I heard about a place called The Boundary through neighbors and friends. The new café-resto sits on the Southern Cebu National Highway a stone throw away from the welcome arches marking the border of two rural towns; Moalboal and Alcantara in the Philippines.
This inspired me to do a linked post series called South Cebu Best Pit Stops that features delicious places to eat located along or near the highway. These pit stops will guarantee a perfect tummy-filling stopover, a good leg stretch after a long drive with (wait for it) a clean restroom while on a road trip down south of the Cebu island.
The Boundary Café and Restaurant serves authentic regional Filipino Cuisine. Friends living in our small town made it a weekly habit to dine here since its opening last December 2021. Residents take a 10-minute drive from Moalboal to unwind for an afternoon coffee or even an intentional trip alone to indulge in a me-time dinner.
On a long 3-hour car journey to Moalboal from Cebu City, the well-lit restaurant stands out against the dark countryside area. The kind that pulls your eyes away from the road while your heightened curiosity tempts you to pull over.
Spherical abaca and capiz lanterns are suspended throughout the main floor and open balcony teeming with diners enjoying their hot meal. The parking space is often packed with 4x4 vehicles. The light emanating from the lanterns captures attention and lures even those who had no plans of dining there. Sometimes you'll catch a few tunes played by a live band on weekend nights.
Where is it?
Brgy. Polo 6033 Alcantara, Cebu, Philippines
Instagram @theboundary.ceb
Email: cafetheboundary@gmail.com
Open daily from 10:00 to 22:00
Our first attempt for a lunch stopover several weeks ago was unsuccessful. It was so busy, there was no space for our small tuk-tuk to park.
Yesterday, on our way back home from roofing repairs around brunch time, we were able to grab a parking spot squeezed in front of a tree opposite two big vehicles.
It was a bustling Saturday and arriving at half-past 11 secured a table on a patio on the ground floor. The balcony tables were already packed with families. I asked for permission to capture these images and waited for diners to leave before taking photographs of the restaurant's interior.
We were seated and the friendly staff handed over menus. For ease of order taking, guests can scan the QR code. I chose to take pictures of the menu to share here.
Starters & Selection of Vegetarian Choices
We picked Krispy Kangkong, deep-fried water spinach fritters for starters. My daughter who hates veggies refused to eat it at first but couldn't get enough of it after the first bite.
I had a sudden craving for Utan Bisaya which is one of their bestsellers that I had for the main course.
Utan is a regional dish which is a soup bowl of boiled locally grown vegetables such as alugbati (our local vine spinach), okra (lady's fingers or gumbo), tomatoes, ginger, green onions, eggplant, squash, long green pepper,malunggay (moringa leaves), and a few night vegetables. It's a healthy and nutritious dish. Their version has bits of tinapa for added flavor.
Beverage
While waiting, we ordered a refreshingly cold Mixed Fruits Delight Pitcher. The juice had calamansi (Philippine Lime), watermelon, and mandarins.
The swing sets kept us company and the greenery that surrounded the dining area. My curiosity led me to a small wooden backdoor of the property with a small footbridge above a narrow canal. Diners were oblivious to the fact that behind the wall of greenery was a vast open field.
The existence of the play area made it child-friendly and ideal for families. Plant lovers are distracted by the varieties of plants on display. Even their vanity washbasin is garden-themed.
We didn't wait long. Our order arrived shortly after we finished the starter.
Main Course and Dessert
My husband and daughter ordered unlimited plain rice and melt-in-your-mouth tender Beefsteak Tagalog which they thoroughly enjoyed.
We ordered an extra plate of mixed noodles called Bam-i to share.
A meal isn't complete without sampling their dessert. They take pride in their different types of cheesecakes but if binignit and banana turon are right up your alley, they have those as well.
All three of us shared the mango and blueberry cheesecakes on graham crusts. Of course, dessert is incomplete without ordering a freshly brewed cup of black coffee. We asked for the bill afterward equivalent to about Php 1490 (USD$ 28.70) excluding the service charge. We left a 10% tip.
Allow Php 500 (USD$ 10) per person for a three-course meal and a minimum budget of around Php 300 (USD$ 6) per person.
I went upstairs to take pictures of the balcony as soon as most guests left but the staff was still tidying up the plates, so I didn't. We had an accidental encounter with french friends based in the city who were in town this weekend for a meeting.
They are quite selective and admittedly picky with food but they became regulars whenever they're in the south. We briefly caught up while they waited for their orders and learned that they frequently order Monggo sa Gata (Mung beans in creamy coconut) and Pork Sisig with unlimited rice.
My Takeaway
Since their launch late last year, they've quickly built a strong following towards their vision of being a "Pride of the South" communicated through their branding and good customer service. The food was delicious. The Boundary has a convenient location, pleasing ambiance, and good value for money. I might just become a regular here.
Thank you for reading and have a lovely weekend!
"I am an old soul who simply loves coffee, who finds joy and beauty in both tangible and the unseen."
Curiosity and imagination lead to unexpected experiences. Interested in Nature, Places, Roads Less Traveled, Minimalism, Authentic Living, Anything French, and International Cuisine. Feel free to follow her, re-blog, and upvote if you enjoy her content.