Kuya Ian’s Bistro fi nds a new home
Kuya Ian’s Bistro isn’t exactly new, but the move into a permanent storefront less than a month ago has given it a much-needed home base, its owners say.
The Filipino restaurant offers inexpensive, home-cooked meals and counter-order service at 6863 Flags Center Drive near Westerville.
“We actually started simple, but our vision is much bigger,” said Ivan Firmalan, who owns the restaurant with his brother, Roebuck, and their mother, Nonie.
The restaurant seats 24 in the main dining room and another 30 in a private dining room.
Nonie Firmalan is the force behind the menu, described as authentically Filipino.
The signature dish is the lechon kawali, crispy fried pork belly served with dipping sauce and garlic rice. It has, incidentally, emerged as the customer favorite in the short time Kuya has been open, Roebuck Firmalan said.
Another house specialty includes kare-kare, oxtails braised in a peanut sauce with assorted vegetables. It is the most expensive item on the menu at $15.96. Beef shank kare kare ($11.98) also is an option. All other dishes are priced $10 or less.
All-day breakfast, Filipinostyle, is an option for dinner. A few of the choices: tapsilog, cured beef sautéed in vinegar; cornislog, corned beef fried with onions and potatoes; and Spamislog, three pieces of Spam pan fried until crispy.
The bistro also a place to get adobo chicken — the national dish of the Philippines — and chop suey, the long-forgotten American-Chinese vegetable dish that gets a touch of Filipino spices.
Kuya Ian’s Bistro started out about 20 years ago as Nonie’s Filipino Cuisine, making appearances mostly at Ohio festivals, Roebuck Firmalan said. Catering was added along the way. The family operated a café for two years or so in Chuchay’s Supermarket, which has relocated from Reynoldsburg area to the same retail center as Kuya.
Kuya, in the Filipino language, means respect to your elder brother. That might seem confusing as 10-yearold Ian, whose name is on the restaurant, is Ivan’s son and Roebuck’s nephew.
Roebuck Firmalan explains: “We wanted to pass the legacy down to Ian when he gets older. He’s going to be the one owning this restaurant.”
Filipino cuisine hasn’t had a strong foothold in Columbus but it certainly has more of a presence with the openings of Kuya and Bonafacio. Filipino savory dishes also are available at Red Velvet Café in Downtown Columbus.
“It’s a cross between Spanish and Malaysian food,” Roebuck Firmalan said. “You can have it spicy, but it’s on request.”
For now, there is no alcohol, but the brothers wouldn’t rule out applying for a liquor license in the future.
Hour of operation are 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday and noon to 7 p.m. Sunday. For more information, call 614-948-3333.
Polaris shuffle
The Indian dining scene in the Polaris area has seem some changes recently, with more in store.
Godavari, specializing in Southern Indian cuisine, has replaced Cumin Indian Restaurant at 1025 Polaris Parkway, with access off Gemini Place.
Part of a national chain, Godavari has an extensive menu of vegetarian and nonvegetarian dishes. Among them are dosas, Indian-style crepes; biryanis, or rice dishes; tandoori, referring to items cooked in the tandoor oven; and Indochinese specialties.
The spacious interior, which seats 120, has been completely remodeled. The restaurant still has a full liquor license.
The weekday lunch buffet ($10.99) has 30 to 35 items while the weekend lunch buffet ($13.95) has 40 to 45 items, including dosas cooked on demand and a chaat station, offering Indian street snacks.
A la carte dining is available at night.
Meanwhile, a tandem restaurant-grocery store is expanding to the Polaris neighborhood.
Apna Bazaar and Tandoori Express, an offshoot of a similar operation on Bethel Road, are taking over a part of a strip mall on Sancus Boulevard just north of Lazelle Road.
Apna Bazaar, which specializes in groceries and fresh halal meats, has already opened at 8635 Sancus Blvd.
Tandoori Express, located next door to Apna Bazaar, will be a fast-casual restaurant focusing on dishes cooked in the tandoor oven, co-owner Ubaid Pathan said.
Tandoori Express, 8631 Sancus Blvd., is expected to open by mid-August, Pathan said. It will be a more laidback version the Tandoori Grill on Bethel Road, which is a full-service restaurant also connected to an Apna Bazaar.
Flapjack attack
The Original Pancake House is up and running in Upper Arlington.
The first Columbus store is at 1633 W. Lane Ave. in the Shops at Lane Avenue.
The franchised location, part of a Portland-based chain, takes over 4,600 square feet of space that once had been three separate storefronts.