Mira L.
Yelp
I had a lunch date with a good friend yesterday here and it was such a delightful experience.
Ambience - The place had the vintage house renovated into a restaurant feel. Very Filipiñiana in decor. As soon as you reach the restaurant, on your left side is a makeshift 'bahay kubo'. A small house made of wood, bamboo and nipa hut. This is where they cook the bibingka (rice milled cake) and puto bumbong (purple sticky rice topped with grazed coconut, margarine and palm brown sugar). My favorite desserts in the Philippines. Delicacies I miss living overseas. The interior, like I've mentioned, very native decors. Capiz (shell) dividers, wooden chairs and tables, tiled flooring, abit of the Spanish influenced materials. The restrooms clean and nicely decorated as well.
Food - For starters we had the fried OKOY. Very different from what I'm used to, however, their take on this is excellent. As my friend puts is, a high-end shrimp like thinly fried cake. I. believe this is a specialty, so, don't miss out on it. We ordered kare-kare as well and did not disappoint. Real oxtail and tripe. the 'bagoong' or shrimp anchovy sauce with it was not overwhelming. Spot-on flavor. We also ordered beef salpicao (beef chunks marinated and fried on an abundance of garlic) - a favorite as well. Fresh lumpia is a must. It came with a generous amount of garlic sauce.
Staff - friendly, accommodating, however, some were rushing to finish service as the place started to get busy. Water replenished quite often which is a plus for me.
I would certainly be back here. Have to try the rest of their menu.