This neighborhood treasure is one of the anchors of Mt. Pleasant street's thriving dining scene because chef of Patrice Cleary's homestyle Filipino food. The menu includes traditional Filipino dishes, like lumpia, done extremely well. The meats are tender and charred, and vegetables are fresh and snappy (a personal favorite of mine is the sweet and tangy Atchara Papaya Salad with green papaya, carrots, bell pepper, ginger, and sweet vinaigrette).
The vibe: Casual and charming—the restaurant is located in a cozy rowhouse, after all. On warm days, the outdoor patio is packed with revelers swigging down tropical drinks. Purple Patch has a real neighborhood watering hole feel.
The food: Try the Coconut Curry Chicken, any of the sliders, and the Filipino Bistek, which is marinated in soy sauce and lime juice. Dessert includes lots of permutations of ube and coconut, but my favorite is the halo halo, a sweet wonder of shaved ice, coconut gel, mung beans, sweetened condensed milk, toasted coconut and ube ice cream.
The drink: Walk by on a warm day and you're bound to see most of the patio sipping on the pretty purple Palawan, a refreshing brew of rum, cream of coconut, Calamansi honey, pineapple, and lemon.
Time Out tip: Can't get enough of Cleary's cooking? Walk down the block to Joia Burger, her charming spot that serves classic smash burgers with a Filipino twist.