Sinugba, Daly City

Sadly, I have to pull my recommendation for Sinugba in Daly City. In the last six months, there must have been an owner change in this veritable landmark of a restaurant in Daly City. What else can explain the decrease in food quality?

My unhappiness has been confirmed by three outings to Sinugba. Orders of a la carte dishes are smaller and not as consistent as before. In the latest outing even the pusitilog dishe did not impress me. Whereas before the squids were of consistent size and were cooked to firmness, the squids that were served looked like they originated from Safeway or any grocery store. I am quite sure that restaurants are given preference with respect to buying higher quality meats/produce/fish than general grocery stores. In fact, this is the reason that steaks in restaurants are so good. The restaurants buy steaks that are "prime quality."

Another thing to complain about is that the hours of the restaurant have changed. Before, service was up to 1 AM. Now, the restaurant closes at 11PM. This has had the result of changing the energy and the feel of the restaurant. Whereas before it was the destination spot for Pin@ys who are coming back from partying in SF, now the restaurant is dead by nine or ten o'clock.

I am not the only one to notice the changes. The clients have not been as numerous in Sinugba. The last two times we were there, we did not have to wait too long for an empty table. It used to be that one had to wait for the right time to go becaus the line would be out the door.

Sinugba had a great run of about four to five years. I will remember it well because of all the great time I had there. I once saw Maylene Briones a member of Pinay Divas going to Sinugba. I was excited because heck, celebrities were patrons of the restaurant.

Here's to the previous owners of Sinugba! Cheers! May you enjoy your retirement! But if you are charitable, can you please tell the new owners that they are messing up a good thing?