Battle of the LongSiLogs
Fresh Fruit Tea Long-Si-Log
Price: 14$+ taxx
BB’s Diner is a Filipino restaurant in Downtown Toronto that has been named a Bib Gourmand restaurant in 2023. This has given them the opportunity to serve more customers because of the exposure.
The restaurant which is located in Downtown Toronto is quaint, and has an al fresco dining area when we dined.
I have ordered the Long-Si-Log because one, this is my favorite out of all the Silog variations and two, no other reason. I just like Longganisa (Filipino sweet sausage).
And there, I was served my meal and have ordered a cup of coffee with it. The coffee was nothing special, it was coffee. It did it’s job and did not taste bad. I can safely say that I’ve had better but that is not this review is about.
The Long-Si-Log is served with one home-made Longganisa, two sunny side up eggs, a portion of fried rice and some atchara or pickled carrot and turnip.
My first thought was that the portion will not be enough for me. This is my first meal of the day, my breakfast and have been saving my calories for this restaurant. We have ordered some other stuff but for me this is the main event. So I dug in, had some of the longganisa and i must say, it is good but there is still room for improvement. A bit dry for my taste and not too flavorful. Eggs were okay as it should taste like sunny side up eggs. I don’t eat atchara so that was left out, the rice is good but having such a small portion did nothing to impress me.
My thought instantly was that I might have ordered the wrong type of food, as a restaurant that has been named a Bib Gourmand by Michelin, I should have a good experience and should have impeccable food. So I tried the other stuff that we ordered and well… color me unimpressed.
While finishing my coffee, I was contemplating on the meal that I just had. Am I just a guy that is fresh off the boat that I cannot appreciate this meal? Are my tastebuds still tied to my roots that it is asking for more flavor? Maybe yes, or maybe no. Either way, this restaurant is not for me. I need more flavor in my food and I cannot find it at BBs Diner.
Fresh Fruit tea is a new restaurant in the middle of Bathurst and Wilson. They serve a majority of Filipino patrons and have specialized in short-orders or quick cook meals. With these quick cook meals are the well known Filipino breakfast platter named Silog.
The restaurant is a typical restaurant that serves food. So this is not someplace where you will have a first date meal.
As usual, I have ordered the Long-Si-Log being it my favorite. I was served with three sausage links (longganisa), two overcooked eggs, a generous helping of garlic rice and some pickled garnish (Atchara).
I have brought my own coffee from Tim’s as the restaurant only serves coffee with cream and sugar.
I started digging in with very minimal expectations in mind. And boy was I surprised. This is one of the good longganisas that I have ever tried. They are smaller than BB’s but are they juicy, sweet and garlicky (if this is even a word). The generous serving of garlic rice is also a welcome addition. The eggs… well, I’m not impressed with the eggs. How hard is it to cook a perfect sunny side up? I can always make a good batch of eggs if needed be.
Having finished the meal, I was pleasantly surprised about how it went through. It was enjoyable and I felt like I was back to one of the small restaurants that I frequent back home.
Nothing more to say on this straightforward restaurant. Good food, average place but then again, who cares about the place as long as it’s clean and can fill your heart with gusto.
