Want a “Taste” of Boracay without having to leave Bohol?
Lotus Storm is where you should go. 😊
Founded by a Chinese nationale, Ms. Luwen Dong, Lotus Storm is an Asian Fusion restaurant that started in Boracay and was brought to Bohol in 2018. They have 2 restaurants in Boracay and 3 branches here in Bohol, with one planned to be a resort soon.
Lotus is a flower that’s native to Asia and flourishes in a wide range of climates from China to India. It is also one of the most significant flowers in the Chinese culture.
Storm, as we visualize it, is a whirlwind, which signifies the fusion or mix of everything.
Combined together, Lotus Storm is a fusion of Asian cultures through food.
LOCATION
The restaurant is located at the beachfront portion of Modala Mall in Doljo, Panglao, Bohol. It covers an area of 500 square meters with 360 degree sea view. While only the fine dining restaurant on the second floor is open for now, the lower ground is expected to be where coffee, snacks, refreshing drinks and cocktails will be served.
When all goes back to normal, Lotus Storm’s vision is geared towards being a music bar and restaurant.
We got invited to visit Lotus Storm and try their food, along with our friend, Jeff of @foodietarsiidae and his beautiful wife, Ria. 💖
Here’s how it went…
AMBIANCE
Entering the resto takes you into a different world. With Fish Storm as it’s theme, it’s impossible not to notice the fishes and bubbles above your head, hanging on the ceiling. On one side, you’ll see a breathtaking ocean view and on the other side are walls elegantly designed as fish scales. Even the lighting beautifully complements the underwater theme. Definitely a first in Bohol! 🎉
It’s interesting to know that it was the owner herself, Ms. Pai, who designed the interiors. Furniture is imported all the way from China while the classy glassware and dinnerware are from Vietnam and Thailand.
Best time to go is around 5pm so you can catch the golden hour from there and see the interior lighting shine gracefully in the evening.
FOOD
To start off our fine dining experience, we were offered a 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon from Chile.
For the record, they are the first restaurant in Bohol that serves their wine along with a decanter to improve the wine’s taste even more.
We were also able to try their cocktails, Clover Club (pink one) for the girls and Long Island Iced Tea for the guys. These are their manager’s best choices when it comes to their cocktails.
Coming next is their snack platter, which was very savory and flavorful. The bites are a mix of sweet, spicy, crunchy and healthy options. It’s definitely a must-try!
For the main course, they gave us their Beef Salpico which are thin beef slices marinated in mix seasonings, served with mashed sweet potato & bearnaise sauce and topped with poached egg.
They also made us try their Fish Fillet, pan fried fish in garlic butter, served with baked or smashed potato with a caramelized banana on the side.
And of course, their newest dish, the Wellington Steak, which was named after the owner’s name, “Luwen Dong Steak”. 😋
Here are the prices for your reference:
Another interesting thing about Lotus Storm is that they change their menu every month so every time you come back, you’ll still see new options to choose from. 😊👍
PEOPLE
From the owner, to the manager and staff, everybody is just very welcoming. They are a mix of Aklan-natives and Boholano locals.
Ms. Pai’s friend, Xiaoyu Song, also created crafty balloons and gave us a balloon bouquet as a souvenir. Isn’t it cute? Thank you so much for the warm welcome! 🥰🎈
The manager, Sir Lence, is an Aklan-native and a previous manager of Shangrila Boracay. Now, he is already managing all Lotus Storm branches. Sir Lence was very accommodating, walking us through the entire dining experience.
DINING UNDER THE STARS IS TOO MAINSTREAM,
HOW ABOUT WE DINE UNDER THE SEA? 😊✨
Overall, our Lotus Storm experience was SUPERB.
Food is great and savory,
Ambiance is classy,
Place is picture-worthy,
Prices are reasonable, even more affordable compared to other fine dining restaurants that we’ve been to.
Don’t miss Lotus Storm when you visit Panglao!
For bookings and inquiries, feel free to check out their Facebook account or contact directly this number: 0921-717-6538
So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.
1 Corinthians 10:31
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