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It’s another family Sunday, and most of us were anticipating another afternoon of family fun and good food after church. This time, our family decided to have lunch at Punot Restaurant Iloilo. It is a seafood and Ilonggo restaurant located along Esplanade Boardwalk, Diversion Road, Iloilo City. Before our visit, I had already seen a travel show featuring the food in this restaurant. The food looked rather appetizing, and it got me really curious and excited, so we didn’t spend much time considering other places at this time.

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How to Get to Punot Restaurant Iloilo

If you want to try this restaurant, it’s quite easy to get there. From SM City, drive out of the mall’s driveway to Diversion Rd. Go towards the direction of the Iloilo River, but make sure to turn right onto Donato Pison Ave. At the roundabout, take the third exit to Pacencia T. Pison Ave. and follow the street until you reach the parking area of Smallville. You’ll find yourself in front of Punot, Iloilo, after approximately a five-minute drive, about 1.6 kilometers. It is one of the restaurants situated along the Boardwalk.

Map: Check here to view the direction from your location.

Punot Restaurant Iloilo: Ambiance and Services

My husband and I were the first ones to arrive at the place. The rest of the family was still on their way. I liked the ambiance and the consistency of the native decor with the theme of the restaurant. The first-level tables were occupied. We continued to the second level and took the secluded spot near the terrace door. It is overlooking the Iloilo River and has a more relaxed and private setting. Already famished as the church service ended late, we didn’t waste any more time and started ordering food.

We had some questions on the menu, and the staff were very friendly and happily answered our queries. They demonstrated familiarity with the food they offer. Approximately twenty minutes later, just in time as the rest of the family members came in, the waiter started bringing out our food.

Punot Restaurant Iloilo: Menu and Food Taste

I know… I should’ve taken some photos of Punot’s menu. This totally slipped my mind as I was so ‘hangry’ already. Anyways, still, here are some of the foods we ordered.

Pomelo Balingon Green Salad

First to be served was the Pomelo Balingon Green Salad with cashew nuts and vinaigrette (See main photo above). The lettuce leaves were healthy green, and the combination of their ingredients was perfect. The presentation, with all its colors, was pleasing to the eyes. The taste was a balanced burst of fresh, sour, nutty, and salty. I liked it very much that I would consider ordering this again whenever I get the chance. Ten more minutes of chitchat while enjoying the salad appetizer and the rest of the food started coming out of the kitchen.

Seafood ala Punot

We ordered Seafood ala Punot with rice. This offered various seafood: fish, squid, and shrimp, marinated and grilled with lemon butter sauce. I preferred the fish meat to have retained more of its juices with a generous serving of lemon butter sauce. This was a tad bit of a disappointment and didn’t really stand out for me.

Chicken Stew with Pigeon Peas aka Kadios

Next to arrive was the hot and delightful Chicken Stew with Pigeon Peas, aka Kadios. It was similarly cooked like Ilonggo’s KBL (kadios, baboy, langka) garnished with green pepper. This was the husband’s favorite. This stew was warm, comforting, and reminded us of home in the province, just an elevated resto version.

Callos ni Erving

We also had the delicious Callos ni Erving. This was a dish of tender tripe cut into strips and cooked with olives, sausages, and native tomatoes. Every bite was so flavorful, especially with the olives, and the tripe was so tender, I can’t get enough. This was everybody’s favorite.

Sizzling Indong

We had another dish of seafood, the Sizzling Indong. It offered cutlets of eel and other seafood sautéd in chilies and different spices. This dish didn’t really stand out for me and I also didn’t notice anyone from the family liking it very much. Safe to say the other dishes overpowered it, that it became forgettable, and didn’t leave a lasting impression.

Turon Sticks

For dessert, we had Turon Sticks, a combination of banana and jackfruit wrapped and fried to perfection. It was served with a special sweet sauce. And to go with our food, we ordered Red Iced Tea and Cucumber Calamansi Juice, both were very good and refreshing.

Punot’s presentation and plating were overall wonderful. It was like eating out of a food magazine, all pleasant to the eyes. Additionally, the servings of most dishes were for 2-3 people.

Punot Restaurant Iloilo: Price and Value for Money

Punot was clean, relaxing, and unwavering in its native Ilonggo theme. The service crew were smiling, welcoming, and offered great service. The preparation and wait time were satisfactory given the freshness, presentation, and taste of the food served. And for all of it, we paid around Php 2,400. Considering the cost, Punot is a place that can cater to middle to upper middle classes who can afford to pay for good ambiance, great food, and excellent service.

Overall Rating

Punot was a great place, hence deserving of a high score. However, my 5 Stars is still on reserved as there were still areas of improvement when it comes to the place and the food. No doubt, though, Punot is definitely one of the most promising restaurants Iloilo City should be proud of having.

Check out: Review: Choobi Choobi Seafood Restaurant, Iloilo City, Philippines