New Filipino Cuisine at Rekado's on Main

I had lunch with a friend at Rekado's on Main St where they serve Filipino food.

Those that know Filipino cuisine know that it has terrible PR and thus, has not really gained much ground in Vancouver and much of North America. Most Filipino restaurants are cafeteria style ("turo-turo") which are akin to those terrible Chinese buffets. The food often suffers form poor presentation, greasiness, saltiness. The rooms are often terribly tacky (airline posters, clutter, a "family table" in the corner where the proprietor's family hangs out). The service is often indifferent, at best.

This cuisine is experiencing a bit of a resurgence in part due to the press that Romy Besa's Cendrillon (Manhattan) has been getting.

Here at Rekado's, the food has definitely been toned down for western tastes. It is not greasy, it is less pungent and it is definitely less salty than the usual Filipino restaurant food. I tried their Skewers, Bicol Express (a coconut "curry") and Pancit Palabok (a seafood based rice noodle dish redolent of smoked fish and crushed chicharon). They made a great attempt at the presentation with the usual flourishes that you might see at a higher end restaurant.

The room is designed professionally and would not look out of place with the likes of Habit, Boneta, etc. The service is prompt and professional.

Overall, I give it a cautious thumbs up. The food does not really taste "authentic" - but it is a successful and accessible representation of the cuisine.