CEBU AT NIGHT: PAOLITO'S SEAFOOD HOUSE STK TA BAY.

STK Ta Bay, Cebu's Popular Seafood Restaurant

By Henry Libo-on

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Do you think, they enjoy dining here at Paolito's Seafood House? 
  

The Entrance to Paolito's Seafood House, a.k.a. STK 'Ta Bay.

One night, while we were experiencing the summer heat in the queen city of southern Philippines, Cebu, I was thinking of spending the night in the apartment** with just a simple dinner.  Then our friend mentioned that she will host a dinner for her relatives and that she was inviting us to join her. We were talking about which restaurants to go to. We thought of what we want to eat, then we will think of a restaurant.  With this in mind, a restaurant could just be considered after knowing what food we want to order.  Some of us want hot fish stew, locally known as Tinola.  Some of us would also want something grilled.  And so, the decision was reached that the best place would be STK.

Family and Friends Bonding Time with the big boss, Jo Segundino, with Al, Anem, Moi, and her nephew and his wife and their travel buddies. 

This STK is the acronym for Sugba, Tola, and Kilaw.  Sugba is a local dialect for the grill, Tola means stew and Kilaw suggests that slices of fish meat or seafood are flavored with vinegar, spices and mixed to taste or gives the flavor of being tasty or yummy.  So, anybody can have a choice of Sugba, Tola, or Kilawin. And so, we landed at STK 'Ta Bay which is also known as Paolito's Seafood House.

The owner's daughter, Ms. Karen Alcover Cabahug was gracious to join us for a souvenir photo.

From our address at 1016 Promenade, it did not take us long to reach this restaurant.  Where it is located, reminded me of Ermita in Manila,  where old houses that stood on both sides of the road had been converted into bars and restaurants.  The ones here on Orchid Street, Capitol Site, did not match what Ermita had to offer.  In fact, only a few old houses had been converted into restaurants.  But, Boy, one place stood out and that was STK 'Ta Bay, or Paolito's Seafood House.

Antique pieces can be found in every nook and cranny of Paolito's. 

The place was fully booked that evening and we had to wait for a few minutes to be guided to our table. A waiter guided us to the inside of an old house that does not really look like a restaurant.  Soon, I saw tables with guests seated and probably waiting for their orders.  At another long table, a family enjoyed their meal under a vintage chandelier.  Behind them is a big cabinet full of antiques like glasses, bottles, china, and crystals, among others.

Ms. Karen A. showed me around the second restaurant of Paolito's just located across the street from the original heritage house where we dined that evening.  Thanks, Ms. Karen for taking this picture. 

In another corner, we were seated at a rectangular table near a cabinet full of antiques, and facing me was a picture of a couple in their wedding attire.  Near that picture frame is a wedding gown that looked similar to the one in the picture frame.

The slogan that popularizes this restaurant - "STK 'Ta Bay".

Later that evening, the manager confirmed that the gown was her aunt's wedding dress as shown in the picture framed and hang on that wall.

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From the menu, we had a few choices that we decided to savor that night: grilled panga (tuna); spicy squid, fish stew (I guess it was also tuna), barbecue, and some rice.  We ordered more specially cooked seafood, but my memory is really poor at that time and I cannot remember the rest of what we ordered.  Poor me.  The guys went for San Mig Light and the ladies chose pineapple juice and fruit shakes.  As we were about to order for dessert, I saw two of our companions doing an "operation" on the grilled "panga".  The other guy showed expertise in doing this "operation" that he was able to clean the "panga" with its delicious meat. 

Food was relished together with good conversations about Cebu as a tourist and business hub, updates about family and friends, politics, and of course heritage houses being converted into restaurants such as the Alcover's STK 'Ta Bay.

Paolito's Seafood House, STK 'Ta Bay is located at #6 Orchid Street, Capitol Site, Cebu City with telephone numbers, 256-2700 and 253-4732. 

When dinner was over and the conversations reached its crescendo, I decided to have a look at the many antiques I saw around the house cum bar and restaurant.  Then, I went outside to meet the owner. I do not know why but I just have the inkling that I want to talk to her.  I asked a lady whose picture seems to be on every picture posted on the walls and I said: "Hi, is Michelle here?"  I said with great confidence as if I know Michelle.  The lady retorted: "Who's Michelle sir?"  and my quick reply was, "the owner, she seemed to be in every picture here.", and I pointed to those pictures posted on the wall where one of them was captioned with the name "Michelle".   Then, the lady told me, "My name is Karen, I am the owner's daughter, Karen Alcover Cabahug."  "Oh, my, sorry, but, it is my pleasure to meet you, Ms. Karen." I quickly said and introduced myself and the reason why I wanted to meet her. 

She invited me to see their family's old receiving room where several antique pieces hung on the walls and a few pieces are placed on tables. Looking at the numerous antique collections all around the house cum restaurant,  I imagined that these were worth a fortune. 

Remembering my friends that I left at our table, I asked Ms. Karen if she can join me with my friends for a group picture. She was gracious to share this special moment with us who just had a very good night out and dinner at Cebu's popular restaurant, her family's STK 'Ta Bay, or Paolito's Seafood House.

List of foods served at Paolito's Seafood House.  You can keep this for your file. 

All of us were happy and smiling as we left STK 'Ta Bay with Ms. Karen sharing light moments with us.  

This evening of fine dining and bonding with friends was not the last, because we visited the restaurant again and once more savored the best of Cebu's STK.

Our second trip to Paolito's Seafood House, a.k.a. STK 'Ta Bay.  With Ms. Jo, Moi, Al, and Anem.

Ka serious look si Tito oi. haha...

Do you want more proof, why, there's nothing left here?

To Ms. Karen, here's the blog about your restaurant.  It was one of our memorable evenings dining at Paolito's Seafood House.

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If you are in Cebu, try visiting STK 'Ta Bay at #6 Orchid Street, Capitol Site, Cebu City.  Your visit to Cebu City will never be complete if you cannot dine at Paolito's Seafood House, STK 'Ta Bay.  Sorry, this picture was shot when I was, probably, moving my camera at the same time. 

Source of image: freedomwall.net by Ian. Thanks.

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**Our group (World Bank Consultants) rented a Gullas Apartment at Guadalupe for 35K/mo. It is near Jollibee and all other service areas - hotels, hospitals, malls, and many others. 

*All photos by Henry Libo-on of Touristang Pobre except those two pictures that were source from freedomwall.net and beyondcebu.com.

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Touristang Pobre

*He has been a travel writer for WHAT'S ON (In the Visayas & Mindanao), a travel guide circulated in Cebu and other parts of the Vis-Min regions.

*He was a writer and columnist of Negros Daily Bulletin, a local newspaper in Bacolod City and circulated around the province and Western Visayas. 

*He was a former Tour Guide when BTTI or Bureau of Travel & Tourist Industry became the Department of Tourism, circa early '70s. 

*He was a former Executive Assistant to the then Governor of Negros Occidental and later on Mayor of Bacolod City, Honorable Alfredo L. Montelibano, Jr. 

*He was a former OIC-CPDO or City Planning & Development Officer of Bacolod City Government.

*He is currently based in the U.S. but calls Bacolod City and Negros Occidental his home. 

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Updated on February 5, 2018.
Updated on May 9, 2019.
Reviewed on July 6, 2020. 

Updated on December 3, 2020. 

Reviewed September 23, 2021. 

Reviewed on December 7, 2022.