Papa’s Kitchen was recently reviewed by The New York Times; now you’d better reserve one of the few little tables in this tiny place in Woodside, Queens. If you go for the the exotic, the ethnic, the homey, and don’t mind if you do take the mike and sing along in Tagalog, you’ve found your haven. I might add, you are encouraged to eat with your hands, but don’t worry, no pressure.

We have wonderful friends who were our perfect accompaniment: Lorna is from the Philippines, and Carl is a linguist with many languages under his belt, one of them is Tagalog. Just wind these two folks up and hand them a microphone and watch them go.

And what a bounty. On the weekend you will be able to get the Philippine version of a cornucopia, one with meat, one vegetarian; Salu-Salo. These will keep an army chewing for a few hours. Included was a drink and desert and a tasty cellophane noodle dish.

Beth is the hostess/waitress/part-owner who helped us navigate the menu.

Some of the contents of the larger basket included:

• a dinosaur-sized pig’s hock (crispy Pata)
• grilled tuna belly
• spicy spring rolls “dynamite”
• Adobo chicken
• crab cooked in white wine

The non-meat basket we chose in addition included:

• boiled okra
• mango
• pickled eggplant
• salted duck eggs (eaten with onion, tomato)
• jalapenos
• pickled papaya

Ice cream with a candied coconut shell completed the meal

The food was an adventure, the atmosphere was fun and relaxed, the people made the experience a joy. Thank you, Beth.

Restaurant front (photo from internet)

tiny place, many people

salu-salo

Beth (who later put on her lovely red dress)

Beth helps us with the menu

Lorna and Carl

Lorna

Carl sings along

singing in Tagalog

noodles, veg and meat

salted duck eggs

fruit, vegetables, eggs, sauces

the vegetarian basket

the bounty …

surf & turf

surf & turf

surf & turf

desert

both trays

warm & welcoming

©sk