Savory bounces back after Sinlaku with quick reopening, menu changes

Just days after Super Typhoon Sinlaku damaged its kitchen, flooded parts of its dining area, and broke sections of its facade, Savory Bistro Cafe along Middle Road reopened and resumed serving customers, becoming one of the businesses that quickly adapted in the aftermath of the storm.

John Alixes Valle, manager of the restaurant, said the damage was significant but manageable, thanks in part to the company's access to construction workers who were able to carry out repairs immediately.

"We have a significant damage on our kitchen. And some of our dining, we got flooded here. And also the front, the facade, it's broken," Valle said.

Valle estimated the damage at roughly $900 to $1,000. Because the company had workers experienced in construction, repairs took only about two days.

Although the restaurant reopened quickly, operations remained challenging. Without commercial power and water service, Savory initially relied on takeout orders and later operated using a generator.

"We have a lot of takeouts during that time. And it's hard because we don't have power and the water," Valle said. "So we have to line up from Saipan Ice [& Water Co.] to get water."

The shortage of ingredients after the typhoon also forced the restaurant to rethink its offerings. With vegetables in short supply, management trimmed the menu and focused on affordable meals that could be prepared quickly.

"We have a limited menu. Anything that is fast and we can stock up our produce, really," Valle said.

One of the changes was the introduction of silog meals, including tapsilog and tosilog, which remain on the menu today.

"We did that just to adapt to the economy," Valle said. "After the typhoon, people are struggling."

The restaurant also substituted ingredients when necessary, while informing customers about the changes before serving meals.

"So we have to reinvent our menu," Valle said. "Instead of putting all the main ingredients, we have to find something that's going to be easy."

Within about 10 days of the storm, Savory was again offering its popular buffet service with the help of generator power, Valle said. While business slowed temporarily in the weeks following Sinlaku, customer traffic has since returned to pre-typhoon levels.

"It is now," Valle said when asked whether sales and customer traffic had rebounded.

Today, the restaurant continues to serve Filipino, Chamorro, Korean, and Western dishes and is preparing for the sixth season of its annual Savory Karaoke Singing Star competition, scheduled to begin in September.

Looking back on the recovery effort, Valle said preparation and adaptability were the biggest lessons learned.

"We should be prepared and we should adapt," he said.

Savory Bistro Cafe is open daily from 11am to 2pm and from 5pm to 10pm. Customers may contact the restaurant at (670) 838-6142.