Smoque Bistro & Bar @ Tagbilaran, Bohol, The Philippines

This is another new restaurant for us. It makes buying the house on Panglao so foodie exciting, with so many new places opening up for us to explore. Smoque Bistro & Bar @ Tagbilaran, Bohol, The Philippines has another twist too. Let me plagiarise some text from another blog, whilst painting a story.

The first time we tried the place we were being served by a lovely lady. Then YanYan and Mae arrived, and a guy sort of barged passed her to serve us. It was a former colleague of YanYan’s from The Amorita Resort. So, I hear you saying. Well, that is where the Head Chef of Smoque Bistro & Bar @ Tagbilaran, Bohol, The Philippines was originally from. Yep, he packed up his bags, coerced a few of the staff to follow him, and opened this place up. And thank goodness he did because this place is a KNOCK-OUT.

If you happen to be visiting Bohol, or even staying at our house or the resorts of Panglao, pop in and say Hi to Chef Raphael Ongchiong. He’s a big lad, so you can’t miss him. I love his style; architecture is minimalist with concrete, massive family tables (yep we need them as you’ll see), huge platters (almost ChillaxBBQ in style), and callosal open kitchen so all can see what’s happening in there. Yes, I really really like this place.

The location is close to the bottom causeway between Panglao and Bohol, and because it is new it might take some finding. Get yourself an older tricycle driver who has ‘the knowledge’. It’s uber cool though. Packed both times we went with noisy, chatting, chewing and laughing families with the light tones of an acoustic band and singer playing away. Yeah, I REALLY like this place. Be proud Chef Raphael – you have a winner here mate. I have not even shown off the food yet.

Chef Raphael, or Paeng to his mates pops to the market each morning to see what’s fresh and in season and builds his menu around that. He moved to Bohol in 2010 and was the Executive Chef at Amorita Resort, before packing up a year or so ago to create Smoque. He said to me that he is a self-professed island boy. Good choice of your new home mate!

Smoque Bistro & Bar @ Tagbilaran, Bohol, The Philippines; +63 918 300 8180, Cpg East Avenue, Bool District, Bool, Tagbilaran, Philippines. https://www.facebook.com/smoquebistrocafeandbar/

We then come back for sitting #2. Chef comes to say Hi again. Thank you for that Raphael, the family loved to say hello, and of course, loved to be back at the restaurant. This, sadly, is mine and Amy’s last night before disappearing back to Singapore. So our departing meal. Yet another cracker was had. We ordered again the favourites of pork belly and octopus and went large on some super huge sharing platters this time. Yes, we had a huge table of Kennetts and Burlas’s. We even had one of the party get up and sing two songs for us, wonderful that was Jhea. So here is our final meal at Smoque Bistro & Bar @ Tagbilaran, Bohol, The Philippines. Very sad to say goodbye. Until the next time.

Chef Raphael be very proud Sir. You have a truly wonderful restaurant. An incredible menu resides within. The food is just sublime. The ambience is so chilled, and family. And you have a fantastic crew, every single one of them. Keep going buddy, as for sure we will be hitting you hard the next time we come home to Panglao. We have so much more to select from the menu, and who knows what specials could be on there from the catch that day? Folks, Smoque Bistro & Bar @ Tagbilaran, Bohol, The Philippines, is a Die Die Must Try restaurant, it IS Death-Row Cuisine. This is a GEM!!! You simply have to go and meet the gang and eat this food. I am so so confident, as this was so wonderful that I’ll pay your bill if you don’t – ENJOY!!!

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