Sans Rival Bistro
Sans Rival Bistro things to do, attractions, restaurants, events info and trip planning
Plan your stay
Posts
I recently had the opportunity to celebrate my despidida party at Sans Rival Bistro with my DOST Negros Oriental PSTO colleagues. We had a great time at the restaurant, and I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a delicious and affordable meal in a cozy and intimate setting. We ordered a variety of dishes for our party, including the bistro signature tapax mix, grilled malasugi, grilled barbeque spare ribs, and some other main dish. We also ordered mango mouse torte as dessert, and tropical fruit cooler as drinks. All of the food was delicious, and the portions were generous. I especially enjoyed the tapax mix, which was a unique and flavorful dish. The mango mouse torte was also delicious, and it was the perfect way to end our meal. In addition to the great food, we also enjoyed the excellent service at Sans Rival Bistro. Our server was attentive and friendly, and he made sure that we had everything we needed. He also took the time to answer our questions about the menu and the restaurant. We exclusively dined in a room on the second floor good for 10 persons. It was the perfect place to celebrate my despidida party. Overall, I had a wonderful experience at Sans Rival Bistro. The food was delicious, the service was excellent, and the ambiance was perfect. I highly recommend this restaurant to anyone looking for a great meal in a cozy and intimate setting.
Reinhold Jek AbingReinhold Jek Abing
10
Had a meal at Sans Rival in Dumaguete, and let me tell you, it's more than just pastries and sweets! Starting off with their Salad Nicoise, the tuna was fresh, and the veggies were crisp—total yum! The Herb Crusted Fish Fillet was soft on the inside with that perfect herb kick on the crust. While they're a local go-to for desserts, their main dishes hold up pretty well. As a Dumaguete delicacy, it's got that old charm and sits right by the boulevard, super close to the pier. It’s pretty popular, so you might wait a bit, but hey, it's a great spot to soak in the local vibes while you do. Pricing is what you'd expect for a place with a rep like this—not too steep, considering you're getting a slice of the city's pride. Solid 8/10! Sans Rival packs a punch with its main courses and is a delightful stop for anyone wanting to taste a piece of Dumaguete's rich history. Patience is a virtue here, especially during rush hour, but it's well worth the wait.
Grace LacayaGrace Lacaya
10
This is to formally express my profound dissatisfaction with my recent experience at Sans Rival Bistro. As a customer service professional with nearly a decade of experience, I have encountered a range of service scenarios and possess a comprehensive understanding of effective customer service practices. During my visit, an individual, whom I presumed to be a manager due to her distinctive uniform, correctly processed my partner's order while entirely neglecting to record my order. I suspect this oversight was intentional. After more than twenty minutes of waiting, as my partner was nearing the conclusion of his meal, I approached a waiter and politely requested a follow-up on my order. To my dismay, it became apparent that my order had only been entered into the system at that moment, resulting in an additional wait of approximately twenty minutes for my meal. Despite my efforts to remain composed, I ultimately decided to cancel my order upon its arrival, as I had been waiting for nearly an hour while my partner had already finished his meal. What is particularly disheartening is the stark contrast between my previous positive experiences at your establishment and this latest encounter. I have consistently praised your pastries and cuisine to colleagues in Cebu and regarded Sans Rival Bistro as a favored dining destination. However, the recent service failure has regrettably diminished my willingness to recommend your establishment in the future. I sincerely hope that management will take this matter seriously and reinforce the importance of customer service and the overall customer experience within your establishment. It is regrettable that what should have been an enjoyable early dinner for my partner and me was marred by this experience. An apology, while appreciated, cannot rectify the disappointment I felt. I trust that future customers will receive the high standard of service that I had come to expect from Sans Rival Bistro.
Kyser Pintor VentulaKyser Pintor Ventula
00
Won't go a second time. Sans Rival is a well known name in Dumaguete mainly for its patisserie (cakes and silvanas). So I was expecting a good quality meal at the bistro located in the middle of the Boulevard and was looking forward to a visit. Food looked OK, but the taste and texture wasn't great. The meat in burger was a highly processed, probably from frozen patty and the Spaghetti Vongalle was more carb and less seafood. Both were left unfinished. The tuna melt and cheesy lasagna was passable. Overall the food was a major disappointment. However, on saying that, the prices weren't that high. Our meal cost less than a thousand - probably because it was a reflection of cheap low quality ingredients. Our visit was on a Saturday evening and the place was full, so we ended up sitting outside. It was a little how and would have preferred the aircon indoors... So not really sure why the upstairs isn't open for guests. The outside was untidy/dirty with empty coke cans and cups on the walls from previous customers (well could be previous, previous customers, who knows how long it had been there). Not a great atmosphere to eat in, and slowish service due to it being busy and our remote location. I might try their famous Silvanas just out of curiosity, but no thanks for their meal dishes or a second visit to the bistro.
Chris ChanChris Chan
10
FOOD: They have decent food (some are hit & miss) and not crazy overpriced unlike other restaurants. They also have good variety of pastries & desserts which are pretty good at reasonable price. SERVICE: This can be hit & miss. Sometimes they have good service & sometimes it’s not great due to crowds around peak hours around lunch or dinner. For delivery, they usually do okay & still good portion like when you dine at the restaurant. Sometimes they forget about the specific notes we left on the order. STAFF: Also hit & miss. The ones I am already familiar with are nice & accommodating. Some of them are quite snob-ish. There were times I have to order for take out & the two ladies on the register just act like they didn’t see anyone standing in front of the counter. ATMOSPHERE: I usually like the outdoor seating but it can be annoying sometimes cus of the beggars & people tryna sell you stuff. I’ve been going here for so long and I can’t stand their super dirty sink that badly needed a proper deep cleaning. You can see how much build up it has on the photos. Also no hand soap to use. Their bathroom/toilet stinks and barely has toilet paper to use. I think it’s very important to have a clean toilet & sink to use esp in a restaurant.
hh
00
Nice place to visit when you are in Dumaguete. The interiors are very cozy, like a classic family home turned restaurant. I ordered the Sopa de Lentejas. It is a single serving soup but very hearty. I needed something light but substantial for dinner and this was the perfect choice. Of course, I also tried the Sans Rival. I only gave 3 stars for service because I felt at times that the servers are challenging to call. I was seated at the room, not the main hall. Servers would come through the door and into a small bussing station with their backs to the customers. Perhaps rethink the layout of the space so when servers use the bussing station or go through this space, they will be facing the customers seated in the room.
Anna Gellina SalameraAnna Gellina Salamera
00
Nearby Attractions Of Sans Rival Bistro
Ninoy Aquino Freedom Park
Quezon Park
St. Catherine of Alexandria Cathedral
Silliman University Anthropology Museum
Campanario de Dumaguete
Asia Novo Boutique Hotel-Dumaguete
Chinese Bell Church
Silliman Hall
Rizal Boulevard
Pantawan sa Dumaguete City

