Description: we wanted to eat at ka lui the day we arrived at puerto princesa. it was when we were right at the doorsteps of ka lui did we find out that they were closed on sundays. on our second try, we were 30 minutes early and no reservations. we forgot that they opened at 6PM and that reservations were actually recommended. fortunately, the staff allowed us in. there were still some available tables.
again, we were asked to remove our footwear upon entering the main restaurant.
true enough, the best seats in the house were already reserved. so it really is best to call before going to the restaurant. it is quite famous with the tourists. people start coming in droves by 630PM.
the place was adorned with the various artworks, most of which had fish for their subject. from batik to ceramic plates to windchimes and japanese lights. while there were other interesting subjects for the artwork, the fish ones were the most numerous
sculptures and artistic lamps adorned the interiors of ka lui. fresh fruits also served as additional decor.
they had quite a selection of meals, especially seafood, to choose from. my husband and i decided on their Ka Lui Special which was good for two people at only P375 (exclusive of vat and service charge). based on what was on their menu, it was actually value for money. we get have clam soup, lato (that seaweed that looks like grapes), stir-fried vegetables, fish cordon bleu, grilled tuna, garlic-buttered prawns and fresh fruits sprinkled with muscovado sugar. the food was great! the fish was definitely fresh and i particularly enjoyed the fish cordon bleu and prawns. the muscuvado sugar brought me (and jan) back to our childhood memories of the sugar. mmmmm... good and satisfying meal it was! and my avocado shake was delicious. mmmmm....
what i was most fascinated with, however, was the bathroom. i actually went back there just to take photos because it was just so well-thought off and unique. the sink was made of hard wood shaped in your usual bowl. the floor was made of wood instead of tiles. the door had a small hole when vacant. once somebody uses it, the lock to the door would close the hole up to indicate it was occupied. the hand dryer was the most environmentally-friendly i have every seen, too. it was a loooooooooong strip of cloth the width of a paper towel. users can wipe their hands then just drag it down to a little bucket below, which means it can be just washed over and over. no trees hurt in the making of that hand dryer.
among the three restaurants we ate in, ka lui is my favorite. not only was it a gastronomic feast, it was also a visual and sensual experience.
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