AS HE had previously handled different types of business before, running a restaurant came to Jasper Huang as a fresh challenge wherein new things and learning reveal themselves to him every day.
On November 10, Aposento Davao opened its first branch outside Metro Manila, specifically in Matina I.T. Park, Davao City.
“Restaurant business is very difficult. When I graduated, my first business was a bar. Somehow, I know the specifics of handling a bar. But a restaurant is new for me because when I started I do not know a lot about the kitchen but I’m slowly catching up already. I am currently very hands on to make sure that the quality will not be changed,” Huang said adding it had been a long-time dream to start a restaurant business.
He calls the everyday problem and challenges he encounters as happy problems as they always come with learning for him. He said he tries to apply what he learns with bar business in his new venture with Aposento Davao especially in terms of perfecting the service.
Huang admitted their façade and interiors come out as quite intimidating to some Dabawenyos but he banks on the words of mouth of those who had already been in the restaurant. Since they open in November 10, about 98 percent of the feedback had been positive. What Huang also is proud of Aposento Davao is the affordability of their food which was tailor-fit for the Davao market. Their food prices start at about P100 to P300.
Since his restaurant specializes on Filipino fusion, their food menu has a hint of Japanese and Korean. Their recommended meals include Grilled Chicken Salad, Suam na Mais, Chicken Lollipop, Beef Triangles, Adobong Pusit, Grilled Tuna Belly, Crispy Pata, Beef Kare-kare, Garlic Chicken, Bicol Express, and Frozen Brazo de Mercedes. Their specialty coffees are also made from 100 percent Arabica beans as well.
Seeing the restaurant business as an entirely new challenge he excitedly faces every day, Huang said he considers their location an advantage as not a lot of restaurants have been built in the southern part of Davao specifically in Matina where they are located. He said with the positive words of mouth, Aposento Davao will no longer look intimidating to Dabawenyos as they will learn that the food offered in the restaurant is indeed affordable.
Huang said they are very much welcome to the positive and negative feedbacks of the customers and even provide survey sheets to the customers and ask them to answer as honestly as possible.
Since they opened, his restaurant had entertained young professionals and even corporate meetings. On Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays they are open from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. while on Fridays to Saturdays they are open from 11 a.m. to 1 a.m. and are close every Monday.