Tradicionale will make your date like you (and Filipino food)
Elevated yet breezily approachable. You will meet people in your life who are crisp and stylish in an effortless way; then you’ll find out that they have some secret technical skill like they speak five languages or are a nationally recognized figure skater. Do not compare yourself to these casually beautiful people or put too much thought into how they are nailing the little things, seemingly without really trying. Just take it all in and maybe even patronize the restaurant equivalent that we’re personifying here: Tradicionale on 19th Street & 9th Ave.
Tradicionale bills itself as a “Filipino-Spanish bistro and bar” yet we bill it as a date-night spot with a person you genuinely like. The decor goes back and forth between dark and bright: French bistro-style floors; marble bar top; deep and dark wood tables; and then a leafy pattern on the walls that is no doubt paying homage to the tropical maritime climate of the Philippines. Add all of this up, together with the soft, moody lighting and lounge music, and heto!, you’ll find yourself sitting across from someone way more smitten than you remember them being last time.
Then there is the food. Here is the block-approved move, which comes from our bartender and genial restaurant manager, Paulo: the Chicken Liampiang Shanghai to start and the Kare Kare Short Rib for the main. The former is a Filipino egg roll stuffed with ground chicken and vegetables and served with a red sweet and sour sauce; confuse your tastebuds in the best way by going back and forth between the spice in the rolls and the sweetness of the sauce. The real star for us is the short rib—and our recommendation is that you come hungry for this because it is hearty. A soft and fatty short rib, eggplant, green beans, and bok choy are stewed together in a deep red peanut sauce (reminiscent of Massaman curry) that you basically don’t have to even chew and is worth closing your eyes for. Throw all the shrimp paste they give you right in the bowl for a blast of saltiness, and soak up the last of the rich, creamy, savory, peanut-infused sauce with the white rice you get on the side. There is also a great and creative selection of drinks that we haven’t tried yet, including the Bloody Manang, the Filipino take on a Bloody Mary, and a vodka, coconut, and apricot liqueur combination charmingly called Girl Dinner.
We understand from the owners that Tradicionale is about to set up some tables outside as well, which naturally we’re here for. So we’ll be back soon to try the Lobster Palabok, a lobster and pork rind medley which we very nearly picked last time for our main, and the beautiful outdoor European cafe experience that we’ve written about before on 9th Avenue.
Highly recommend.