Dampa in the mall? This new restaurant elevates the market-to-table experience

A fresh dining concept is making its way to Gateway Mall 2 this August, bringing the market-to-table experience right into the heart of the city.

Seafood 8 by Olio is a new 130-seater restaurant helmed by Chef Oliver "Oli" Buenviaje. With a culinary background rooted in Michelin-starred seafood establishments, the Sorsogon-born chef is setting his sights on modernizing the traditional dampa setup for the urban crowd. 

From the market to the mall

At its core, dampa is all about selecting your own fresh, raw seafood and having it cooked to your specific preferences. Seafood 8 adds a modern spin to this by offering a more accessible, upscale version of the experience. 

Inside, diners can expect an aquarium display and beds of fresh crustaceans and shellfish on ice. At the restaurant, you select your catch, choose your preferred cooking method—grilled, fried, or steamed—at the open kitchen, and personalize the final flavor profile with one of the restaurant’s eight "mother" sauces, including Miso Butter, Inasal Citrus Ginger & Soy, Oriental Chili Caramel, Latin Chimichurri, Pomodoro Tomato Olive Capers, Gambas Roja, Bagoong Bernaise, and Sambal XO Chili. 

Chef Oli, who's born in Sorsogon, brings with him experience from working in kitchens from different parts of the world like France, Australia, Thailand, Hong Kong, Macau, and United Arab Emirates.

Seafood 8 by Olio is set to open in August 2026 at Gateway Mall 2, Araneta City. Follow them on Facebook for more updates.