MIST Restaurant — Restaurant in Panglao

If you are here for IG or Tiktok, you are in the right place. HOWEVER, if like me, you came here to dine, don’t bother. We came here because we had a reason to splurge a little as we had an occasion to celebrate some good news. Our uplifted moods quickly shifted to frustration and disappointment after visiting Mist, we wish we never came here.

Firstly, hats off to the design and the plants and the lights, it definitely makes it a nice space, but here is my gastronomy experience:

1- I ordered a cranberry and kiwi juice after I was told that ALL their smoothies are not made from fruits, but fruit jam. When my “juice” arrived, the moment I took a sip I realised it’s a cheap, boxed, concentrated apple juice (I know what it tastes like because I had it before). When I told the waitress, she started gaslighting me, saying it is indeed cranberry and kiwi, smiled, and left. I refused to drink it, then she came back, apologised, and said it is in fact apple juice because they ran out of the cranberry juice. I was frustrated because another waiter came and confirmed my taste, that is was not only apple, but from concentrate (mind you, even a low-key place in Panglao would serve you freshly pressed.) I was offered the options to order something else, so I went for a beer since they cannot “make it”.

2- My wife and I ordered the salmon pasta for her and the crab rice for myself. Her pasta arrived very fast. She waited for a few minutes hoping my plate was on the way, but it did not arrive so I told her to dig in. To her surprise, the pasta was already made, sitting there for god knows how long, and was microwaved before serving (we could tell as the outside was warm, while the inside was cold so it was not even microwaved long enough to cover it up properly. Not only is this a health and safety matter to play with seafood like this, but the taste was below average.

2- My plate arrived when my wife was about to take her last bite (so 20/25minutes after we ordered). This was already an inconvenience as we came to dine together, but ended up dining one after another. However, I did NOT dine. I was served this nice looking plate with a crab shell and rice in the middle. I liked the presentation, however, from their manipulation to trick me into drinking that concentrated syrup, I thought let me check out if this plate is delivering the ingredients it has on the menu (crab meat is supposedly what makes it a house speciality): You guessed it right, it was RICE AND SPICES, topped with a little bit of roe and tiny cucumber bits. The question was: Why is my crab scooped out of its meat, and where is the meat? (I am a heavy seafood eater, I know my crabs!) so I called the waiter, and he immediately informed who I think is a floor manager. Of course, I was told that “the meat is there” (again, making me question my reality). When I firmly insisted that there is not sign of crab meat, he apologised, told me he is not into seafood so he wouldn’t know, and offered to take it off the bill. I was also given a piece of chocolate cake for free which I took as an apology.

I know it’s not the waiters faults, but whoever is managing the kitchen costs of the ingredients aka the owner is a cheapskate ripping people off. So unless you are ordering something bottled or you’re there for the gram,...

Dunno where to start, there will be too many buts here… Ambience is great, but we were seated at a place too exposed to people traffic, thought it will be advantageous so the staff can easily assist us but no, staff are too busy. The area is open, but it’s too warm and uncomfortable, probably because of the lights. They need to add a ceiling fan or better yet, add “mist” - live out to the name. Male restroom was Out of Order and it wasn’t clear what’s the alternative. I had to ask around where else I can use one and was told to use the ladies’ room instead. I came here for their bestseller PORK PLATTER, but they phased it out and did not remove it from the menu which adds to the injury, sooo disappointing. They suggested the PYRO PORK ROLL, but it’s too gamy specially the skin. Remember how hot it was on our table? Putting the Pork Roll on fire in front of you only made me realize of a wrong choice of dish, the steam from the dish made the room temperature (despite being open) worse. I thought I was on a sauna. CHICKEN WINGS flavor ~meh. Try at your own risk. SALISBURY STEAK lacks umami, just make sure to pair it with MASHED POTATO because it’s good with it compared to rice. SEAFOOD CAVIAR PASTA tastes great, but they claimed that their caviar is premium, I can tell it is not. I’ve ben served caviars on Flights and it does not taste the same or probably the roe spoiled the flavor. I dunno what happened here. SEAFOOD FRIED NOODLE is great, no but here. NACHO is okay. So-so, but could have been served faster, after all, it’s an appetizer. The sole expectation for an appetizer is that it should come in first but not 3 minutes before the main dishes. Appetizers or entrees should be easy to prepare so guest has something to do while waiting for their food. BEEF BURGER came in last. We even forgot that we ordered it so we had to have it on the go. I dunno how it tasted then. Lastly, I hope the management will take care of their staff, I’m supposed to give this entire experience a single star, but because I’ve seen how tired-looking their servers are, I’m giving another star. We did not receive a warm welcome from any of them, they are all over and everywhere.

As a matter if suggestion, if they can relocate their kitchen on the 2nd floor it might work. People might get more entertained seeing live cooking and servers can have a balanced direction for serving orders rather that running to the 3rd floor and vice versa. Update the menu, remove phased out dishes. Ceiling fan or “mist”. Have a business card even just for 30 or 50 pcs just to have one in case somebody...

Visited in October 2024. Philippines. Panglao. Bohol.

MIST, recommended by a friend as a culinary gem in this part of the island, initially captivated us with its aesthetic appeal. The high ceilings, light-filled interior, and abundant greenery create a sophisticated and inviting atmosphere. The restaurant boasts ample space, but as we discovered, reservations are highly recommended due to its popularity. However, our group of six managed to secure a table without a reservation.

Food: The menu, while concise, presents a fusion of Asian and European cuisines, although the limited wine and cocktail selection felt more akin to a lounge than a full-fledged restaurant. We sampled a variety of dishes from the menu, yielding mixed results. The tacos, while generously filled, were ultimately underwhelming, their flavors lacking depth. The pulled pork and prawn tacos stood out with more pronounced and interesting taste profiles. The pork ribs were a disappointment. The meat struggled to separate from the bone and was a little dry. Even the sweet barbecue sauce couldn't salvage the lack of rich meaty flavor. The dumplings with meat, encased in black dough, were a culinary disaster. The filling contained partially cooked black rice and a small pieces of meat, creating a strange and unappetizing combination. The inclusion of rice in a dumpling was perplexing, a bizarre local peculiarity. The shrimp tempura was mediocre, leaving an oily aftertaste due to the excessive batter. The sauces, based on mayonnaise, further contributed to the dish's heaviness. The noodle soup with shrimp and pork had an unbalanced spiciness, lacking depth beyond a simple, fiery heat. The sole dish that truly impressed us was the beef ravioli in tomato sauce. The pasta was cooked to perfection, thin and smooth, and the sauce achieved a delicate balance between sweet and savory. The filling was juicy and flavorful. Our friends also enjoyed the berry milkshake.

Service:

Service was adequate, with the staff taking our orders and delivering our food. While the servers were friendly, they seemed somewhat indifferent, perhaps due to our foreign status and the language barrier. Removing dirty dishes was a slow process.

Conclusion:

We were left puzzled by MIST's popularity. The food, frankly, was average. While edible, it lacked the quality and excitement to warrant a return visit. The beautiful interior is undoubtedly a highlight, setting it apart from other establishments on the island. For those seeking a stylish setting, the cocktails are a good option, though pricing is...