T.G.I. Friday’s Cebu

So it’s been a while since I’ve been to Cebu as I’ve been at school, but when I came back, the Terraces was one of the major changes that told me Cebu was growing. That, and the new flyover spanning a section of the road from Banilad to Talamban, which didn’t really help eliminate heavy traffic.

The terraces is a great place to hang out on Sunday Mornings. Great for brunch and not crowded at all. There are actual surroundings to appreciate, with tall buildings towering around the area like watchtowers. It was like a mini-Greenbelt, with great food to boot.

We scored an invite to T.G.I. Fridays to participate in their dry run and evaluate. The place was packed with managers from Manila, enthusiastic waiters, curious guests, and really loud (but good) music. It was a while to get used to, the place was buzzing with energy. But, on to the food. I’ll let the pictures speak for themselves.

Buffalo wings with Celery & Bleu Cheese Dressing

Full-Sized Baby Back Ribs with Fries

Liempo with Java Rice

Jack Daniels Salmon with Rice Pilaf

Pina Colada

The service was great — staff was helpful, enthusiastic, and unabashedly flamboyant when the occasion called for it. T.G.I. Fridays is certainly an all-American establishment with the exception of the liempo dish. However, there were some flukes — like the ordered dishes going to another table instead — so they made up for it with a pina colada. Perhaps alcoholic to help calm down frazzled, and hungry guests. As for the food — while I enjoyed my salmon dish very much, my corn side dish was sour and I’m guessing rancid. The Baby Back Ribs did not absorb the marinade (Apple Barbecue Sauce) so it ended up bland. The Buffalo Wings appetizer was not as hot as I expected, but at that point we didn’t care. We were just happy to have a free dinner — besides, we were mere test bunnies while the restaurant was still ironing out its kinks. Filled us up fast.

Quality of service was definitely something T.G.I. Fridays works hard at, but I hope it fares well in a market that just wants its food fast and cheap. Nice touch with the addition of a Filipino dish but it doesn’t fail to remind us of all things good about America — superheroes and superstars, with all its pop culture memorabilia strewn around the place.

They had their first dry run today, but be sure to check them out on their grand opening on November 15th.