This May Be Your New Fave Spot In BGC. At Tara! Filipino Diner...
Dante Ulanday - Senior News Editor 
Comforting cuisine and breakfast all day woven in a cozy neighborhood spot with a splash of retro Americana and that nostalgic diner vibe, all the elements of your fave spot comes to life at BGC. Step inside Tara! Filipino Diner where the extensive menu inspired by classic and timeless flavors completes the scene...
From Purple Pancakes and All-Day Silogs and Rice Bowls to Burgers and Sandwiches, an exciting and even quirky new concept takes over BGC with its own brand of good food and good vibes. Hearty cuisine and creatively inventive twists lets you rediscover comfort food with a fresh new perspective at Tara! Filipino Diner. Come on in and just go with the flow. And come hungry...
From White Plains in Quezon City to BGC, Tara! Filipino Diner brings its comforting menu and its unique character to the culinary mainstream at its second branch. From the moment you enter, you just know you've found your new neighborhood hang-out.
Inside, Tara! Filipino Diner exudes a relaxed and casual laid-back vibe consistent with the brand's communal personality. In the cluttered and extremely competitive dining landscape of BGC, Tara Filipino Diner brings something refreshingly new and different from the usual options.
And they do have some serious coffee. Start with some of the specialty brews at Tara! Filipino Diner...
...inspired by nostalgic flavors from so many countless and carefree summers from long ago...
...with the Flat White Rabbit (P 225), a sweet blend with espresso, milk, condensed milk and special White Rabbit syrup. That first soothing sip feels like home, setting the mood and tone for your dining experience at BGC's newest neighborhood spot. Other equally indulgent blends include the Turon Latte (P 225) with banana compote and Spanish Bread Latte (P 225) with Spanish bread paste, toasted milk and brown butter syrup. The House Brew Single Origin Arabica (P 150) is a more traditional option along with the Espresso (P 165) and Americano (P 165).
The specialty coffee selection already gives you an idea on the playful inventiveness of the kitchen at Tara! Filipino Diner, and the Snacks and Starters Menu drives it home with its imaginative take on chips like the Tara! Longga Nachos (P 425) with Jack 'n Jill Tostillas, savory garlic longganisa, rich and creamy cheese sauce, silky smooth garlic aioli and fresh and tart salsa. The garlic longganisa adds bold flavors complemented by the different components for snacking the Tara! Filipino Diner way.
The aptly named Firecrackers (P 285) with crisp lumpia wrapper filled with sisig, green chilies and cheese topped with garlic aioli and pickled onions paired with house vinegar brings flavorful bursts with each crunchy bite. Crunchy and savory, once you start and well, you know the rest...
...while the Dirty Popcorn (P 185) brings even more flavors with its delectable play on sweet and salty notes and contrasting textures. Popcorn with caramel, bacon bits, chicken skin and candied walnuts transforms the usual popcorn with its generous load of toppings.
Who doesn't love SPAM? Tara! Filipino Diner showcases its own playful twist on the iconic SPAM with the SPAM Chips n' Dips (P 355). Sliced thin and fried to a delectable crispness and served with a choice of three dips including Caesar, Calamansi, and Adobo Aioli, Spicy Adobo Aioli, Mang Tomas or Cheese, simply dip and bite and repeat. Each dip makes every bite different and another bite lets you enjoy another flavor. And yes, these SPAM Chips n' Dips deserve yet another crisp bite.
Then, there's the Party Purple Pancake (P 295) with a massive party-sized ube flapjack topped with House Maple Butter, Dulce de Leche and Ube Syrup. Soft yet dense and fluffy, the Party Purple Pancake absorbs all the indulgent richness and sweetness from the trio of House Maple Butter, Dulce de Leche and Ube Syrup released with each bite. When it comes to all-day breakfasts, size matters. And the Party-sized option is always a good way to start your day at Tara! Filipino Diner. You can also enjoy other options like the Purple Pancake Trio (P 295), Purple Pancake with Fried Chicken (P 445), Golden Pancake Trio (P 295), Fried Chicken & Waffles (P 445) and House Waffles (P 295).
