A new restaurant is set to open inside downtown Yellowknife’s Centre Square Mall on Saturday.
Evalyn Santos, who moved to the city with her husband Julie Doguitom roughly two years ago, said it had always been their dream to start a business offering affordable Filipino cuisine.
For now, Sizzling Filipino Restaurant runs daily from 9am-9pm. Timings may change at a later date.
“The idea for this one is to bring the quality food – authentic Filipino food – here in Yellowknife,” Santos told Cabin Radio on Thursday. “So, even a student can afford it. Everyone can afford our food.”
Santos immigrated to the country as a foreign worker in 2014 and lived in Calgary for nine years before relocating to Yellowknife. She previously worked in housekeeping at Quality Inn and has had a decade of experience in the food industry, while Doguitom himself spent 20 years in the field.
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The restaurant is located at 5010 49 Street, where Yellowknife’s A&W used to operate until the franchise closed in December last year.
Over the past two months, the duo renovated the space and even made a trip to Calgary to find the necessary spices and kitchen equipment.
When summer begins, the restaurant’s exterior is expected to be painted red to match the interiors.
“It’s our first time to have this, so right now especially [with] our opening on Saturday, I’m nervous,” Santos said.
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“Thankfully, it came out good. We got everything that we needed. So a little bit tense, but hopefully for the best.”
The restaurant’s logo features sisig, a popular dish from the Philippines – one that Santos recommends customers try. Other highlights on the menu include pancit, lechon and sizzling squid.
While there is no karaoke at the moment, Santos said that cultural symbol will be added once the restaurant expands.
