Elsbeth L.S.E.'s Reviews: Yummy Saturday Lunch at Panciteria Lido

Yesterday was our first time to eat at Panciteria Lido. We’ve never heard of the restaurant or anything about the food that they serve there before. You have to understand that we are not food aficionados, who make it a point to try new and different restaurants on a regular basis. Although I know I would be if I could…afford it, that is :)

Anyway, we just happened to be driving along Shaw Blvd at noon and just happen to notice Panciteria Lido at the exact hour that our tummies are already growling in hunger. So we stopped, parked and entered the tiny food nook. We just deduced from the look of the place and the pictures that they serve Chinese food. Since we didn’t know anything about the place, we just ordered their flagship dish – the Pugon-Roasted Asado. And boy, did it taste sooooo… good! We love Chinese food but we love it more now. Here’s a picture of our lunch:

We were silent for a full 30 minutes, savoring every bite. After we’ve had our fill, we brought some of it home. This is the exact opposite of the American saying, “nothing to write home about”, because it’s something “not just to write home about” about but “something to bring home to”! It tastes soooo good that you would feel guilty not to let your family have a taste of it.

And when we got home, I immediately searched for Panciteria Lido on the net. And here’s what I found out:

The dish we ate, Pugon-Roasted Asado is made from Chinese pork roasted carefully cured loin of pork is roasted using an Old-Fashioned brick oven in just the right amount of heat from firewood. The Chinese pork roast is the restaurant’s more than 70 year old secret recipe from its Chinese chef - founder, Mr. Lido himself.

Panciteria Lido has been around since 1936 and had its beginnings at China Town in Binondo, Manila. The then modest eatery started out with different kinds of pancit (noodles), hence the name. Pancit, as I learned from their website, is actually a term derived from the Hookien phrase “pian sit”, which means something quickly cooked. But I digress… As I was saying they started out with different kinds of pancit such as guisado, asado, and wanton. Chef Lido added Filipino taste (a hint of sweet and salty) to his Chinese dishes since a lot of his would-be customers are Filipinos. He experimented in combining Chinese and Filipino taste, and then eventually expanded his savory menu to include the sweet Chinese pork roast recipe that we had. And true to the description in their website, it is indeed Ambrosial!

And the other best thing about it is it is very affordable! Their menu is a set of delicious but very affordable dishes. It is not something that you would just try once or twice in your lifetime because it’s too expensive for your budget. It is something that you can actually come back for whenever the cravings set in. And we’d definitely come back to try their other dishes, but this time with family and friends!

Here’s a price list of their best-sellers:

· Pugon-Roasted Asado - P267.00

· 3 cups chicken - P295.00

· Beef Brisket & Wanton Mami - P155.00 (regular)

· Chami Special - P185.00

· Lido Sepo Rice - P178.00

· Drunken-Lechon Macau - P275.00

· Poached Tofu - P105.00

· Shrimp Balls - P275.00

· Steamed Fish Fillet Soy Sauce - P255.00

· Hot Chocolate - P70.00

· LIDO Coffee - P65.00

They have other equally sumptuous looking dishes, which you can find on their website: http://www.panciterialido.com/ You can also find them on Facebook.

No worries if you are not anywhere near Mandaluyong as they also have branches around the metro and they deliver, too!

Branches:

West Life Bldg., West Avenue (374-7494)

10 Dao street, Ortigas Ext., Cainta (469-LIDO (5436)

The Capital Tower, E. Rodriguez QC (Delivery number: 414-5436)

BF Homes, Paranaque (842-LIDO)

South Park High, Las Pinas, Alabang Zapote Road (478-LIDO)

547 Shaw Blvd., Mand. City (Across Babyland near Wack Wack) (725-LIDO)

16 Visayas Avenue, Diliman, Q.C. (441-LIDO)

Marvin Plaza Bldg., Pasong Tamo, Makati (811-LIDO)

UN Avenue corner Jorge Bocobo, Manila (254-LIDO (5436))

10 Dao street, corner Ortigas Avenue Extension, Cainta, Rizal (696-LIDO)