Kaona Grill reopens at a new location

CEBU, Philippines - The Kaona Grill brand that locals and foreigners have known for almost a decade is now back on its gears in the fast-paced food industry in Cebu with the relaunching of its restaurant at Wilson Street in Lahug and the opening of its flagship Kaona Grill station at MJ Cuenco Avenue in Banilad.

For almost 10 years in the food business, Kaona Grill has been popularly known to serve the all-time favorite grilled dishes, ice-cold beer and the natural ambience with its landscaped gardens, well-thought interiors and its trademark chalkboard art.

In an interview with The Freeman, Jeffren Pages of Kaona Grill said that the brand is geared towards improving its services and expanding its presence in the local market.

From its original spot at the Cebu Business Park that began on January 2002 but closed down on December 2005, Kaona Grill restaurant transferred at AS Fortuna Street on 2006 and closed last June of this year.

Now on its new location at the corner of Wilson St. across JY Square in Lahug, Kaona Grill was officially “welcomed back” in  the Cebu market last July 25. It sits in a 1,300-square meter property and could accommodate 250 to 300 persons.

“Restaurants are not easy to run, even finding a place. You have to have the right location and now, we are glad to have the right one. We love this place,” Pages admitted.

He added that Kaona Grill takes pride for its original recipes and own menu style which are all inspired from the passion for food of the family.

“Our family really loves to eat and we love good food. It is our family’s desire now to share our passion for good food to our friends and guests,” he said.

He also confessed that the product of the restaurant has sustained the brand over the years amid the stiff competition in the market.

“The Kaona Grill brand has been associated with good food and good food does not mean high-priced dishes. It’s our product that sustained us for ten years and we want to maintain such quality for food,” he continued.

Its bestselling dish is the restaurant’s signature crispy kare-kare that is comprised of deep-fried pork, peanut sauce, crisp native veggies and bagoong dish. It is priced at P275. Kaona Grill also offers pork belly, sizzling sisig, squid a la pobre, baby back ribs, pork and chicken barbecue, pancit and shrimp kebabs. The menu also has a list of ice-cold beverages that may range from soft drinks, slushes, juices and beers.

“We know we have a good market. People are beginning to find us. Our objective for now is to improve our service and expand our menu further. We also want to bring Kaona Grill to the populated areas, key cities, residential areas and schools in the years ahead,” Pages said.

Last February 14 of this year, Kaona Grill opened up its first Grill Station across Sto. Niño Village in Banilad, Cebu City. It is a 40-square meter dining area with a seating capacity of 35 persons.

Kaona Grill Station was born from a concept of having a smaller version of the Kaona Grill restaurant that is primarily targeted to students and residents in a community.

Pages revealed that this is also designed to be a unique expansion strategy for the Kaona Grill brand since it entails less risk, little investment and fewer manpower.

“The Kaona Grill Station is our “baby” Kaona. It sells every grill we are selling in our main restaurant. With the good sales turn-out and positive market reception from the time we opened, we are satisfied with this one and we want to make this as many as we could,” he said.

He further noted that they are eyeing to open three more branches of the Kaona Grill Station before the year ends and may open itself to franchise soon.

Prices of the dishes sold in the Kaona Grill Station starts from P25 to P180. It also boasts of its fiesta meals that are priced from P60 to P90. Customers can choose to have barbecue, chicken leg, pork belly, chicken breast, chicken wings and bangus. The budget meals already come with rice, achara and iced tea. Kaona Grill Station also caters to deliveries and take-out orders. /JOB (FREEMAN)