Ninoy Aquino Freedom Park
4.2
(543)Click for details

Quezon Park
4.2
(446)Click for details

St. Catherine of Alexandria Cathedral
4.7
(395)Click for details

Silliman University Anthropology Museum
4.4
(148)Click for details
Nearby Restaurants Of Sans Rival Bistro
Gerry's Dumaguete (Gerry's Grill)
Casablanca Restaurant Dumaguete - Cafe Bar & Fine Dining
Why Not? Dumaguete
Mr. Sizzler's
Jo's Chicken Inatô
Bo's Coffee - Rizal Boulevard, Dumaguete
2 Story Kitchen
Food Net
CB City Burger
Ground Zero Restaurant

Gerry's Dumaguete (Gerry's Grill)
4.7
(762)$$
Click for details

Casablanca Restaurant Dumaguete - Cafe Bar & Fine Dining
4.2
(545)Click for details

Why Not? Dumaguete
4.1
(531)$$
Click for details

Mr. Sizzler's
4.2
(430)Click for details
Basic Info
Address
165 San Jose St, Dumaguete, Negros Oriental, Philippines
Map
Reviews
Overview
4.5
(300 reviews)
Ratings & Description
attractions: Ninoy Aquino Freedom Park, Quezon Park, St. Catherine of Alexandria Cathedral, Silliman University Anthropology Museum, Campanario de Dumaguete, Asia Novo Boutique Hotel-Dumaguete, Chinese Bell Church, Silliman Hall, Rizal Boulevard, Pantawan sa Dumaguete City, restaurants: Gerry's Dumaguete (Gerry's Grill), Casablanca Restaurant Dumaguete - Cafe Bar & Fine Dining, Why Not? Dumaguete, Mr. Sizzler's, Jo's Chicken Inatô, Bo's Coffee - Rizal Boulevard, Dumaguete, 2 Story Kitchen, Food Net, CB City Burger, Ground Zero Restaurant
