Ral's

My first experience at Ral's was actually last year. I could not really forget that one because I was so upset with the PhP 50 coffee they served me. Anyway, I enjoyed my one platter French fries. I didn't avail the buffet service because I was full that time but my friends who were with me said that some of their dishes were awful. I never thought I would be able to convince myself to go there again but I was wrong.

We went there last Saturday and the second chance that I gave Ral's was worth it. Bulalo was heated and I got three bowls of soup and took a small bite of the meat. It was good. The other dishes, fried fish fillet, beef steak, calderetang manok, (oh I forgot the others) were just okay. The desserts were really good so I took as many as I could especially fruit salad and leche flan. Their place was spacious and the accommodation was really good. I felt special treatment from them maybe because they had only four customers that night. There was a tv there and we watched Liga BBWA with Real Madrid and Barcelona teams as players. My cousin and I were also able to avail their wi-fi and there was no charge.

Even if Ral's isn't that great in terms of food compared to other great restaurants in the city, I felt something magical that night. The way the food were cooked was just like the way we did way back home. The ambiance... The tranquility... The warmness... And all the other elements present in that place made me feel I was at home. I guess that power to make us feel at home is the most essential factor every restaurant must consider. I felt grateful even if they gave me that feeling unintentionally.

Ral's restaurant does not have a wide selection for their buffet. Chafing dishes are not heated and there's nothing special on their food. They also charge Php50/hour for electricity usage and minimum food purchase of Php 250 to avail of their non-existent wi-fi. All these they tell you only after you've settled in. Disappointing service, plus they don't have a venue where customers can give feedback.

We tried ral's for lunch last month. They do have a buffet for P299 or P399 I forgot and they have a soup, 5 entrees and a dessert and it comes with a bottomless iced tea. I tried their misua soup and its a so-so dish. then their adobong liempo have lots of fats, while their boneless daing na bangus is like a leftover from their breakfast. Somehow their orange chicken is good while their pinakbet is bad, the vegetables were overcooked and it doesn't have bagoong, geesh! Their dessert that time is buko pandan which is not cold nor chilled.

Now it explains why it is not that crowded during lunch time though the place is spacious. They have an area for those who want to perform on their little stage.