WonderWanderland

One late, boring afternoon, the hubby and I decided to go on a road trip. Driven by our craving for seafood, the hour-long road trip brought us to Alma’s Grill and Restaurant along Baybay beach in Roxas City.

When in Manila, it would be easy to take a 20-minute drive to our favorite restaurant or nearest mall, but being in the province limits our possible destinations to only a few. At first, we thought of going to a nearby inland resort, but changed our minds a few minutes into the drive and decided to continue driving. By the time we arrived in Roxas City, it was almost 8 pm, so we decided to fulfill our seafood cravings before driving back home.

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How to Get to Alma’s Grill and Restaurant

Alma’s Grill and Restaurant is located along Baybay Beach in Roxas City. Along Arnaldo Boulevard, drive towards the direction of the beach, follow the road, and turn left. Alma’s Grill is on the right side of the road, clustered together with other restaurants along the seashore.

Click here for directions to Alma’s Grill and Restaurant in Roxas City

Alma’s Grill and Restaurant’s Location and the Ambiance

I was considering a restaurant that would allow us to enjoy the seaside atmosphere. Alma’s Grill’s location was not hard to find, yet the actual structure didn’t stand out, as it is in a long building with other similar seafood restaurants. One thing I liked about it, though, is the openness from the road – no glass windows, so expect to enjoy the sea breeze. It looked bright, casual, and welcoming.

When we got to our table, it was already dark, so we could only hear the waves splashing on the coastline. There were also hammocks that guests could use to relax while enjoying and viewing the sea. This was one of the things I liked about the place; it made me feel relaxed. Aside from us, there were also several guests occupying a few other tables.

Alma’s Grill and Restaurant’s Service and Food

The Staff and the Service

The person behind the food counter, taking orders, was accommodating. You choose what you want, let them know how you want it cooked, and they will prepare it for you. A staff member also took additional orders as we sat and waited at our table.

Considering that they only cook and prepare the food after we ordered – except for some skewered half-cooked meat – , the average waiting time was acceptable. The food started coming out after 15 – 20 minutes of waiting.

The Food and Flavors

This restaurant offers various kinds of seafood, such as fish, seashells, squids, seaweeds, crabs, and prawns. There were also grilled meats, mostly pork and various parts of chicken, ready to cook.

First to come out was the ’lato’ salad. It’s a dish of fresh seaweed, served with tomatoes, carrots, and cucumber, accompanied by vinegar, soy sauce, and onions. This combo of fresh seaweed and raw vegetables is a must-try if you would like to enjoy a crispy salad appetizer with a sprinkle of natural salty goodness.

Next is the red egg salad with tomatoes, onions, and cucumber. A typical red egg salad, nothing extraordinary. Then came the pork “liempo” and squid, both perfectly grilled and served straight to the plate.

The plating included a banana leaf. As expected, the grilled “liempo” and squid were still juicy and moist. It went well with the red egg salad and soft drinks. Wondering though if it’s because I was so hungry that everything tasted delicious! The seaweed salad was fresh, just the right amount of salty, and naturally crisp. I love that they were generous with the salad vegetables, though I would have preferred much riper tomatoes.

Just one thing, we waited a little bit for our last dish. After a follow-up halfway through our meal, they served the baked mussels. I expected to enjoy it with cheese, olive oil, and garlic, considering the time we waited for it. It was only served with butter and garlic, which was disappointing. We decided not to let it ruin our night and emptied our plates.

Alma’s Grill and Restaurant’s Value for Money

We paid around Php 580 for our dinner. That’s for the five dishes with 3 servings of rice and 1.5 L of soft drinks. Not bad, right?

The place was a typical casual grill and restaurant with lots of dining tables. One thing I like is the hammocks available for the customers to use. For sure, it would be lovely to enjoy the food with the relaxing sound of the waves, facing the beach, while the sun is still up. A perfect treat to the senses. The service initially was good, but my final rating was affected by the super-late-baked mussels. Food plating was average. For the food flavor, I enjoyed most of the dishes except for the baked mussels. All things considered, our overall experience was not bad, so we might come back for another seafood fix.

My Rating: Alma’s Grill and Restaurant

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