Painted Table (Canvas Hotel) - What Happened Last Night??

It was my first night back in Palawan, and I was looking forward to dinner. Will Dad cook something yummy? Will we dine out and try one of the newer restos in the city? But I guess the night was all planned out, because my brother knew exactly where he was driving towards - Painted Table Restaurant in Canvas Hotel.

It was a good choice, mind you. Good enough to make a prodigal son feel missed. We've dined here as a family before, and I remember raving about how good the food was. Friends have shared the same sentiments. I was ready to eat my heart out.

When the food arrived, one of the first questions that popped in our minds was "did they hire a new chef?" Taking it to the next level, my mom actually asked the waitress if they made any changes to the kitchen staff. She said no. The reason we asked? The food wasn't as good as it was the last time we were there. 

The Nilagang Baka (P270) would have been the perfect dish to warm up a person recovering from illness (that's me). I was looking forward to it. But the soup was mediocre at best. It did not have the "lasa" that can only be achieved by hours of slow cooking. The only one who enjoyed it was the baby - who is notorious for loving (as in really loving) bland soup. 

The Crispy Pork Binagoongan (P360) was a bit better, and I'm downplaying my comments about it only because we requested to have the bagoong separated from everything else. Never touch a chef's masterpiece, and don't take it against him/her if things don't work out after you do.

And then there was the Slow Stewed Beef Curry (P365). I personally thought the taste was ok despite the unbelievably thin sauce. But the deal breaker? The meat was tough. I think they forced cooked this batch just to meet a deadline.

The Buffalo Chicken Wings (210) was the dish that saved the day. It was a good as I remembered, and I loved every bite. I'm glad I ordered it on the last second - otherwise dinner would have been a complete disaster.

It was still a happy family dinner at the end of the day, and we only paid a little over a thousand pesos thanks to a certain someone's overused senior citizen card. A steal considering the ambiance, location and the quality of food. I'm still hoping that last night was a fluke - perhaps the chef was absent or maybe they just ran out of gasul. I don't want to give up on this place, and I hope my next visit will be a better one.

Insert: A pahabol comment from my ever discriminating brother - "it's the kind of food that only babies will like." And you thought I was harsh.

Painted Table Restaurant is located in Canvas Botique Hotel, Puerto Princesa North Road, Barangay San Miguel, Puerto Princesa, Palawan, Philippines.