Food Finds: 10 Dove St. One of ‘Hidden’ Restaurants in Cebu

There are many good restaurants in Cebu, and today being it Titus birthday we decided to check out a restaurant that I’ve been to 10 plus years ago, and one he wants to dine at because I’ve told him it is not crowded as most of the good restaurants in Cebu are.

10 Dove St – A Cebu Restaurant

This restaurant is one of those best kept ‘secret’ restos of Cebu – 10 Dove Street. A specialty restaurant without an official signage, you can find this restaurant in yes 10 dove st. inside Sto Nino Village in Banilad, Cebu City, a bit out-of-the-way from the ‘it’ places.

How to go to 10 Dove Street?

It is easy to go there even if you commute via jeepney. You can make Ayala Center Cebu your reference and from there ride a 13C or a 62B or any jeepney with “Talamban” signboard. Sto Nino Village is a few meters before University of San Carlos – Talamban Campus, fare from Ayala is just 7.50 per person. Once you arrived in Sto Nino Village, you can walk to the restaurant – it’s a bit of a long walk though, maybe about 10 minutes tops from the village gate that is why some opt to ride a taxi to this Cebu restaurant. If you have a vehicle then you are in luck as you don’t have to walk.

My Cebu Restaurant Review – 10 Dove Street

What makes this Cebu restaurant different?

This restaurant in Cebu is unique in many ways. For one, it does not have any signage at all, it challenges the popular business notion that “A business without a sign is a sign of no business”. By word of mouth and pen pushing, Cebuanos and visitors find this restaurant in Banilad.

I just graduated from high school when my friend Micmic who is from Sto Nino Village brought me, Limbee and Yehyen to this hidden specialty restaurant, and I know one day I will be back on a date and yep I was today ^_^

 Second reason why it’s unique is that it is a small restaurant with just seven tables – four tables for 4, two tables for 2, and one round table for group of 6, hence, it is an intimate setting – great for casual and group dates or when you are just feeling hungry and looking for food variety. The ambience is relax and intimate.  😀

Small and intimate setting with  relax ambience @10 Dove Street

When you are planning to visit this restaurant in Cebu past 6pm, it might be better to call for reservations just to be sure you have seats left when you get there, their telephone number is (032) 3460618.

Third reason why one goes to 10 Dove St is for their set meals, you can choose from their varied selections of (1) sandwiches, sausages or pasta, (2) salads, (3) soups, and (4) cakes. They have one price for all their set meals, you can mix and mash from their selections for just P190.00/set and you just need to add P30 to P45 for softdrinks, juices or coffee.

My thoughts and experiences on this resto

If you want to enjoy a good meal with a good ambience and away from the crowds, then go for this restaurant. Eating here is a different experience and it starts with the choosing of your set. You will have fun checking out their menu and picking your choices.

10 Dove St. menu is very varied and some options come with funky names like Taj Mahal and Mama Mia. For sandwiches they have pork, beef, chicken, seafood including fish and yep, sausages too.  I super love their salads! There are also many choices for soups and 2 to 3 choices for cakes.

Although I have to say I did not feel fulfilled in the same way that I feel fulfilled after eating a full plate with rice, that maybe because I am totally a ‘rice person’ and favors those which are savory and spicy dishes, but I leave the restaurant feeling so full, which is a good thing. And well it is a specialty restaurant with sandwiches as best sellers and main offerings, so I can’t complain, right?

Soup – Hmm I ordered cream of squash, sadly I was disappointed, it did not taste creamy at all. And Titus also did not like his French Onion soup. I rate it 3 of 5 stars.

Cream of Squash Soup

Salad – Love it! I had Harvest Apple Salad and Titus had Salad Primavera. The ingredients were so fresh and I love the dressing. Yummy! Definitely 5 stars!!!

Harvest Apple Salad @ 10 Dove St.

My harvest apple salad had apple cubes, grapes, walnuts, marshmallows and raisins (salad serving was enough for 2 persons I think.) Titus’ salad has fresh lettuce, mango, slices of tomatoes, chicken strips and with yoghurt and mayo dressing.

Green Leafy Salad Primavera

After my soup and salad, I was already so full  that I only ate half of my sandwich.

Sandwiches – Mine was pork ranch roast and Titus had roast beef. He said that his roast beef sandwich was tasty but the bread was a little soggy due to the drippings from the filling (it’s excusable). Mine was okay but not that spectacular though.

Pork Ranch Roast

Cake – I had of course a chocolate cake, the restaurant called it ‘decadence’ cake, a very apt name. Titus had the fruit medley cake. The cakes were moist, rich and delectable and since I am not really a cake person while Titus is (and it is his birthday), I just took a few bites to taste and lets him eat the rest. Actually I couldn’t eat more because I really finished off my salad and some of Titus too lol.

Decadent cakes in this hidden Cebu resto

So anyhow, will I make an official Penfires recommendation for 10 Dove Street as a good place to get good food in Cebu? Yes! It’s good dining and the service is superb! Go there especially if you haven’t been to 10 Dove St and yah bring along a date and be assured that you are away from preying eyes and boisterous crowd 🙂

p.s. Happy Birthday birthday boy! Love you @fieldtripboy.com