Bayan Cafe

I haven't had professional Filipino (Philipino? I'm not sure what the distinction is) in about a decade, and I'm sad I waited so long. Bayan Cafe (212 E45th) is very good. Pork dishes stand out, but the chicken adobo is very good too, and the eggplant omelet is only marred by the inclusion of my personal bete noire, frozen peas and carrot-cubes. Lumpia are almost as good as homemade, if slightly burnt. The only dish I regret is the milkfish.

The restaurant is small, but has a spacious outdoor patio, which meshes incredibly with the food (I've felt Filipino food has a "summery" quality -- the halo halo which just arrived only reinforces that).

I hear it's also good for breakfast.