Ipar's Restaurante y Bar de Tapas: "Ole!"

Rating:	★★★
Category:	Restaurants
Cuisine:	Spanish
Location:	Ramos Street, Cebu City, Philippines

I pandered to my dad's liking for Spanish cuisine and told him I'd treat him to dinner on his 84th birthday. I got a little bit worried - admittedly, it has been ages since I've visited any Spanish restaurants or partook of Spanish cuisine while in Cebu City. But Fate was kind enough to give me a hand on my dad's birthday.

I discovered this restaurant by accident earlier that day when I dropped by a bank - the MBTC Ramos Branch. I saw it when I came whooshing out the door. Intrigued, as I'd never seen it in previous visits, I crossed the road, and although it was still officially closed, asked to be let in. I checked out and liked the interior. So I decided on the spur of the moment to have dinner here and ordered ahead their specialties like paella de la casa and my dad's usual lengua estofado (they may have called it estofada).

For my mom, I had to choose between fish de encebollada (pescado de encebollada - choice white fish topped with a heap of onions) and pescador salsa verde (it looked pretty delish with its green parsley sauce). I said I'd try the latter the next time I visit.

Since my weakness is dessert, I had to order their leche flan and all I can say is that it was the best so far that I've tasted in Cebu City! ...or anywhere else for that matter...

As for the other selections, I liked their version of lengua - very tender and the sauce was worth a slurp and a dribble on my potatoes and rice. But I honestly much prefer the version in Beehive Restaurant before it got changed (different chef, different flavor) - that is for another visit and review.

Maybe it is because I use salt once in a blue moon whenever I cook - but I felt that with the exception of the lengua, all their dishes were a bit too salty.

They are not stingy with their ingredients, which by the way originate mostly from Spain (olive oil, spices,coffee) but my mom and I had to squint a little bit due to too much salt (I learned later Chef Ipar uses rock salt when cooking).

My dad and the friendly manager Ms. Vina had a nice long chat that afternoon - we were all surprised because there used to be a regal white house (more like a mansion) on the lot where the restaurant and bar stands today. But aforementioned house was still there at the back of the resto, and it seemed my dad knew or was acquainted with the old family in these parts, the Moras (?). I didn't pay attention to how it got related to the Miranda family - of which the the chef and owner of the restaurant originates from. My dad was born sandwiched between WWI and WWII, he may have rubbed shoulders with the older pre-war generation.

If you are hankering for some Spanish cuisine when in Cebu, this is worth at least one visit - not only for a taste of their food, but for the decor if you like looking around and querying about the history of the items they placed on display. If you love sweets, don't forget to taste their leche flan!


Contact Point:
157 F. Ramos Street, Cebu City, Cebu 6000
Telephone: (032) 410-7727
[Warning: This may not be updated regularly by reviewer.]

How to Get There:
If you are coming down Ramos Street from Robinson's Department Store, pass the Kan-Irag Hotel and Velez Hospital. Continue on until you see the Diplomat Hotel, which will be on the right side of Ramos Street. This is quite near already so slow down a bit until you see the Metrobank Ramos Branch on the same side of the street. Ipar's will be slightly across this bank building.