This autumn’s hottest dining ticket will be serving up nostalgia, but with a Filipino twist. Chance Anies, the culinary innovator behind Tabachoy, is bringing Manong, a love letter to the chain restaurants of the 90s, to Philadelphia later this year, reports The Philadelphia Inquirer.
“Approachability” will be the watch-word for the 1833 Fairmount Avenue restaurant. Anies wants to make sure that when Manong opens in the former home of Tela’s Market and Kitchen, that it is both affordable and welcoming to all diners.
The eatery will be open all day, with breakfast options available for customers hoping to kick the day off right. The menu will heavily feature Ihawan-style cuisine, with dishes including the banana ketchup burger and Filipino spaghetti. The dining room will be able to seat around 80 customers, and on nice days Manong will provide additional outdoor accommodations.
Not content to merely offer delicious Filipino fare, Manong will also contain a retail component. Patrons will be able to step into a bottle shop and market that sells an array of house made products. This feature allows Manong to both honor the legacy of the space’s former tenant and to be a boon to the local community. Anies explains he wants: “to utilize the space to meet the needs of the neighborhood. Tela’s was known for being a market and it was open for 12 years. We also want to be a restaurant in that neighborhood that can withstand the test of time.”
A precise opening date is not yet available, however Anies intends to have Manong ready to greet guests by September.
