SM Cebu was only about 10 minutes of walking distance away from the hotel we stayed in Cebu City, so visiting SM’s “first shopping mall outside of Metro Manila” was truly a must. For lunch, we went for the “mooon” that keeps on rising. 😛 Mooon Café was awarded as the “Most Promising Retailer of the Year” at the 2010 Outstanding Filipino Retailers-Cebu Search Awards. Owned and managed by Pages Holdings Inc., this Mexican-inspired restaurant which originated in Cebu is quickly expanding its branches nationwide.
Serving luscious authentic Mexican dishes, Mooon Café offers house specialties that are well-prepared and well-cooked to ensure customers’ satisfaction. What enticed us most were their “Family Fiesta” packaged meals (for 4-6 people and for 6-10 people). We chose Set B at that time of their promotion and had a good meal before our flight back to Manila.
Review of Mooon Café Mexican-inspired Restaurant (SM City Cebu)
Ambiance: ★★★★☆
Mooon Café looked like a colorful Pinterest fantasy-land with wooden pieces of furniture, plenty of seating for large groups, and notable jars displayed in walls. In contrast to the lively and vibrant interior design, the atmosphere was really quiet even at the peak of lunch time. Hence, this can be a great spot for a casual get-together with family and friends where funny stories can be exchanged. Here you can expect to enjoy a relaxed atmosphere that allows you to take your time and savor the taste of Mexico while in Cebu.
Food: ★★★☆☆
Set B (PhP 1599) consisted of Nacho Supreme, Pochero, 22 pieces of fried chicken, Moonsteak, rice, and a pitcher of iced tea. In a sea of mediocrity, it was just about the best reliable lunch option we have come across in the area.
The Nachos Supreme was a monster mashup of crispy nachos bathed in cheese and flavorful dressings. The melted gooey, smooth, and silky cheese was deeply satisfying! While you can practically guarantee getting full ingredients on each tortilla chip, there can still be the pleasure of hunting for particularly well-topped chips.
With its crust having a completely irresistible shade of golden brown, Mooon Cafe’s version of the fried chicken came out light, crispy, and delicious. I distinctly remember that it had quite a salty grease, deep chicken flavor, and tender meat.
The Moonsteak, presented on a sizzling iron plate, did not win me over. Drowned in gravy, the steak was not as amazing as I had hoped for. Out of all the dishes we tried, this one was generally unimpressive and totally skippable.
The comforting bowl of Pochero had a good balance of meat and vegetables. If you’re in the mood for something simple but belly-warming, this Filipino Stew must be on your table. It was a far cry from the salty, one-dimensional soup.
Additionally, we ordered the Gardenia Pizza, a perfect vegetarian treat topped with tomatoes, onions, eggplant, green bell pepper, olives, pineapple tidbits, button mushroom, lettuce, and mozzarella cheese. It was okay but I thought it was definitely an acquired taste of Pinoy’s general preference and unlike a nod to Mexican cuisine’s authenticity.
Price for Value: ★★★★☆
At Mooon Café, nothing was over the top. Everything was simple, decent, and reasonably priced. Escaping with a bill under PhP 2000 even if you’re a group of 10 is possible. This restaurant can build a bigger loyal following among the Mexican food enthusiasts in town.
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