Tara! Filipino Diner then adds its inventive spin on a timeless sandwich with The Breakfast Club (P 395) with bacon, whipped whole eggs, cheese and maple syrup in between two Golden Pancakes. The soft and sweet Golden Pancakes changes up your usual sandwich game with the playful and even unexpected twist by Tara! Filipino Diner.
And talking about sandwiches, Tara! Filipino Diner brings another all-time comforting fave to the table with the Rainbow Cheesemelt (P 385) with its blend of cheeses on Rainbow Bread paired with fresh and tart Tomato Dip. That play on mildly salty notes and fresh sour hints works.
Did you say burgers? The Manila Piña Burger (P 485) with juicy beef patty, secret sauce, charred pineapple and cheese in between a soft brioche bun and paired with crisp fries is a sweet, smoky and savory rendition of a classic burger with a distinctly local spin. The smoky hints from the grill completes the medley of sweet savory flavors. You can also opt for Dad's Burger (P 485) for a more conventional take on burger.
The hearty "silog" renditions at Tara! Filipino Diner are the top draws and The Big Brekky (P 495) with its savory trifecta of Beef Tapa, Tocino Bacon and Longganisa served with two sunny side-up eggs and sides of Piñachara, pickled onions and House Vinegar is a solid meal any time of day. Other tempting options include the Bistek N' Eggs (P 445), Tapsi-Turvy (P 425), Corned Beef (P 425), Adobo Flakes and specialty omelettes.
For the mains, Tara! Filipino Diner's Pinoy Chicken BBQ (P 485) with juicy grilled chicken barbecue slathered in a comfortingly familiar sweet Pinoy glaze with a side of peanut sauce brings nostalgic flavors to the palate...
...while the fork-tender Tara! Roast Beef (P 685) with slow-cooked slabs of beef topped with crisp shoestring potatoes, gravy and mixed vegetables is another solid execution from the kitchen that's high up on my list of personal picks. And there's more...
From the Signature Bowls Menu, the Caramelized SPAM Bowl (P 375) with glazed slabs of SPAM, pickled onions, Piñachara and eggs on garlic rice promises a sumptuous meal in a bowl...
...while the Spanish Chorizo (P 475) with the bold and distinctive savory sharpness of the Spanish chorizo are complemented by the flavorful supporting cast of deep-fried egg, Piñachara and pickled onions. The sides complete the flavors as the fresh and vibrant tartness of the Piñachara and pickled onions cuts through the savory richness of the caramelized SPAM and Spanish chorizo for that perfectly balanced finish.
And don't pass up on the Belgian Champorado (P 325) made with premium and indulgent Belgian chocolate, evaporated milk, full cream milk powder and the magical tuyo dust for that contrasting salty hint. The fine yet potent tuyo dust tempers the deep richness and decadent sweetness of the Belgian chocolate for an elegantly balanced dish.
The Pastillas Soft Serve caps your dining experience at Tara! Filipino Diner on a high note. And there's even more to try and discover from the extensive menu of BGC's newest neighborhood hotspot.
As the BGC dining scene continues to evolve, the addition of Tara! Filipino Diner to its growing repertoire of dining options is a welcome development. From the setting to the cuisine, Tara! Filipino Diner is a comforting slice of home in the busy and often chaotic pace of the premier commercial and business district. Come inside for the coffee, and stay for a sumptuous meal with its modern yet nostalgic vibe on familiar flavors reinterpreted with a playful spin. And do come hungry...
Tara! Filipino Diner is located at the Ground Floor, Tower 1, Avida Towers Turf, 8th Avenue Corner Lane S, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City. You can also visit their FB Page and IG Feed at https://www.facebook.com/tarafilipinodiner/ and https://www.instagram.com/tarafilipinodiner for more information and updates.
Dude for Food is now on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube, check out these social media accounts for regular updates on good eats. Better yet, click "Like" and "Follow" and enjoy the ride...just look for the FB and IG widgets on the right sidebar.
