Beer for all

YOU want beef? This steakhouse has got lots of it. It’s as simple as that really.

And the best thing of it all, they’ve got beef dishes for everyone in the family. Big daddy can chow down on the porterhouse, mommy can try the beefsteak, and the kids can try out the “Steak of the Nation” bestseller.

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If you’re not fond of an “all-carnivorous” diet, there’s no need to worry: they’ve got an extensive menu as well, ranging from fish steaks, lasagnas, vegetables, appetizers, seafood and soup; even cocktails and red wines are available.

This steakhouse we’re talking about is I Love Steak. The place is just a small restaurant located in Mango Ave.

Unassuming would be the word that comes to mind when you see the place. It may look just like a 20-seater diner from the outside, but surprisingly when you step right in, the place has around “three ground levels” for people to dine in (not including yet a super cool “veranda-like” area inside the restaurant).

Owned by Maria Carmela Aguilar-Confiado, she shares the reason perhaps why the place feels very homey.

“At first we were just looking for a house to stay whenever we are in Cebu because of 22nd St. Comedy bar that we owned also.

Then we saw this old house and thought of converting it to a restaurant and at the same time our house whenever we are there. So that’s why we made sure that it’s cozy and feels like home,” she shares. The place is also co-owned by actor Mon Confiado and Albert Andrew Confiado.

The interior is a visual treat in itself: the walls glowing in yellow and fancy decorations to go along with it. If you drop by at night, the colors radiate all the more, making the ambiance “one-of-a-kind.”

But enough chitchat regarding the place. For a steakhouse, we should be talking more about the “steak” and less of the “house,” shouldn’t we? It’s time to meet the meats.

First up is the gigantic porterhouse. I prefer my steaks done medium rare. And true enough, when served right off the grill, the porterhouse provides you with that “meat-fix” you sometimes crave. The flavors from the beef are retained and the seasonings are kept to a minimum. Served with mashed potatoes, gravy and buttered vegetables, this is a sure stomach-filler.

The porterhouse is part of the “Steak With You” category in the menu—one that boasts of the restaurant’s several cuts of certified Angus beef.

Then there’s the “Steak University” category where the beefsteak belongs. These are the company’s budget samplers for the students. But don’t let that discourage you. Their beefsteak is a meat dish bursting with flavor. A dash of calamansi here would seal the deal.

“Steak of the Nation” is their best seller—thinly sliced US tenderloin steak served sizzling with buttered vegetables.

One interesting category would be “Miss Steak” where it features food that has nothing to do with steak. Just like this next one that appears to be out of place—lasagna. Flavor-wise, though, the inclusion of this pasta dish is far from being a “mistake.”

Notable thing here is serving this cheesy delight with green and red bell peppers, making the flavor all the more unique and exciting: points for the presentation and plating, too.

So there you have it. In the end, this full service casual restaurant appeals to anyone who wants a good meaty bite that’s affordable and satisfying at the same time.