I make it a point to worship on the sunny shores of Bora at least twice a year (more if I’m lucky) and every time I go I always find something new and fun to do, whether it be the time I found a shop that I’ve since dubbed my favorite sarong shop, or the time I first tried riding the flying fish (it’s awesome!), or any quiet time I have to enjoy every new sunset and listen to the waves, or just eating in all of my "must-eats" on the island. Boracary is often called the island of hedonistic delight, gastronomically speaking, it’s a taste bud wonderland!
I’ve come to grow and love many of the restaurants on my pristine paradise from the original and as yet unbeatable shakes and vegetable soup at Jonah’s to the unforgettable delectable calamansi muffins of Real Coffee. I always have to fast weeks before arriving just to balance the amount of weight I’m sure to gain. Over the last few years, as the number of establishments have doubled on the sunny shores, I’ve found more and more reasons to wake up at the crack of dawn – so I can have three meals each day (or more! Oh diet, here I come!) What’s more, the plethora of cuisine is really quite diverse and you’re sure to find something to satiate your hunger whether it’s Italian, Filipino, Mexican, Indian, or Portuguese. The thrill is always in the discovery.
Over the New Year, on yet another yearly trek to my little heaven I came across another delicious reason to indulge my appetite in Bora. Tucked away in D’Mall, my newest favorite place to eat attracts customers day and night making it one of the most packed establishments on the island. Its whitewashed walls and cozy exteriors are appealing to the eyes as much as its mouth-watering cuisine is appealing to the stomach. It’s the newest hit in Boracay and it’s called Cyma, the island’s delightful salute to delectable Greek cuisine.
Cyma, a concept by Nino Zulueta and Robby Goco, literally means to grow and flourish and is the driving inspiration for the enterprise. It’s about more than just delicious Greek food (and oh yes, it is quite scrumptious!) it’s about the entire Greek experience and about bringing people together over delicious recipes and delectable food. A tall order indeed but one that Cyma is filling quite admirably! From the moment we walked in to the wonderfully friendly environment to the moment we left filled to the brim with some of the best cuisine I’ve ever tasted, it was a fabulous experience that greatly mirrored what Boracay is all about. Relaxation, delight, pleasure. Even at the risk of sounding cheesy, I can seriously say, it lived up to its objective of starting out with great food and going beyond by nurturing the soul and the spirit.
Which isn’t to say the food isn’t worth mentioning because seriously one column is not enough to say how amazing their dishes are. Even before I finally managed to grab a free table there, several of my good friends we’re already telling me that Cyma’s head chef, Robby Goco, was the chef with the golden touch. Known for Tequila Joe’s addicting menu when it first opened, friends and customers can’t seem to get enough of Robby’s incredible recipes, and this case is no different. An outstanding Greek chef, Robby trained in one of the oldest restaurants in Greece under an accomplished culinary grandmother who barely spoke a word of English. The language problem proved to be no barrier though as Robby was not at all lost in translation and expertly produces his own version of delicious Greek treats right on our local shores. Some of my favorites worth mentioning include (well to be honest, everything on the table that day) flaming cheese on pita bread, yummy chicken Gyros, unbelievable Greek roasted potatoes, tender souvlakis, their own scrumptious Greek burger, and the incredible addictive moussaka. Their ultimate iced tea (an original version of a traditional staple) is also another favorite.
What makes these already delicious recipes even better is the quickness and efficiency of Cyma’s kitchen. Casting aside the grudgingly accepted norm of Boracay food taking forever to be served, Cyma made it a point to set up a fast and effective kitchen that is the first of its kind on the island. Completely modern and up-to-date, the kitchen facilities make it easy for the well-trained staff to churn out orders with unbelievable speed and allows Cyma to be one of the restaurants on the island that can serve your food in record time. Put that along with their wonderful food and you know you’ve got a winning combination.
I know for a fact that I’m not the only one who thinks so. Even before its official grand opening last Dec. 28, 2005, Cyma was already known for being full to overflowing with customers. But even though offers have already begun pouring in to put up another branch, Cyma’s owners are content with just perfecting their system before expansion (for the moment).
"We’ve really been grateful with the wonderful response," Nino Zulueta shares of Cyma’s instant success. "We wanted to put together a restaurant that offers more than just good food and I truly believe we’ve accomplished that. The entire concept of good food and great island ambience are part of what make Cyma truly unique. The portions are large and the food is fast. The entire experience is holistic." I couldn’t have put it better myself!