At Maharlika on 1st Avenue, the brunch menu is filled with an abundance of meaty Filipino favorites. But the one sweet entree offered is certainly worth considering. Mango French Toast ($13) features fresh mango tucked between two slices of bread, almost too custardy at the center. More

Pop-up restaurants seem to be all the rage these days; they offer aspiring restaurateurs the ability to go for a test-drive before committing to a full-fledged restaurant. The team behind Maharlika has taken full advantage of the pop-up phenomenon, and has been serving a Filipino brunch menu on weekends since early this year. Nicole Ponseca, Maharlika's General Manager, describes how she and her team are not just showcasing Filipino cuisine, but hope to serve as cultural and culinary ambassadors as well. More

or some restaurants, brunch is the afterthought; for Filipino pop-up Maharlika, it's the only meal served. The menu is filled with words and terms likely unfamiliar to the average New Yorker, and the result is an adventurous and exciting dining experience--not only for its uniqueness, but for the quality of the cooking and the jovial atmosphere it instantly encourages. More