During the time I visited Boracay and stayed at Boracay Mandarin Island Hotel, I was faced with a grain of truth that I hold on to as a foodie; Don Vito Ristorante Italiano is one of the restaurants one should not missed when in Boracay. Awarded as one of The Best Restaurants of 2011 by the Philippine Tatler, Don Vito serves authentic Italian dishes in the beautiful Island where most beautiful and enjoyable experiences are bound to happen.
Several meal time spent at Don Vito Ristorante Italiano during
our short Boracay stint led us into savoring some of the best sellers
that the restaurant could offer. With the cornucopia of flavors that
was laid for us, it was a gastronomical overdrive meant to be remembered
and savored.
Despite the tiring travel and being pressed for time to make the most out of our short stay, a welcome note indicating that we are on for a delicious welcome lunch was enough to set the thought of resting aside and head on to the hotel's award winning in-house restaurant, Don Vito Ristorante Italiano. After all, we are scheduled for a relaxing spa that afternoon, so why not treat our palate first?
Our first meal at Don Vito was spent at their outdoor dining area in front of the restaurant facing the immaculate Boracay beach. The weather was perfect and beautiful and there couldn't be more apt way to start our gastronomical journey at Don Vito than the parade of refreshingly filling dishes which reminds us that we are indeed in one of the most beautiful beaches in the country.
WELCOME LUNCH
Papaya Shrimp Boat (Php 350)
Combination of fresh papaya, prawns, peppermint jelly with shrimp, lemon juice, brandy, and yogurt. Pairings of fresh ingredients which can be considered to be unlikely but worked perfectly well in exuding a refreshingly filling feat meant to be savored.
The salads that were served to us were already a treat by the appearance alone, but the taste made it all the more lovely.
Grilled Chicken Caesar Salad (Php 330)
Thick slices of perfectly grilled chicken made the rather simple Caesar salad interesting in terms of added texture and flavor. A serving comes with focaccia bread for a more filling kick.
Chef Salad (Php 250)
Combination of fresh selected greens topped with slices of Swiss cheese, ham, and boiled eggs. Also served with focaccia bread and choices of dressing.
Classic Spaghetti with Meatballs (Php 360)
This Don Vito's version meatball spaghetti is downright classic with an interesting flair brought about by the slices of boiled egg on top. I haven't thought that adding egg on my spaghetti could result into such pleasing dish which is a beautiful bend from the usual.
Linguini Carbonara (Php 320)
This one pasta dish of freshly cooked egg noodle tossed in creme of garlic and shallots made all the more flavorful with double smoked bacon, green onions, and Parmesan cheese is one of the best I ever had considering I am big when it comes to pasta dishes. The double smoked bacon I must say, serve as it crown for the flavor that was beautifully executed exudes the smokiness of the bacon that blends perfectly well with everything on the dish.
Fettuccine Don Vito (Php 330)
Another pasta dish I now consider as one of my favorites. The combination of sun dried tomatoes, sliced mushrooms, and chunks of grilled chicken breast went perfectly well, while the aromatic herb and spices tossed in for a good measure, it could only spell perfection.
Don Vito is known as the best place on the island where you can find an authentic hand-tossed pizza baked in traditional brick oven so my expectation was really high for that matter. Good thing that it was met and even exceeded as we get to try three different variants worth raving about.
Giardinera Pizza ( Family 14" Php 410 / Large 11" Php 330)
This is Don Vito's vegetarian pizza which is a combination of tomato sauce, mozzarella, grilled eggplant, asparagus, bell pepper, zucchini, onions, tomato, and fresh basil. I am not crazy about vegetarian dishes but this one just hit the bulls eye that it ended as my favorite among the three that was served to us.
Islander's Pizza (Family 14" Php 435 / Large 11" Php 350)
Hawaiian style pizza topped with pineapples, ham, shrimp, tomato sauce, mozzarella cheese, Romano cheese, chopped Basil leaves, oregano, red pepper flakes, and olive oil. I am never crazy about pizza which has pineapple on it, but I was able to try this one for the sake of experience, and felt okay with it. I love that it has two kinds of cheeses which made it up for the pineapple I would rather not have on my pizza. While it didn't played my favorite, it was worth the try.
Don Vito's Special (Family 14" Php 430 / Large 11" Php 350)
Tagged as the godfather of all pizza, generous toppings of tomato sauce, diced ham, sliced fresh tomatoes, pepperoni, mushroom, and mozzarella cheese nestled on freshly made thin crust is what this pizza is all about. There couldn't be more apt name for this pizza than the one it carries for it exudes perfect combination of everything which made up a perfect pizza experience one can have.
After the hearty feast of dishes the dessert comes next which went well with the perfect hot sunny weather at that time. The refreshing servings of sweets constantly reminds us where we are at that time.
Don Vito Gelato (Php 100)
The very first thing that you will notice as you go inside Don Vito is the Gelato corner which boast of authentic Italian gelato of different variants. My friend D and opted to share servings of Ferrero Chocolate Gelato and the Ricotta cheese variants. I had high hopes on the Ricotta cheese but it was the chocolate which got me swooning.
Season's Fruit Platter (Php 300)
Two platters of fruits in season sealed the welcome lunch and the very first meal we had at Don Vito. Innately sweet slices of fruits were very refreshing and not to mention, pleasing to the eyes too.
The welcome lunch at Don Vito was a knock out it made a very good impression to me which in return made me excited for the dinner time and the next meals ahead.
DINNER AT THE AMBASSADOR SUITE
Our dinner was held at Boracay Mandarin Island Hotel's Ambassador Suite for a more private settings. As expected, variety of delectable dishes were served that made the night all the more exciting as it already is.
