The Fat Cow — Restaurant in Davao City

after reading so many reports about this eatery, i thought it time to go there for dinner with my partner...17th april 2019......i sent message via there web sit and email asking for a table at 7pm for two....but had no response..so decided to go instead as google said they were open...35 minute taxi ride arrived 745 pm..looks nice from out side three table being used inside...entered and as for table for two...waitress offered us table by the door, when there were other tables inside to restaurant...i asked for the table by the kitchen pass...as would like to see what is going on.....sat down..nice decor..waitress offered us menus and then spoken to my partner..saying that they would be closing at 830 as they need to fumigate the restaurant...nice to know they have a pest problem...but really should have shut for the night or arranged another day....dont tell your clientel you have a pest problem...poor reputation builder....minus 1 mark....order the pork and the burger as only had 30 minutes to eat before we needed to be out the restaurant....i did say to the waitress that she needed to work fast as every restaurant ive eaten in in Davao allways says 15 to 30 minutes for your meal......as we waited we had a basket of ciabatta with onin chutney placed on the table....toasted and warm bread..yummy....no bread was so hard to eat, ended up cutting my gum....my partner just said hard or over crunchy....inedable minus 2 .....my beer arrived after 5 minutes in a can..no glass or napkin/tissue to wipe the top...i had to ask the other waitress for a glass...minus point 3...as my partners hot chocolate arrive at 20 past 8...thats 20 minutes to make hot chocolate.....the first main course arrive at 15 minutes past and was my partners pork chop looked very nice..i had to wait 10 more minutes for my burger....this looked nice but my partner pork chop was nearly cold.....as this is a sharing resturant/bistro/brassiere its a custom that meals are served together so thay can be shared.....ok...mash potato was nice as was the bbq sauce, but not much of it....the pork was hard and over cooked,,,more like wood really...the burger had some tasteless paste smeared on the board..no tomato or gem in the brioch bun with nigelle and seasme seeds...the lamb and weston skin on fries were ok, the onion ring were very nice.....as we ate our meal, the other clientel left and then the real fun started....the waitress and her team started to cover up the displays with plastic bag..ready for the fumigation...two other members of staff stated to turn chairs upside down and place on table.....what can i say...the night was a mess..the food very poor...there service terrible...the fat caw should have closed last night..as its thoughts were on fumigation and not its paying customers...the customers that pay the wages...anyway....i will look at some where...

Came in for lunch. Service was not the most attentive during the meal but they served our table immediately.

The prices are steep. They have big servings for food so you can pretty much order 1 main course good for 2 people.

I’m an admitted hater of this restaurant, last eating here around 8 years ago i think, and I could only describe the food as pretentious. Slightly creative but poorly executed.

A lot of their menu is “aged” and with big portions to try and justify the prices.

Today’s Order:

Table bread: there was variety of breads given. They were good. Soft and toasty. They gave a some pomodoro (which didnt taste like tomatoes but was still pretty bland. The recipe seemed like a confused chikd experimenting) they also served infused olive oil and balsamic (olive oil though infused was blaaaand balsamic taste was just too sour also.) this really felt like a red flag that makes you want to cancel your order and leave the restaurant 😅

Bolognese: I personally liked the use of spices (and i think kalabaw) it had this baho na aftertase, like mexican but not. The taste was good. But the past was overcooked and the sauce watery. Yung parang ilang reheat na sa microwave.

Salmon croquette: croquette didnt taste of potato. I dont know if they used starch or old potato balls frozen? Pero it was bland, with an overwhelming taste of fishy salmon and not much else. The mayo dip tasted like some mayo dip which is weird cause it looked so pretty with liked glazed drizzles of whatever pa. Underwhelming starter for 300-400+?

Kimchi rice: i liked it. The dish felt confused between what is korean and japanese tho hahaha. Pero its salty and savoury yung everything

Overall: Price can only be justified by its quantity. I think the people who enjoy it here are those that dont and arent particular with their food. Masaya na sila kumain sa sosyal na may wagyu sa menu. Place still feels like eating leftovers at the back of fancy restaurant’s kitchen — where youre not allowed to touch...

I eat out frequently in Davao City and have done so for close to ten years now, and for me The Fat Cow is a breath of fresh air! Mr Patrick Co the young owner and Head Chef clearly has the enthusiasm and expertise to make quite an impact on Davao City's culinary landscape.

While I can see small influences of Philippines cuisine, it is only that, the menu is comparable to that of a first class Bistro located say in Rome or Paris and Patrick has stuck to his guns as far as this goes, there are enough local Philippines outlets around serving Philippines dishes, good though many of them are.

The food varies from a hand prepared burger and Pizza through to steak and fish dishes, and salads, and a lot of thought has gone into presentation. I found the pumpkin soup particularly delicious and the other starters equally appetising. The kitchen area is clearly visible to all diners and you can watch Patrick and his staff at work preparing your chosen dish, this alone inspires confidence and I saw nothing there of a negative nature.

This establishment opened on April 20th 2016 and so the decor and table furnishings are to a high standard and I have a feeling that under Patrick's watchful eye they will remain this way. My opinion is that the majority of the patrons will be young upwardly mobile middle class Philippines professionals and business people, but I would not be surprised if a few foreigners dine here as well.

I would not be doing my job right if I did not list any negative points, but I would make it clear that in my opinion the ambiance, the food, the presentation and Patrick himself deserve a five star rating. But with only 45 covers it would have been good to be able to make a reservation which you cannot do at present. Things are done on a first come first served basis which meant there were patrons patiently waiting outside on the night I was there.

Other than that, come and eat here, get here early, you will not be...