We’ve driven passed the Filipiniana Restaurant in Niles many times. We’ve even mentioned it as we passed by but we didn’t make enough of a note in our heads about it to actually think to try it when we discuss lunch or dinner plans. Today, it popped into my head probably because I needed to go to Valu-City which is very close to it.
So, we left Evanston and headed down Golf Rd. When we hit Greenwood, I started looking for the strip mall where the restaurant was. I felt like I’d driven passed it but no – I hadn’t, it’s farther down than I remembered.
As I pulled into a parking place, I looked at the window and saw several Philippine lanterns in the window and I smiled. I wish I had kept my Philippine lantern, even if the lights were burnt out and I couldn’t repair it myself. Someday, I’m going to get a new one…
The restaurant is nothing special to look at. Just a strip mall restaurant. At 3:30pm, there were several tables full – full of Filipino customers. Good sign. All of the employees I could see were also Filipino. Another good sign.
I looked at the menu… real live honest to goodness Filipino food. Most restaurants I’ve been to that claim to have Filipino food – don’t. This one did.
The kids were a bit unsure of what they might want. Prince J immediately mentioned the Pancit – I reassured him that this was a good choice as I was trying to choose between Chicken Pancit or Chicken Adobo. I recommended the Chinese noodles, not the rice noodles and he agreed… when he ordered, the waitress misunderstood and ended up bringing the rice noodles out. That’s ok, they were excellent. (He and RJ shared a plate and halfway through, the waitress came over to make sure they didn’t need her to bring more out. Nice, since she’s the one who suggested they share because it would be a lot of food.)
I did order the Chicken Adobo and Chicken & Veggie Lumpia. TW went for the Lumpia, as well.
She brought out six Lumpia, plenty for all four of us to have some. We all shared the Chicken Adobo which was also excellent, though I’d like it just a bit spicier.
RJ had a mango tapioca smoothie of some sort and TW ordered the lime juice, aka Kalamansi (which I had not even thought of in 20 years!)
I have to go back this weekend, and take my “Filipino children” with me.
How cool. Add that to the list of places to take ME…
You should update this with whatever that Bistek thing was that youngest got the other day.