1988 Bistro Dumaguete — Restaurant in Dumaguete

Intro: I didn't have a reservation but coming in on Monday around Noon they happily welcomed me in. This establishment just might have the strongest aircon I have ever experienced, so it was definitely enjoyable on a hot day! They also have wifi as well, so ask for the connection if you are interested!

Service: 10/10 -- I will just say the staff here have given the best customer service I've experienced thus far while dining out here in the Philippines (very professional, checking with me on how my meal is, keeping a watchful eye out for if I need service).

Food: I ordered the Mushroom Soup, the 1988 Grilled Chicken and Bacon Salad and the Karne Frita w/ Broccoli. I also ordered a side of Garlic Rice.

Mushroom Soup: 9/10 if you love mushrooms, I would not skip this soup. The mushrooms have been blended into the soup so it has a deep mushroom umami flavor. One of the best soups I've had and I would come back to try it again.

1988 Grilled Chicken and Bacon Salad: 8/10 A great bright salad that comes with lettuce, cherry tomatoes, grapes, cucumbers, grilled chicken, bacon and with a dressing. I would suggest asking for the dressing on the side to control the amount yourself, but other than that it was a fresh salad that I enjoyed. I would reorder this again.

Karne Frita w/ Broccoli: 7/10 It's basically just broccoli beef with additional vegetables. The beef flavor isn't as strong as I would have liked and I probably would have liked the beef to be more tender. The broccoli and other veggies were cooked to the perfect tenderness, still having a decent bite to them.

Garlic Rice: I needed some rice with the Karne Frita, so I opted for the Garlic Rice since it was only 5 pesos more than regular rice. For me, the garlic rice needed more garlic, but still not bad!

Overall, I would definitely come back for this dining experience if back...

My sister had highly recommened this place but it was quite a disappointing experience. Nacho chips were stale, although the toppings had good flavor. Pork steak was a bit tough. The rosemary chicken was really tasty and well cooked. Beef and chicken burgers tasted fine. The steak was served super early however the rice arrived almost 30 minutes after it. Tom yum soup was just okay. The club sandwich had a really good portion but was quite salty. The food also came out really slow with the drink order getting mixed up. The supervisor, Ronald, was given feedback which he graciously accepted. We ended up getting the drinks for free. A lot of the things on the menu were unavailable. Food portions were actually quite generous. The ambiance of the place was quite homey and I particularly loved the piano music. The staff were quite accomodating, maybe it was just a bad day at the kitchen. Will still come back to try...

First visit to 1988 Bistro, a newly opened fine dining spot in Dumaguete. The ambiance truly lives up to its fine dining label with an exquisite wooden interior that adds a cozy yet elegant touch. We ordered the 1988 Chicken Salad and Grilled Pompano, which we requested to be fried instead. Both dishes were impeccable, perfectly cooked, and full of flavor, deserving a perfect score. The service was another highlight; the staff were exceptionally polite and provided a level of hospitality that can only be described as world-class.

The prices are what you'd expect for a fine dining establishment and are definitely worth it given the quality of food and service.

1988 Bistro offers a top-notch dining experience with exceptional service and expertly prepared dishes. It's a must-visit for anyone looking for a special meal...