By Maia Fortich-Poblete
MimaiScribbles
One of our go-to places for good food is RedTail Shrimps & More. Originally located at Papa Juanito’s Square (across the Mallberry Suites entrance) and Velez Streets, the restaurant now has a new home at the Rosario Strip, Limketkai Center. The area is bigger and better, all the more reasons for you to choose to celebrate Christmas at RedTail with your family and friends.
The RedTail Story
The RedTail story started when the husband and wife team of Ted and Angela (nee Chaves) Jalad decided to bring the fisherman’s restaurant to Cagayan de Oro. These dining places were popular in Los Angeles, California. The couple wanted Kagay-anons to experience the fun and satisfaction of wearing paper bibs, eating with plastic-gloved hands, and feasting on one-of-a-kind seafood recipes. So, they worked hard to come up with their own recipe; one that could make Kagay-anons want to go back to their dining experience again and again.
Not long after, Ted and Angela opened the first RedTail branch at Papa Juanito’s Square. Several years later, the Velez branch opened.
RedTail Popularity
Kagay-anons easily warmed up and learned to love RedTail. In fact, there were long lines of waiting diners when they opened. I remember passing by Papa Juanito’s and marveling at the fact that the people patiently waited to get tables. I told myself, “Wow, RedTail must be really good! People actually line up to eat there!”
In the following years, RedTail continued to attract more diners; even those from outside Mindanao. I have a friend from Manila who never fails to remind me to take her to the restaurant whenever she’s in the city. She has told me a couple of times already, “Maia, we need to go to RedTail when I visit CDO again! I cannot leave CDO without eating at RedTail!”
What makes RedTail different from other shrimp – and seafood – restaurants? For one, they’re the first dining place in CDO (as far as I know) to use plastic bags (instead of skillets or plates) for serving food, particularly shrimps, crabs, and other seafood favorites. Diners are also given plastic gloves to wear when eating, so even if you’re not fond of or comfortable eating with bare hands; this won’t be a problem for you.
Apart from the plastic gloves, diners are also given plastic bibs – big ones that can help prevent you from staining your clothing while feasting on delicious, mouthwatering seafood.
In addition, RedTail makes and uses its own sauce for their seafood specials. The sauce makes every seafood meal the juiciest and tastiest. The bag of shrimps and crabs (or a variety of seafood) are served straight from the kitchen, along with corn-on-a-cob and sausages. As soon as you open the bag, you’ll be wonderfully engulfed in a sumptuous mix of ingredients and flavor.
For those who do not or cannot eat seafood, RedTail has a lot of non-seafood dishes you can choose from. Two of their most popular are grilled pork belly and chicken tenders. For seafood lovers, aside from their shrimps and crabs, you should also try their baked mussels – it’s one of the best in CDO!
Another factor that makes RedTail popular is its unique interiors. Since Ted and Angela’s inspiration for the place are fisherman’s restaurants, the interiors stay true to that concept. You’ll see a lot of details that make you feel you’re in a fishing boat or a fishing port. Additionally, RedTail also has a graffiti wall where customers can write their comments or messages.
RedTail’s New Location
To better serve its customers, RedTail recently moved to a new location. It is now located at the Rosario Strip of Limketkai Center – in the area that used to be Pizza Republic. The new place is bigger, better, brighter, and more festive!
It has the same cool interiors (only better!) except for some additions. There are now two function rooms that you can rent for special celebrations. There’s also a bar of sorts that displays RedTail’s “catch” (or menu). Of course, the graffiti wall is still there.
RedTail’s new location makes it the ideal venue for your Christmas get-togethers. Whether you choose to go for one of the function rooms or just choose one of the tables in the dining area, you and your loved ones and guests are still guaranteed to have delicious, sumptuous, and mouthwatering fun.
RedTail Shrimps & More is open from Monday to Sunday, 11am to 10pm. For reservations and more information, just call or text 0917-875 5347.
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So, remember, if you want to relax and recharge this Christmas, spend your holiday break at Chali Resort & Conference Center. And if you’re looking for a place with good & affordable food, cool interiors, and first rate service, have your sumptuous celebration at RedTail Shrimps & More!
