Café Laguna — Restaurant in Cebu City

I should have taken heed to the rating and reviews posted here. Staff was indeed inattentive.

Just a bit of backstory. My daughter passed away very recently. My teenage son's birthday was just a few days after my daughter's death and burial. Since it was just a my son, my partner and I celebrating the birthday, I thought it might help lighten the mood if we eat where a the restaurant's staff could sing happy birthday for him. We always see it during his cousins' birthdays at different restaurants, so I was thinking I'd like for him to experience that.

Buffet was not an option because his school ends at 2pm and we work nights.

So we decided on a very late lunch at cafe Laguna.

We purposefully spoke with the manager Bryan before entering the restaurant, asking if they do the birthday singing, and he said yes. We bought our own slice of cake since they didn't have one.

Our drinks came in way too late, only after we almost finished our meal. food was not properly arranged when served, they just placed it on the table without taking the time to place them evenly.

I chose to ignore these red flags because I didn't want to ruin the birthday mood. I wanted to focus on my son's birthday and forget, even for just a day, the painful loss we recently had in the family.

We finished our meal and paid the bill but no singing happened. So I asked the waiter to return the slice of cake and asked why they never came in to sing.

The excuse was they were waiting for our signal.

Maybe both sides failed to communicate properly? Or they simply forgot. We never needed to cue the staff whenever we request for a birthday song.

I never heard an apology from the waiter. Nor from...

Horrible experience I was frequent customer till today I always ask if they have crab available this is a popular dish I used to like it too much cuz they bring you a plate with a lot of small chunks of crab in a thick delicious coconut sauce, so when they say yes I took a seat and was utterly dissapointed just before my bill arrive I saw the same dish I order and they look good with the small chunks of crab So I was thinking I was satisfied my cravings today but the dishes arrived they just put on me two boiled crab meatless with two huge chunks of coconut meat without being cut properly like they used to do it's like they cook just put there lazy 2 boiled crab put 2 huge chunks of coconut meat not cut properly bigger than the lousy crab, there is no excuse for this Iike I wrote I saw The same dish how it should be done just before mine arrived I think I had a bad luck for my order to be handled by the wrong person in the kitchen, but not only the crab was a total disaster when the rice arrived the garlic rice was just as small as sprinkle a roasted garlic on top and the rice instead of being dry to match with the sauce It was like oatmeal like congee they cannot even do rice wel I told the waitress to tell the manager about it but seems they don't care too cuz they never even show their face The ownership should put more attention both to the kitchen and to the management of the place I would never...

Consistently poor service. Wait staff is always facing away from the customers, it’s difficult to get anyone’s attention. I need to get up myself to get anything done. The layout is also not conducive to flagging down a waitress, too many blind spots and pillars to block the view. Either get an electronic call button or train staff better.

Drinks are usually served late, so I hope you’re not prone to choking in the meantime.

Food is passable, not quite as good as before, but expect a wait time of an hour even when it’s not busy. Price does not particularly justify taste. Serving sizes are small. Don’t order appetizers, you’ll be full when the meal arrives.

Better yet, skip this place and go somewhere else instead. A thoroughly...