Dolphin Restaurant: Topping Expectations

YOU hit the jackpot when you dine at this restaurant perched high above Saipan—tasty food, an intimate setting, an unobstructed, picturesque view of the lagoon, extravagant service, and to-die-for views of the sunset.
Located on the 10th floor of the Crystal Tower of the Hafa Adai Beach Hotel, the Dolphin Restaurant is the perfect rendezvous for intimate meetings, family gatherings, or informal hangout of friends and loved ones.
Checking out the place yesterday noon with three out-to-eat buddies, I was unprepared for the fantastic view that met my eyes when we emerged from the elevator. Glass windows on all sides present a superb view of Garapan and Managaha on the south side, parts of Garapan and Tinian from a distance in the north side, and the clear blue skies and vast ocean with its different hues and shades of blue waters at the center. Diners can see the different water sports and activities going on in the waters despite the noonday heat.
Restaurant Chef Samson Tan said although the restaurant has been there for years, not everybody knows about it. Each Sunday for brunch, Tan and his team whips up different variations of sumptuous international and local cuisines that appeal to the different tastes of the restaurant’s diversified customers.

An entertainer plays non-stop classical music on the piano, adding to the cozy ambiance of the restaurant.
Confusion will reign when you head to the buffet table — you won’t know where to start first because everything looked so mouthwatering. You’ll end up loading your plate and making several return trips for more.
Feast on the satiating and pristine flavors of grilled foods, sushi and sashimi section, seafood, hot or cold noodles, dessert station, and an endless selection that changes each time.
With each mouthful, you get a variety of textures from the fresh vegetable salads, light meats, shabu-shabu, noodles, and down to the tempting delights at the dessert section.
“There is always a reason to come back to the Dolphin Restaurant because we change the menu frequently. You cannot predict what comes next,” Tan said. They use local ingredients in their dishes.

We got to witness Tan demonstrate his skills in whipping up a Spanish omelet with cheese and penne pasta with seafood tomato cream soup real fast, and got to sample it afterward.
The all-you-can eat and drink Sunday brunch buffet gives you a taste of Korean, Western, Japanese, Filipino, Chinese, Chamorro and other cuisines all in one setting.

With a new general manager at the helm, Tan said they are re-launching the Hafa Adai brand not only to the tourists but to the local community.
“We would like to invite everyone to come and try our delicious but affordable dishes,” Tan said.
Dolphin Restaurant can seat over 70 persons. The Sunday brunch starts from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. and is only $18 per person. Daily lunch is from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., dinner is from 5:30 p.m. to p.m. every day. Barbeque starts from 6 p.m to 10 p.m.
All major credit cards are accepted. For reservations or inquiries, call 234-6495.

This article was first published HERE