Shangri-la Boracay Dining Experience

We have a love-hate relationship with Shangri-la. Our first visit in their Boracay resort last December 2009 wasn’t good. We even made a review for TripAdvisor but it was declined and they didn’t post it.

Last year, we visited Shangri-la Mactan and it was even worse! But Shangri-la Fort’s High Street Lounge was probably the best – not their food – but their coffee and ambiance. So when we visited Shangri-la Boracay last June for our wedding anniversary celebration, we hoped for the best…

After our usual Shangri-la resort tour, we first went to Sirena Restaurant and Clifftop Bar for our anniversary dinner.

Perched on a clifftop above crystal-blue waters, Sirena Seafood Restaurant & Clifftop Bar is the resort’s award-winning signature seafood restaurant. Specialties include dishes such as the seafood platter with the freshest and indulgent seafood selections.

Guests may also unwind at the iconic outdoor cabanas with the bar’s refreshing herb cocktails or your choice of classic concoctions. They serve cocktails, wines and beers.

The clifftop bar seems to be a romantic place with a nice view and perfect facade. But we are in for a surprise! The place is scorching hot without any breeze, granting that the restaurant is on the top of the cliff. There’s also a huge bonfire in the middle of the bar that actually kills mosquitoes and insects, also serves as the light of the bar, but it makes the whole area feel more humid. Not romantic at all!

Good thing there’s an indoor restaurant where there’s aircon inside and a more formal set-up. See that big door on the right side? Staff leaves it open ALL THE TIME – even their manager! This is why mosquitoes go in to the restaurant fast and easy. It’s already cold and comfy inside but everytime we close the door, someone opens it and make us feel extra-sticky.

I am 14 years married with my best friend! God You are good!

We waited 20 minutes for our food to be served. For a fine dining restaurant like them, it was quite fast, especially for someone who’s about to serve RIBS & PRAWNS. Now I know why 😜

For a start I must say that Shangri-la isn’t really good with food especially when compared to other budget-friendly hotels so technically, this is already expected. Food selection is limited at Sirena. Food is expensive and yet serving isn’t generous. They have kiddie meals but serving is for TODDLERS, too few and quality is “fast-food” like.

Fried rice is old and bland, veggies are undercooked and has no life. Barbecue ribs are okay but not hot when it was served – not tender nor tasty. Fries doesn’t taste like its new. Prawns looked like small shrimps and the sauce is thick without anything special to offer. We were so disappointed that we almost wanna leave the resort and not move on to our next restaurant destination.

Though staff here is friendly as well, there’s this monotonous and robotic faces they have – you won’t feel 100% sincerity from them. The most frustrating part is when there were mosquitoes and I asked if there’s anything they can do to get rid of them, like maybe close the door instead of leaving it open? The server said, “No. Just use your own mosquito patch.” Wow! If you only know how much our dinner costs, mapapa-isip ka buti pa sa Abe Megamall walang lamok 🙊

We arrived at Rima after 5 minutes of riding a buggy cart. Video tour here

Hidden away amongst the treetops, with a fantastic vantage overlooking the resort, award-winning Rima Mediterranean Treetop Dining offers a creative dinner experience in a romantic setting.

Experience a 4-course Degustation dinner, highlighting some of the menu’s signature dishes, or opt for a la carte specialties such as pasta, risotto and steaks.

Our table is near the entrance and window. Rima staff also provided electric fans for us. This restaurant is more enclosed and with smaller space in-between tables. I’m claustrophobic so I appreciate that their staff planned to put us somewhere with a bigger space and a more comfy area.

Outside is a small veranda with people drinking. It is quite humid with almost no air but the view is breathtaking indeed!

Inside the restaurant, people are more quiet and this side has better ventilation. The set-up is more romantic and elegant. Surprisingly, no mosquitoes but the darkness outside and the sound of monkeys (yes unggoy) and crickets will make you feel scared to the point that you wanna go home ASAP.

I thought this tastes delicious – 🤮

Wherever I am, I order a coffee banana peanut butter milkshake because I miss the one I used to order at UCC. Suddenly, they stopped making and serving them. Until now, I’m still on the lookout for the best version of this.

I appreciate that staff asked my preferences and ratio of banana, chocolate, milk and peanut butter. They even asked my usual milk and sugar level and they were concerned if we have allergies. I love it! Great job there Rima!

Me and my husband enjoyed this. Yes it is in very tiny portion but it is tasty, chocolatey and uniquely done. This is Rima’s strength. Not too sweet yet so delicous! I also ordered aglio olio with prawns – it was really pricey in small serving and nothing really special about it. I didn’t take a photo because plating wasn’t nice enough.

Rima Mediterranean Treetop Dining is open for dinner serving culinary masterpieces, best paired with excellent wines. This bread may look THAT good but it was hard as rock and with no taste at all. My children hated me for giving them a piece that they have to consume too of course 😉

Experience in Rima could be better than Sirena because of the efforts they put just so they can take care of us well. I appreciate the managers who reserved our tables before arrival and our Kuya who picked us up and brought us back to Crimson (not sponsored, we paid per way). He was really nice and welcoming.

But if there’s anything consistent about Shangri-la and all their hotels nationwide, it is the very stiff and dull faces of their staff. They greet us but their eyes are bored. They talk to us but it seems like they are not listening. They serve us food and tell us what they’re serving but their tone of voice is like a robot talking. I’m tired of telling Shangri-la about it. At least now I have my own platform where I can share this. With the kind of price they add on their service charge, we don’t deserve a robotic staff 🎎

All brands and products mentioned on this post are not sponsored. I’m currently having a #MissInformationGivesMACRubyWooAndAranazPH giveaway and whoever follows my blog and comments on this post (within the Philippines ONLY) may win a MAC Ruby Woo & Aranaz PH pouch. More details on my Facebook page and Instagram account. See you there!