The first Filipino restaurant in Gloucestershire has opened in Cheltenham, with Pyesta - which has taken over part of former pizza restaurant The Stable - already impressing diners in the town.
According to its website, 'pyesta' means 'feast' in Filipino, with the colourful restaurant promising diners authentic Filipino dishes in a warm and welcoming atmosphere.
There are separate menus for lunch and dinner, with slightly different options for both, as well as a choice of small plates including lumpia, Filipino spring rolls served with sweet chili sauce; panko breaded squid with spiced vinegar for dipping; and ukoy - crispy vegetable fritters - on both menus.
Main dishes at lunchtime include Adobo - the national dish of The Philippines - which consists of pork or chicken braised in vinegar, soy sauce, bay leaf, peppercorns and annatto oil; Pinoy, a coconut milk-based curry with chicken or vegetables; tapsilog, which is sautéed beef sirloin served with a fried egg and fried rice; and tortang talong, which is deep fried, panko breaded aubergine.
While for dinner, the menu expands to include sharing plates and sizzling plates, too. Tuck into pansit bihon, a dish of stir fried noodles with chicken, beans, cabbage and carrots; letchon kawali, pork belly simmered and then deep fried until crispy; kare kare, with pork belly or beef shin cooked in peanut sauce with aubergine, bok choy and beans, served with salty shrimp paste; and sinigang, with pork, prawns or vegetables in a sour tamarind broth, designed for two to share.
Sizzling plates include chicken inasal, with charcoal grilled chicken marinated in lime, lemongrass, coconut and vinegar; whole squid stuffed with ginger, garlic, onion and tomato; and sisig, with chopped pork, chicken or tofu served with mixed vegetables, egg yolk and mayo.
There's even a dessert menu, with banana fritters, homemade ice cream and classic Filipino dessert halo halo on offer.
Pyesta is located on Clarence Street and is open from 12pm to 2.30pm, then 6pm to 9pm Tuesday to Friday, and 12pm to 9pm Saturday and Sunday.
