Heavenly burgers at the Phat

CEBU, Philippines - Still looking for the best burger in town? Then try visiting Phat Thursday in Banilad Town Center and taste for yourself the restaurant’s pride, the Phat Burger.

No, it’s not spelled F-A-T, but it may have been as the sandwich is oozing in calories. But hey, if good food is what you are into, then to hell with the calories!

Phat Thursday gives justice to the adjective “juicy”, as all its burgers boast of thick meat and oozing melted cheese, add to that a handful of sautéed onions and you would have a complete meal that you’d swear is the taste of heaven.

Owner Terence Yee professed that he opened the restaurant when, on visiting his fiancé and now wife, Donna Lucero, he could not find a burger that is comparable to that which he is used to in his hometown of San Francisco, USA. And so, having the hindsight that he will be frequenting the country, he decided to open his own restaurant in March 2008. Why Phat? “It’s a slang that means cool,” Yee said.

When it comes to the food that they serve: “San Francisco is very international and we try to share all of that here. Malaysian, Mexican, everything. We offer American-focused food, because we want our customers to have the Western experience in dining,” he said.

In addition to the burgers, Phat Thursday also serve barbecue (chicken, pork or seafood), which comes with a serving of salad or soup and a choice of mashed potato, French fries or steamed rice. They also have pasta and sandwiches, the all-time favorite fish and chips, ribs, meatloaf, and other mouthwatering entrees.

As for the drinks, they have a wide selection of cocktails (with or without alcohol), juices, and spirits. One that I would recommend is the Orange Creamcicle, which bursts of an oneiric flavor that would make you believe that you have tasted the nectar of Olympus. A second glass, however, would already be too much, so go slow on it.

If you think their prices are a bit heavenly, then you can try them out first with their lunch and dinner buffet. For as low as P199, you can taste the flavors of the Phat, from soups to delicious entrees and roast carvings. It also comes with drinks, including the famous Orange Creamcicle.

Aside from the food, Phat Thursday gives its patrons more reasons to visit. Banking on the concept of a sports bar, they have billiard tables, dart boards, video games and yes, widescreen television sets that plays sport programs all day. Patrons can play for free, given that they order something, of course.

So, if you are still looking for a place to hang-out, try the Phat where you would not only have loads of barkada fun, but also be filled to the brim with honest-to-goodness real food.