Pablo’s Steaks and Crabs, al fresco fine-dining at its best in GenSan
In June of last year, Pablo’s Steaks and Crabs was featured here at Bariles Republic when it opened with a bang and once again in August when it showcased balladeer Richard Poon in a dinner show.
Since then, this new dining destination along the National Highway in General Santos City with a relaxed garden setting located inside the Paseo del Sol, has become the choice venue of many a wedding, debut, baptismal, diplomatic and other receptions for the more discriminating ones with more than 150 guests.
During a visit one moonless starry night, I and my friend Rachel chose a table under a large tree illuminated with tivoli lights near the outdoor bar. We were in an elevated portion of the ranch-inspired diner. From our semi-discrete location, we could see a group of people dining inside the airconditioned function hall a few meters from us having the time of their lives. An acoustic pair were serenading them, their well-blended voices wafting unto our side of the large compound of Paseo del Sol.
The one thing which still tickles my fancy every time I visit Pablo’s is the giant menu (19 inches x 26 inches) which is the biggest this side of the world. At that visit, while approving of the food suggested to us by Manager Nestor Paras, I was pointing out to my dinner companion the colorfully drawn artwork designed by Marketing Head Paolo Sunglao, son of the owners Pablo and Sol, of the adjacent Ranchero Grill.
Front Page of the Menu designed by Paolo Sunglao
Inside Pages of Pablo’s Steaks and Crab’s Menu
Eventually, for starters, we tried and shared the Insalata del Sol. Insalata which means “salad” in Italian is a delightful toss of green lettuce, ripe mangoes, grapes and herbed chicken with fruit dressing. The croutons were crunchy, the leaves were crispy, with the dressing giving everything just the right sweetness to them that we finished these appetizers in a jiffy.
Insalata del Sol
Next we had our individual servings of steaming Clam Chowder, which was creamy clam souped served in a bread bowl. I immediately finished my share and would have eaten all of the bread if not for the next item which was served before us.
This was a piece of King Crab cooked the way we preferred it, in olive oil and garlic, lots of it. My God! The crab was in its purest state of perfection, having come from Surigao, with so much white meat. When dipped in either the grape wine vinegar sourced from Pablo’s farm or in the lemon-butter dip, you could literally see our eyes squint with each bite.
King Crab, cooked in olive oil and garlic with grape wine vinegar dip and lemon-butter dip
Since the crab was very rich in oil, we had to wash it off in Pablo’s very own blend of Dragonfruit Juice. Dragonfruit or “pitaya” is a large red fruit native to Asia. It was our first time to try it and it tasted like guava, but less sweet and more fragrant. It was very refreshing, to say the least. We found out that night that the Sunglao’s have also started harvesting this plant together with Honey Dew from their own farm.
Dragonfruit Juice
For the main course, Rachel and I settled for nothing less than the US Angus Beef Steak, prepared Ranch Style, which was quite a treat since it was cooked right before our eyes.
The imported US Angus Beef, sliced and waiting to be cooked. Beside it is the plateful steamed veggie sidings and sweet corn.
We both wanted our steaks done “MEDIUM-WELL” that Miko, our waiter only cooked it in olive oil in less than two minutes. It came out so tender and juicy to my taste that I forgot what my name was for about a few seconds.
Miko, our waiter cooking our US Angus beef steak, Ranch Style at our table
Through it all, we did not order and eat any rice. Instead we had their gourmet bread which is Rosemary bread served with Herbed Olive Oil and Balsamic Vinegar. When I first tasted a piece of the bread after dipping it in the special sauces, I then realized that its sweet and sour outcome was the perfect foil to the rich and heavy main dishes.
Rosemary Bread, ready to be dipped in herbed olive oil and balsamic vinegar
We could hardly move after this succulent feast but we still have to try the dessert we ordered earlier, called by its mysterious name, DESSERT SAMPLER. When it finally arrived, we were overjoyed to find that it was a combination of mouthful-sizes of Pavlova, a meringue topped with fruits; Molten Cheese; Blue Cheesecake and Cream Brulee, a lovely end to our fulfilling royal meal.
The sinful Dessert Sampler: Pavlova, Molten Cheese, Blue Cheesecake and Cream Brulee
And yes, as an additional treat, the servers and cooks of Pablo’s Steaks and Crabs performed a latino dance number midway into the night, making it an even more unforgetable evening for us and the rest of their satisfied diners.
Pablo’s Steaks and Crabs Dancing Cooks and Waiters
Pablo’s Steaks and Crab’s is located inside the Paseo del Sol, just beside the GenSan Ranchero Grill Restaurant along the National Highway. For reservations, please call telefax # (083) 55553-9298. Look for Mr. Nester Paras, their Operations Manager.
