You wouldn’t think of it as a future restaurant. It was in the middle of nowhere. Some thought that people would not really go out of their way to eat here, but we saw its potential.”
Indeed, the first two years proved difficult, with few people being aware of Harbor View’s existence. But her father and his team pressed on. He would go to the market himself and stuff all the purchases and ingredients in their car, and then oversee the cooking process. As kids, Dizon and her siblings would help out in the kitchen.
True enough, their efforts paid off. Once the customers started coming in, they returned, usually with a new set of friends and families eager to find out what the buzz was about. Dizon-Carlos, a former Bb. Pilipinas-Tourism winner, shares, “It was basically through word of mouth. While they would usually order the best-sellers, they would be excited to try out some of our newer offerings. I think that’s why we have loyal clients. We keep their favorites and offer them new options.”
Through the years, Harbor View’s specialties have become legends in their own right. One simply cannot dine here without having his fill of crispy pata; live crabs cooked in garlic butter, steamed, curried, or stir-fried with a blend of spices; live lapu-lapu (grouper) steamed with the chef’s own oriental sauce; and the future classic, baby-back ribs. Or how about generous servings of fresh seafood, from garlic lobster to spicy prawns?
“At the end of the day, people will always come for the total dining experience. That is why we endeavor to give our guests value for their hard-earned money,” she says. “It also helps that our team is always inspired to deliver. I am proud to say that we have staff members who have remained with Harbor View for the past 15 years.”
Harbor View is adding another feather to its toque with the opening of Harbor View Bistro along San Miguel by the Bay in the Mall of Asia complex. Aside from their beloved menu, guests here can look forward to bands and fireworks displays on weekend nights. To go with this newest milestone, Harbor View is now offering catering services as well as international cuisine. It is also open for birthdays, weddings, baptisms, corporate events, and other occasions.
Teased that Harbor View is literally going places, Dizon-Carlos smiles, “We are proud of what our family has started here. We are not letting go of our desire to ensure quality for our customers. One lesson I learned is the importance of hard work because Harbor View did not happen overnight. When you have the dedication to serve your customers well, everything else follows.”
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Harbor View is located at South Gate A, Rizal Park (beside Ocean Park), Manila with telephone nos. 524-1532. Harbor View Bistro is at Building F, San Miguel By The Bay (behind Mall of Asia), Pasay City with telephone nos. 556-4953, 710-7309, and 09219808008.
