“There’s no mistake, sir,” he replied. “The crispy lapu-lapu comes with some shrimp.” He then pointed to a piece on my plate that didn’t have a red tail sticking out, and there, outnumbered by the crustaceans, was my lapu-lapu. I just laughed it off an prayed that my on-again-off-again allergy to shrimp wouldn’t decide to show up.Random Posts:

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Thankfully, the burger landscape in the city has changed over the past weeks with the entry of Brothers Burger, a ten-year-old all-Filipino brand that offers arguably the best burgers this side of the world. The Davao City franchise, located at the Damosa Business Park, soft-opened on November 6, and it has been opening up the palates of Davaoeños to a whole new experience in burgers.

The place itself is small, but that doesn’t seem to stop people from coming in, and in large numbers at that. When my wife and I went there one Wednesday afternoon, the place still had a number of customers even though it was well past lunchtime. Store operation specialist Arnel Macaganda, who had come in from Manila to oversee the opening stages of the franchise, said they have been overshooting their target sales by 40 percent — proving that when it comes to good food, price doesn’t matter for Davaoeños

Store operation specialist Arnel Macaganda proudly shows off the restaurant.

Not that Brothers Burger is necessarily pricey. While it is more expensive than fast food burgers, the place does have something for everyone. Prices range from P58 for the Baby Brothers Burger to P350 for the specialty Wagyu Burger (so named because it uses wagyu beef, known for its flavor, tenderness, and juiciness). In between these two is a wide range of products that, as the spiel says, satisfies one’s urge for real burger.

My wife and I tried a few items at Arnel’s prodding: the basic Brothers Burger, a Roast Beef Sandwich, and a Blues Brothers signature burger. Our food came in 15 minutes, fresh from the grill (“They’re flame grilled,” Arnel said, a process that maintains the beef’s taste but leaves out the grease) and looking, well, huge. No wonder they cost more: you really do get your money’s worth.

But size isn’t everything; as they say, the proof of the pudding is in the eating. The burgers were indeed a league apart from fast food fare: chunky without being tough, juicy without being greasy, it was pure, unadulterated, all-beef goodness. We dug into the Blues Brothers immediately, and as blue cheese lovers my wife and I fell in love with it. The strong, sharp flavor of the cheese complemented the round and subtle taste of the beef.

We were so full from the two burgers (plus a side order of onion rings) that we couldn’t even start with the Roast Beef Sandwich, so we bagged it for our teenage boy. In the end we spent more than we would on a meal, but this is no fast food restaurant, and its hamburgers are by no means junk food. As Arnel told us, Brothers Burger uses the best ingredients plus a secret recipe developed by one of its co-founders, Chef Quito Jose (one of the “Brothers”). That there’s actually an in-house chef tells you it’s not your usual burger joint.

There are plans to expand the franchise in Davao City, with eyes cast upon the upcoming Ayala mall along J.P. Laurel Avenue. For now it’s just the Damosa branch: the little restaurant with the big burgers.

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