Rolling out their big wheel of cheese, Marinara Ristorante Bistro and Pub has become a new go-to spot for Davaoeños seeking a great meal of Italian and American cuisine. Located in Ascendido Building at Pryce Business Park along J P Laurel Avenue, this restaurant offers a casual dining experience for its patrons.
What sets this Italian-American restaurant apart is its signature pasta dishes tossed around inside a massive wheel of cheese, making your pasta dish creamier and cheesier. Known for its exceptional service, Marinara, has earned a loyal following in Davao’s food and beverage scene. They also offer authentic Italian desserts. They have a wide selection of gelato flavors, cheesecake, and tiramisu.
Opening in April 2024, Marinara has gained social media attention for being one of the newest restaurants that serves top-notch food and superb service. Let’s dive in and find out if the hype is genuinely deserved.
Menu
Food Review
This restaurant provides a complimentary basket of bread upon dining. I don’t like the bread, but it is a restaurant gesture that is appreciated by hungry diners. The refills are free as well.
Creamy Tuscan Soup – 7
Creamy Tuscan soup is a soup that will grow on you. It’s a creamy soup similar to a ramen’s broth. It’s an Italian soup originating from Tuscany, Italy, made out of bacon, sausages, and potatoes simmered in chicken broth. Their version has a gamey aftertaste because of the meat inclusions and the lack of aromatics compared to Filipino or Asian soups. The small diced potatoes are a good addition as they absorb the fat and flavor of the soup. It does pack a lot of bacon and meat. Admittedly, I had mixed feelings about this soup, but I enjoyed it in the end. You acquire a liking to it over time. (P235)
Herb Spring Chicken in Mushroom – 8.5
There are mixed reviews on this online, but based on its presentation, flavor, and preparation, I would give this a good score of 8.5. One of the things I like about their herb spring chicken in mushroom is it had a very beautiful charring of the chicken skin. To maintain a beautiful color without having to fry but through roasting is a nice cooking technique. It’s a super light dish despite the large serving size. It is not bland but allows you to adjust the saltiness. The chicken is very soft, tender, and juicy, yet it maintains a firm bite. The chicken is well-flavored with herbs. The one that did not shine well was the mushroom sauce. It is light, yet really underwhelming. (P595)
Calamari Flowerette – 9.8
Their version of calamari is divine. It’s a big platter that can be shared by 4-5 people. Their calamari presentation is different from the circular ring slice. Theirs is cut into chunks and scored to bloom like little flower buds when fried. It has a beautiful appearance as well as its taste. It has a good, crispy exterior, yet it is succulent inside. It doesn’t have a gummy texture, which means the squid was fried at the right temperature and time to give out this mouthfeel. It is salted enough to bring flavor yet almost bordering to bland. I didn’t like the tomato dip that much as it was too soupy for a dip, and it did not have a good texture. What would make this a solid 10 would be to improve the tomato dip and maybe add perhaps a lemon zested mayo dip. It was an addicting dish, and you realize you’ve already devoured 10 calamari chunks in one seating. (P585 for sharing)
Chicken Spinach Carbonara (on Cheese Wheel) – 8
Their normal price for chicken spinach carbonara is P460 for solo sharing. Putting it in a cheese wheel, you would have to pay P750 for the same dish. The cheese wheel experience seems like a gimmick to me, and other than making your food taste like cheese, it doesn’t really add anything to the dish. It caused an imbalance of flavor wherein I can’t really determine the carbonara flavor anymore. It did not allow the spinach-infused pasta noodle to shine its flavor too well. The spinach is light and almost masked by the cheese flavor but the flavors would have shined through if it was not overly drenched in cheese. The noodles are lightly green, which I assume means they blended the spinach and added it to the flour that made the pasta. Which is amazing because then you will know they make their own pasta noodles.
You will know that a restaurant is good if they make their own noodles, bread, or pita from scratch. Shame though that choosing the carbonara on cheese wheel was what we chose. Overall, we still enjoyed our meal and was able to bring some leftovers home because the pasta is too creamy and the cheese made the dish overwhelmingly filling.
Keylime Cheesecake – 9
Their keylime cheesecake is a beauty! Topped with burnt meringue, the bottom layer is soaked with keylime syrup, and the middle is the cheesecake. It is not overly sweet but is tart. It maintains a little saltiness. The texture, however, is a little crumbly and it does have a faint eggy smell, which I dislike on cheesecakes. I did expect a much citrusy cheesecake similar to lemon squares, but the tartness for this is faint. It has a distinct flavor far from lemon, though. It is leaning closer to calamansi but sourer.
Restaurant Rating
Food:
Overall, the dishes we tried were good, and the serving sizes were generous. The prices matched the quality and flavor. While the menu offers a nice variety, the food lacked a certain “wow” factor. None of the dishes we tried left a lasting impression or made me crave a return visit.
Value for money:
It’s on the pricey side, but the generous serving sizes offer good value for money. They also offer both solo and sharing platters, which gives diners flexible options.
Location:
A really good location with decent parking spots. Spacious and beautiful interior.
Service:
Impeccable service. Fast serving time, attentive staffs.
Variety:
Have a good food selection with options for sharing or for solo dining. Great appetizer and main course selection.
Recommendations
Recommended Food – Calamari Flowerette, Keylime Cheesecake, Spinach Carbonara (regular)
Information
- Payment Method: Cash, Gcash
- Budget: P1,500-P2,000 for 2 pax
- Type: Italian-American Fusion
- Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61553975544995
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