DINNER AT THE AMBASSADOR SUITE
Our dinner was held at Boracay Mandarin Island Hotel's Ambassador Suite for a more private settings. As expected, variety of delectable dishes were served that made the night all the more exciting as it already is.
The appetizer for the night were generous servings of Shrimp Cocktail (Php 250) which is a large gulf of shrimp served sold and crisp with a crispy cocktail sauce and lemon, and Rock Oyster Supremo (Php 250) a serving of 12 pieces of baked fresh oyster topped with mozzarella cheese, grits of bacon, herbs, and spices. Both dishes were enough to whet our appetite and got us prepared for good things to come as the dinner progress.
Pepper Steak 12oz. (Php 1,400)
All steaks served at Don Vito are certified U.S. black Angus Beef and are served with your choice of french fries, mashed potatoes, buttered vegetables, or rice. The Pepper Steak that was served to us was one of the highlights of the evening for me. It was perfectly grilled served with peppercorn mushroom sauce.
Homemade Bread and Butter
All bread served at Don Vito are homemade hence, the freshness is very apparent. I love that they served us variety of breads during the dinner.
Boracay Island Harvest Chowder (Php 100)
Can I just say that Don Vito's Boracay Island Harvest Chowder was one of the best soup I ever had for such a long time? It was! The refreshing flavor of seafood went perfectly well with the sweetness of corn soup. I love its thick and grainy texture that suggested of the ingredients mashed together to create something one would long for anytime of the day.
Jumbo Prawns Neptune (Php 450)
Prawn meat sauteed in butter, shallots, young coconut meat, herb Pernod wine. This dish was good option for those who wants seafood dish with unique flair. The coconut shred incorporated with the dish lends an interesting note to it.
Parmesan Crusted Sword Fish (Php 295)
Grilled fresh swordfish fillet topped with creamy Parmesan sauce. I fell in love with the creamy sauce on top of this dish. It compliments the fillet of fish with its silky texture.
Tiramisu Ala Don Vito (Php 150)
Don Vito's own rendition of traditional Italian dessert made of lady fingers dipped in espresso coffee, layered with rich mix of brandy, creme and mascarpone cheese, garnished with chocolate powder and mint leaves.
This dessert went well with a cup of coffee. Not too sweet nor overpowering, it has just the right amount of sweetness meant to seal a wonderful dinner.
The dinner at the hotel's Ambassador Suite couldn't be more perfect as a way to end the rather eventful day in Boracay. The next morning started with a breakfast buffet at Don Vito, but since it is not my intention to assault you with too much information and loads of food porn, I will reserve that for yet another post.
LUNCH BY THE POOL SIDE
The last meal we had at Don Vito was spent by the pool side. It was a hot and sunny afternoon and the restaurant was buzzing with diners waiting for their turn to savor hearty lunch. We were given an hour and a half to finished our lunch so that we would not missed our flight back to Manila. It was a short time considering I am used to long leisurely lunch because I eat slow, but it did not hinder me from enjoying the lunch with yet another feast of delectable dishes served by Don Vito.
Mozzarella Cheese Sticks (Php 180)
Breaded fresh mozzarella sticks on a bed of fresh green salad. All mozzarella sticks tasted just the same to me, but the salad helped in taking this dish a notch higher.
Exotic Mandarin Salad (Php 300)
Of the many salads Don Vito served us, this one remains on top of my list. Crisp iceberg lettuce, carrots, cucumber, mandarin orange, tomatoes, grapes, and fresh mangoes topped with grilled chicken breast served with honey mustard and yogurt dressing.
Osso Bucco (Php 420)
Downright savory with fall-of-the-bone tenderness made this dish crave worthy even days after having it. It reminds me of the same dish cooked by my mother which is always a sure hit to my family. I must say that this dish alone is worth going back to Don Vito.
Grilled Island Herb Chicken (Php 295)
Marinated half chicken with a hint of thyme, basil, and tarragon served with mushroom gravy sauce. I love the tenderness of the chicken in every bite that excrete savory juices making me want a second helping for myself.
Il Wahoo Lemon (Php 295)
Fresh grilled tanigue fish served with lemon butter sauce. The fish was perfectly grilled making the distinct taste of tanigue very apparent, thus enjoyable. Although the lemon butter sauce tasted like pure butter to me, I find this dish still pleasing to the palate.
Spiced Pineapple
The last dessert we had was off the menu which was worth the try even if you are like me who is not really fond of pineapple. It's a cinnamon spiced pineapple topped with creme brulee with a scoop of vanilla ice cream on the side.
The short time we spent at Boracay was unforgettable not just because of its shortness but because of the hospitality we got from Boracay Mandarin Island Hotel. This experience was made all the more special because of the food that we feasted on courtesy of Don Vito Ristorante Italiano.
I cannot remember a single dish which I did not like despite being served with some which uses ingredients I normally wouldn't enjoy. Authentic Italian dishes served with flair of sophistication in a very affordable price is something that this restaurant is really good at, hence it should not be missed by foodies and non-foodies alike.
There are hundreds of reason why I will always long to go back to Boracay and Don Vito is definitely one of them. Truth be told, dining at Don Vito whenever you are in Boracay is something I would highly recommend.
Don Vito Ristorante Italiano
GF Boracay Mandarin Island Hotel
Beachfront Station 2,
Boracay Island, Aklan
Philippines
Website: http://www.boracaymandarin.com/donvito.php
Contact Numbers: +63 36 288 4999
+63 36 288 5999
GF Boracay Mandarin Island Hotel
Beachfront Station 2,
Boracay Island, Aklan
Philippines
Website: http://www.boracaymandarin.com/donvito.php
Contact Numbers: +63 36 288 4999
+63 36 288 5999
