"Mother Tongue, spread over two stories at the back of the Templar Hotel, is an unexpected find. Upstairs, the vibe is straight-up restaurant with a menu focused on full meals; downstairs, the vibe's more cocktail lounge with lights turned low and more snack-friendly food. The kitchen looks across Asia for inspiration, with an emphasis on Filipino food. Must-haves include pyramid-shaped dumplings, stuffed with Quebecois foie gras and duck confit; and a Filipino longanisa sausage sandwich, dressed up with cabbage and gooey manchego; and pancit bihon, a Filipino fried rice noodle dish, made with shiitake, heirloom carrots, and kombu dashi. Cocktails have an Asian accent, too: like a coconut-infused rum blended with curaçao , pineapple, and calamansi lime."
