SerpApi.Org
Bilao, a new casual Filipino restaurant, welcomed its first customers Tuesday for lunch service. The restaurant is located in the Promenade Shopping Center in Pocket at 7465 Rush River Dr.
The restaurant had been teasing the concept since May on its social media, and announced the soft opening two days ago. The opening was held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. However, the restaurant was sold out by 1 p.m.
Co-owners Jodi Cervania and John Montoya are not new to the industry. The two have owned Babo Boys, a mobile food trailer, since 2022. They met at culinary school in 2010, and remained in each other’s professional orbit over the years.
Through Babo Boys, they did a lot of catering, staying true to their Filipino roots but also being adaptable to clients’ needs.
“We cater to the people. We hear what they want. So we did Filipino and Indian Vietnamese and Filipino, Filipino and Mexican, like all kinds. So I think the catering aspect helped us grow and build up, and saved up enough money to buy this brick and mortar. But this was always the dream for us ever since we were in culinary school about 16 years ago,” Cervania said.
The owners are looking to take their culinary skills and move the conversation around Filipino cuisine forward.
“John has been going back to the Philippines every year just to get traditional recipes. We try to elevate it. We’re trying to change the narrative,” Cervania said.
Montoya is from Cebu, which is famous for its lechon.
“It’s pork belly. We put lemongrass, green onions, garlic, heavy on the salt and pepper, and then we roast it about four or five hours in its own fat. It turns out really scrumptious,” Cervania said.
For the sisig, braises the ears, the belly and the shoulder. Traditional sisig uses offal cuts like liver, but he chooses not to. The braised meat is then chilled, sauteed and finely chopped with citrus and soy sauce, and topped with garlic, fried garlic and scallions.
The restaurant is taking Wednesday, July 22 off to regroup and restock, and will resume service Thursday, July 23 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. The owners are also actively seeking cooks.
