Mimi & Bros reopens with a fresh new look and a surprise menu
- The Garlic Press
- Sep 18, 2022
- 3 min read
I first wrote about Mimi & Bros in 2018 when the Tan Family opened the restaurant in BGC.
The Tan brothers were busy throwing epic parties when they were younger, while their sister, Mimi (Mica F. Tan), was busy with school.
Years later, the brothers wanted to give Mimi a place to unwind and have fun, especially now that she’s running one of the most successful companies in the country. So the brothers, including Dr. Eric Tan's wife Chiqui, opened Mimi & Bros.
‘Alive & Stronger’
About two years after they opened, the pandemic hit. Everybody was affected, but the restaurant industry took it hard. The lockdowns were harsh and the flip-flopping policies usually changed without prior notice, but somehow, through grit and determination, Mimi & Bros survived.
“It feels surreal. Some of the restaurants I personally owned didn't come out in one piece. We had to divest and it really broke my heart to do so,” shares head chef Edward Bugia. “Mimi & Bros coming out alive and stronger than ever before gave me hope in the industry. The word resilience couldn't be said enough. The support system that went into its survival was truly special.”
He adds, “I'm just a small part of Mimi & Bros and my favorite part is I can just focus on what I feel I can do best, which is help the kitchen team brainstorm needs [and] products while maintaining the quality of our existing menu. Our whole team works as one and we have to rely on each other to do our jobs well and properly.”
The past two years have been extremely heartbreaking. The pandemic brought with it lessons learned the hard way, but Chef Ed and his team also learned that when it comes to food, bells and whistles don’t always mean happy customers.
“Sometimes simple is what people are looking for. We had crazy menu items like breakfast nachos slathered with soft scrambled eggs or burgers where the patties were 50-50 ground beef and ground bacon,” Chef Ed recalls. “At the end of the day people wanted their food simple, smart, and good. Delicious is delicious. Basta masarap.”
New Look, New Offers
On August 20th, Mimi & Bros announced they’ll be closed for renovations. Aside from a fresh new look, the team also took this time to come up with new mouthwatering offers to welcome back hungry diners.
When asked about the new menu, Chef Ed insisted on it being a surprise. As he does with his food, he lets the food do the talking. But he assured us the process of menu conceptualization to creation is a tedious labor of love.
He described the menu development process as “an extensive vetting process from our kitchen team to the management to even our non-F&B divisions."
“[They] get to try out our food and rate them objectively,” Chef Ed explains. “It better be a ‘f*ck yes’ before it goes on the menu.“
If their previous menu is any indication, this ‘f*ck yes’ standard works very well. Some of the must-tries from their original menu are the many variations of Mimi’s Fried Chicken (try it smothered in cheese or drizzled with truffled honey butter), BBQ Pork Ribs (don’t forget the corn pudding!), chicharon-encrusted Pork Chop, their signature Sizzling Sisig, Pepperoni Dirty Bird, or my personal favorites, Lola’s Ragu (a hearty pasta dish with an extremely meaty tomato sauce), and cream-filled Croquettes a.k.a. deep-fried goodies from potato heaven.
Their cocktails — aptly lit by the giant ‘HAPPY’ marquee above the bar — are also must-tries! And don’t forget to ask about their cocktail pairing recommendations.
And in case you don't feel like going out, you can order their frozen selections (corn dogs, chicken nuggets, and potato wedges) so you can keep 'em in your freezer — ready for any snacking emergency.
With their reopening tomorrow (Sept 19, 2022), Mimi & Bros is ready and excited to welcome diners once again for dine-in, to-go, and even delivery. They have an enclosed dining area for weather-proof fun, as well as an al fresco area for cautious but hungry diners. The restaurant also faces a spacious parking lot, so finding a spot won’t be an issue. Surrounded by office buildings, this is the perfect place to sit back and relax over a couple of drinks after work.
From drinks to snacks to full meals (including all-day breakfast selections!), Mimi & Bros has an answer to every craving.
Mimi & Bros is located at Crossroads, 32nd Street, Bonifacio Global City Taguig. For updates, follow them on Facebook and Instagram.
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