Ramos Street has all the quirks: business hotels, backpacker hostels, spas, coffee shops, a hospital and a thriving dining scene which highlights both local and international flavors.
Another gem that has been added is a hole-in-the-wall that brings a fancy experience for both foodies and non-foodies alike, without burning a hole in one’s pocket. This promising restaurant, located in the building right beside Cebu Velez Hospital on F. Ramos St., Cebu City, is the epitome of the saying “don’t judge a book by its cover.” Once a customer enters, he would be stunned by the place’s entire vibe from its interior down to its menu.
Tales and Feelings is a family-owned and -run business that serves internationally-inspired food with a South East Asian twist and a “farm-to-plate” concept. It is run by chefs—one of them, part of the team at The Pig & Palm, who spent a few years working on different cruise ships prior—and headed by Julianas Prosevicius, a restaurateur who has been in the industry for 12 years since he was 16 years old, with experience managing the most exclusive fine dining restaurants in the United Kingdom.
The restaurant proudly supports local farms and uses organic and high-quality ingredients from all around the world, and is currently working with free-ranged farms. On its menu, Tales and Feelings shares its farm-to-plate journey by indicating where its ingredients come from.
“To reduce food waste, everything that we use from broccoli stems and any other cuts, we reuse it for the sauces. We reuse it for the garnishes or for the trimmings, we make juices out of it, and so on. We are really playing around with the menu to reduce the waste as much as we can,” shared Julianas.
Favorites include its St. Helens Sirloin Steak, a quality sirloin steak with chimichurri sauce and onion puree, and Beetroot Cured Salmon Gravlax with fresh mangos, pickled ginger, lightly spiced wasabi mayo sitting on the bed of rice.
It also serves all-day breakfast such as Full English Breakfast and Full Pinoy Breakfast; Poke Bowls like Gensan Ahi Tuna using fresh tuna from General Santos, Cajun Chicken and Palo Duro Hanging Tender with Palo Duro steak imported all the way from Texas, USA; sandwiches and salads, smoothie bowls, and a nice selection of wines and beers. Cocktails inspired by the fruits from the Philippines and classic cocktails are also available.
Every week, Tales and Feelings adds and removes dishes to keep its menu playful and interesting, especially for its regular guests.
“There are times you can find tartare as a special, or a dish with caviar and many more,” said Julianas.
The restaurant’s name sounds catchy just like the owners wanted. Aside from that, Julianas explained that “Tales” meant that the restaurant wanted to tell stories with its food, and that “Feelings” expressed what the restaurant wanted for its customers—an emotional high when they’ve experienced and tried its food.
“Generally, it’s about your experience when you dine here at the restaurant.”
As for its interior, Julianas is proud to share that it was done by his wife, Kim Aries, who poured her heart out designing a very homey yet fancy-looking place soothing to the mind, appetite and soul, complete with jazz tracks for background music.
Visit Tales and Feelings on F. Ramos St., Cebu City from Monday to Saturday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.