Tagged al fresco fine dining, Dancing Cooks and Waiters, king crabs, Pablo's Steaks and Crabs, Paseo del Sol, Ranchero Grill, US Angus Beef
meikko01/08/2009 at 11:20 PM
sir, im just wndring how much did u spend with all this fud? hehehe
very enticing!
bariles01/09/2009 at 10:29 AMAuthor
@Meikko, our total bill did not reach P1,800. It was well worth it.
rammyboi01/08/2009 at 11:34 PM
wooot! i was there during the opening. Paolo’s my classmate. He even introduced to us the most expensive steak, US Angus Beef. my gulay it’s so expensive for newbies like us. Siguro pag kasing rich na ako ni kuya avel, dun lang ako kakain sa Paseo del Sol. ahahaha
nakakakain lng kami jan if reunion namin or treat ni Paolo. tnx for the info kuya avel. didn’t know may dragonfruit na cla. kahit yan lang… i want to try it out soon 
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bariles01/09/2009 at 10:34 AMAuthor
@rammyboi, i think that they’re the only resto in gensan offering dragonfruit much like another resto here, Theresa’s Diner along Osmena North offering LEMONGRASS Juice. You may check it out at my other blog, Southern Nocturnal Haunts at http://dustdiangas3.blogspot.com/2008/01/theresas-cafe-gourmet-restaurant.html . Thanks.
Nate Marx01/09/2009 at 3:28 AM
Very Good Marketing Strat. Sana may vid sir Avel ng dancers.hehehe… Wala pa atang nakakagawa nyan dito sa Gensan… Good thing meron na..
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bariles01/09/2009 at 10:34 AMAuthor
@Nate, hi! I forgot to take a video. Natulala ako eh. Hehehe!
jinky01/09/2009 at 8:27 AM
all i can say is “WOW!”
bariles01/09/2009 at 10:36 AMAuthor
@Jinky, am sure that you’re scheduling a date there with Arnel, no?
GorG01/09/2009 at 9:47 AM
Haven’t tried Pablo’s Steaks but Sunglaos sure serve one of the best. Is honey dew not included in the menu of beverages/desserts? One of my faves. Brought Manila friends at Ranchero’s. Next time sa Pablos naman
bariles01/09/2009 at 10:37 AMAuthor
@GorG, hello! I did not notice honeydew being offered but I tried Dragonfruit since it was new. Now, I will try to bring visitors there.
tanchi01/09/2009 at 3:51 PM
lami jud ang king crab..akaso allergic ko..haha:)
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bariles01/09/2009 at 3:55 PMAuthor
@tanchi, hello! We have the same problem. But I found a very reliable and effective solution – ANTIHISTAMINE. Hehehe!
amie01/09/2009 at 7:40 PM
Definitely the first place I will go for dinner
whenever I am in Gensan. Food looks good, lalo na
king crab, rosemary bread & the dessert. I wonder
if they make their own bread. Actually atch, the
size of their serving is just right for me, hehehe!
delo01/09/2009 at 8:57 PM
we want more of these good things in our city…hindi na ma-bitin ang gensan when our bosses will come visit here. we are now comparable to Bangalore, India and Phitsanulok in Thailand where we use to have our meetings.
Gay01/10/2009 at 9:13 AM
I look forward to eating here!!! Can’t wait to get back to GenSan.
Gay01/10/2009 at 9:14 AM
And I got a pasalubong for you already
bariles01/10/2009 at 9:23 AMAuthor
hi amie! wow, you look great in your Gravatar photo! Yes, they make their own bread…. very Italian inspired. Would love to accompany you there once you are home for vacation here from the US of A.
bariles01/10/2009 at 9:26 AMAuthor
Hi delo! You bet! We just need a total marketing overhaul… both government and private sectors doing one unified pitch for the city. Haaay. Look at Cebu! Despite the national problems during the 80s, they successfully marketed themselves as ‘AN ISLAND IN THE PACIFIC”. Let’s take it from their own example.
bariles01/10/2009 at 9:35 AMAuthor
Oh God! Really Gay??!!!! Wow, thanks so much then. Looking forward to meet you in the newer culinary havens here.
Ache01/10/2009 at 3:28 PM
Ache, can’t wait for our next date at Paseo, it is still the best dining place in Gensan!
Hi Amie! pag uwi mo, we should get together with the rest of our girl batchmates and Paseo would be the perfect choice!
bariles01/10/2009 at 3:33 PMAuthor
@Ache, sama ako! Si Amie ang taya! Yahoo!
purple2401/10/2009 at 6:26 PM
wow kuya its yummy..
treat mo kami dun ha? dili na lng ta mag pandesal ug pancit sa imong beerday..hehehe!
advance happy beerday..mwa!
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bariles01/10/2009 at 6:37 PMAuthor
@purple24, hehehe! Puede pero Dragonfruit Juice lang ha? Thanks for remembering! Mwha!
jinky01/12/2009 at 11:59 AM
Yeah, we ate there last Saturday! We ordered seafood platter and saparagus in oyster sauce. . . yummy! the dragonfruit fruit shake? sarap!
GorG01/12/2009 at 12:31 PM
hahaha…dragonfruit? ako na treat non. kaw treat king crab and pablo’s steak kuya avel. pero one order for each dish. on diet tayo kaya hati hati tayo! hahaha…si purple24 ang desserts..hehehe
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