Starting a calm, reasonable discussion online about food prices is like trying to sculpt the Mona Lisa on a block of ice using a 3mm flathead screwdriver.
Possible? Technically. Practical? Absolutely not.
SunStar Lifestyle was among the first to break the news of Gordon Ramsay’s Street Burger and Fish & Chips opening at The Mactan Newtown. Street Burger in Cebu is the first of its kind in Southeast Asia; Fish & Chips here is the first in all of Asia.
We also had the chance to try the food. Recommendations? At the Fish & Chips joint, go with the Alaskan Pollock paired with the Avocado Cream sauce. Add the chicken to your order — both items are not only standouts, they’re also the most affordable.
For burgers, Hell’s Kitchen is a must — Gordon Ramsay’s signature punch on a fast-food staple. The Lechon Burger, however, is the Cebu-exclusive wild card, marrying local indulgence with Ramsay’s precise execution.
Gordon Ramsay brands in Mactan — it’s a sensible move in 2025. The Mactan Newtown, since its debut more than a decade ago, has been deliberate about positioning itself as a township in the middle of luxury beach resorts. Tomorrow, Aug. 10, it will host part of the IRONMAN 70.3 Philippines — with its developer, Megaworld, as the event presenter.
These two restaurants are heading into a 30-day opening sprint after debuting to the public on July 26. The online buzz, of course, didn’t wait for IRONMAN. Within days, chatter split: are the items overpriced? The mob was more forgiving of Street Burger. For Fish & Chips, the conversation leaned toward “yes.”
The thing about debates is that both sides usually have a point. The answer depends on who’s asking:
If cream dory works for you as fish and chips, it’s overpriced. If you’re strict with your budget, it’s a stretch. If you can cook the same quality at home, maybe — though you won’t have to do dishes at Gordon Ramsay’s. If you earn in high-level US dollars, it’s fair. And if you’re a Gordon Ramsay super fan? It’s worth every peso.
After everything is said and done, you can’t debate two things: the food is good and Gordon Ramsay is at a point in his career where celebration, criticism and columns like this one probably don’t even register.