SEAMAN’S RESTAURANT

If it’s fresh seafood you want, then there’s no place like Seaman’s Restaurant in Lower Base.

Owner Mariano Falig said that his four-year establishment is the only one on island that can boast such a claim, as Seaman’s Restaurant not only owns one but three fishing boats that go out to sea everyday to capture the ocean’s bounty.

“The reason why Seaman’s Restaurant is different from other restaurants on Saipan is because it serves fresh live fish. We have our own fishing boats, three of them in fact. Aside from that we serve and cater deep-ocean shrimp, which are caught 9,000 feet below sea level. This type of shrimp is only good for sashimi,” he said.

Restaurant manager Robert Corgudo said the deep-ocean shrimp is considered a delicacy and exported to Japan at $20/lb.

“Aside from that our daily catch includes fresh lobster and fresh mangrove crab,” said Falig, who is a former shortstop in the local baseball scene and took part in the first Micronesian Olympics (precursor of the Micronesian Games) in 1968.

As well as fresh seafood, the Tanapag resident who retired from Micronesian Telecommunications Corp. in 1994 also said Seaman’s Restaurant caters to the diverse nationalities and palates of the island because of the many cuisine it offers.

“We have all the bases covered. Our executive chef, Su Yong Dong, is an expert in cooking Chinese dishes. We also have a Filipino chef who can cook both local and Filipino fare and a Korean chef who can cook both Korean and Japanese food,” he said.

Currently, Seaman’s Restaurant has also become well known for its lunch bento specials, according to Corgudo.

For just $5, dine-in guests can avail themselves of a complete meal, which includes three kinds of viand, rice, sashimi, soup, salad, fresh food, and free Pepsi Cola.

Seaman’s Restaurant also occasionally offers buffet specials on Wednesdays and Saturdays. For a mere $6, customers can sample the restaurant’s fresh seafood preparations the most famous of which is its fish garlic butter sauce dish.

While the 60-70-seat Seaman’s Restaurant is a sure-fire hit for diners, people hoping to get a piece of Saipan’s nightlife don’t need to go far, as the next-door Port Music Warehouse can serve their entertainment needs.

Falig said the open-air club can easily accommodate between 50 to 350 people and comes complete with a VIP music lounge, a conference room, karaoke and P.A. system, and mobile and disco lights. During select nights, bands also do their gigs at the venue and play anything from island tunes to the latest Top 40 hits.

For reservations or for catering, call Seaman’s Restaurant at 322-1518.