By JOSE PAOLO S. DELA CRUZ
When the Three Wise Men followed a star from the east, they found faith. For those of us who followed the ‘Nustar’ recently, we found an island of flavors.
The ceremonial cake cutting, led by Nustar CEO Alan Teo (center, wearing red tie) and The Mall at Nustar and external affairs director May Adolfo during the launch of “Island of New Flavors” at Level 2.
Ever since the launch of the country’s one and only Mott 32 restaurant at the Nustar Resort & Casino in Cebu in August 2022, the integrated resort has been drawing in discerning gourmands from across the country. And for good reason. After all, who could resist the lure of the Michelin-star restaurant’s fabled menu, and the magnificent architectural and natural backdrop in which its dishes are served.
Well, Mott 32, it seems, was just starters to a bigger culinary adventure.
With the recent opening of The Mall at Nustar, guests flying in to the Queen City of the South can now enjoy an even more exciting gustatory experience, thanks to a string of newly opened restaurants that serve a variety of dishes.
Frederick Go, president and CEO of Robinsons Land Corp. (RLC) and Universal Hotels and Resorts Inc. (UHRI), shares, “Our selection of restaurants at Nustar Mall adds a new dimension to the exquisite experience we provide at Nustar Resort and Casino. We believe in delivering top-notch dining options that complement our commitment to bringing luxury and entertainment to the Visayas and Mindanao regions.”
Perhaps, inspired by the Queen City of the South’s growing popularity as a destination among foreigners — spurred even more by the increasing number of direct flights to Cebu from Los Angeles, Japan and South Korea, to name a few — The Mall at Nustar offers an enticing selection of local and international cuisines, including American, Chinese, Italian, Japanese, Spanish and Filipino (especially Cebuano).
With this said, PeopleAsia takes you through the wonders of Nustar — one delicious stop at a time!
Koshima by Nonki: Big flavors from the “little island”
First stop, Japan! “Koshima,” which literally means “little island,” is a tribute to Kawit Island, on which Nustar now stands. Such an homage takes tasty form in the restaurant’s unique menu items, including the kurobuta tonkatsu, miso katsu, wagyu yakiniku, chanko nabe and Wagyu aburi sushi. Guests can even enjoy sake pairings, as well as the ever enjoyable Japanese Wagyu shabu-shabu and Wagyu sukiyaki, when they dine in this beautifully decorated restaurant. Those with a weakness for sweets will also find an exclusive dessert menu, which includes matcha terrine and kuro goma pudding.
Koshima is open daily from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., Mondays to Thursdays, and 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Fridays to Sundays.
Abaca Baking Company: Save the best for brunch
From its huge chocolate chip cookies to hearty servings of waffles laden with whipped cream, kiwi, strawberries, mangoes and other fresh fruits, all the way down to its savory fare consisting of burgers, pasta dishes and steaks, Abaca Baking Company (ABC) definitely makes brunch a memorable, all-day, dining affair. Located on the Upper Ground Floor, the restaurant also prioritizes building meaningful relationships with local farmers to source ingredients, with the goal of elevating the quality of the products.
Abaca is open daily from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., Mondays to Thursdays and 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Fridays to Sundays.
Kazuwa Prime: Lights. Camera. Delectation!
Down at The Mall’s The Strip area, one will find the upscale Japanese restaurant, Kazuwa Prime. Here, one will get to enjoy not just freshly grilled teppanyaki — the highlight of which is undoubtedly the A5 Wagyu — but also the level of showmanship with which chefs serve each meal. There are also exceptional seafood choices, such as fresh Norwegian salmon and imported Japanese oysters. To enhance the meal, the dining place offers appetizers like ankimo and shirako, and exclusively uses fresh wasabi imported directly from Japan. For private dining, it has options like the Teppanyaki table and Japanese-themed rooms with tatami seating for a more elevated experience, whether for an intimate dinner or a special celebration with loved ones.
Kazuwa Prime is open daily from 11 a.m. to 12 midnight.
Barcino: More than drinks
Wines, sangrias, cheese platters — these are normally what afternoons and evenings in Barcino look like. But at The Mall, Barcino also offers a hefty menu. Led by Spanish executive chef Nicolas Diaz, it prides itself on cuisine that specializes in Northern Spanish fare, offering hearty paellas, delectable tapas and a range of unique regional dishes. While we’re at it, how can we forget the perfectly cooked and mouthwatering cochinillos that were served to us? Carved with plates that were later smashed on the floor (as part of tradition), the crunchy and succulent pork dish is one of the highlights of this food trip.
Barcino is open on Sundays to Thursdays, from 11 a.m. to 12 midnight, and on Fridays to Saturdays, from 11 a.m. to 2 a.m.
Café Laguna: Luzon in Cebu
A taste of Luzon makes it to the Visayas with Café Laguna, which brings its namesake province’s rich culinary heritage to the Queen City of the South. Here, one can savor familiar Filipino classics like kare-kare and sinigang, among others. The branch at Nustar also offers exclusive dishes that also pay tribute to Cebuano fare, as seen in the crispy cochinillo, pangat na salmon and aligue fried rice. To cap off those meals, make sure to grab a serving or two of the langcabcab (langka ice cream, cassava wafer and latik) for dessert.
Open daily from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., Mondays to Thursdays, and 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Fridays to Sundays.
Tom N Toms: Great things brewin’
Tom N Toms at The Mall at Nustar is the upscale café’s first branch in the Philippines to follow the Burgundy concept, which introduces premium branding. Satisfy those coffee cravings with its single-origin coffee selections sourced from around the world, plus an array of signature freshly baked pretzels and pastries.
Open daily from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., Mondays to Thursdays, and 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Fridays to Sundays
