For the past couple months, Adobo Island, a new Filipino eatery at 2023 S. Craycroft Road, has quietly gained a following.
It is next to the Mabuhay Filipino Food Store on South Craycroft, and is a dream come true for owner Jean Martin.
Martin, a chemical engineer, said he had the idea for a couple of years before he met Belle Franklin, whose Mabuhay market had a good base of Filipino clientele.
Since opening a few months ago, Adobo has helped the market attract a wider range of patrons, Martin said.
Martin said he wanted to serve contemporary Filipino food that Tucsonans would find healthy, affordable and more familiar (the island-style eggroll Lumpiang Shanghai, for example, is called a fiesta roll). He's also kept prices affordable, with most meals averaging $6.25.
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While the menu isn't all that extensive, former Caliente staffer Gerald M. Gay has tried it out and says Adobo serves some nice adobo meals (meat and rice and vegetables), as well as a tasty pancit dish (very thin rice noodles, vegetables, and a choice of chicken or vegetarian).
Adobo also comes with a slogan: "Where spooning is the work of art," referring to the fact that diners use spoons instead of forks.
Martin said he has put a priority on making customers feel at home.
"When someone comes over here, they feel like they are part of the family," he said.
Adobo is open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., seven days a week, including New Year's Day. The phone number is 747-2233.
