Filipinos in New York are in for quite a treat, as Beautiful Eyes is soon to open in the Lower East Side of Manhattan. There’s good reason to be excited-not only because it is an upcoming site of high-quality wine but great Filipino food as well.
Beautiful Eyes is the first queer Filipino wine bar to open in New York City, and it’s led by the inaugural recipient of the Michelin Sommelier of the Year Award, Miguel de Leon, and founding director of Dila, Lj Almendras. The same crew behind Pinch Chinese are also behind this new culinary experience.
In a feature on ‘Pilipino ka ba,’ a short-form video series by JV Gonzalez, the hospitality veterans share a glimpse of what could potentially be on their menu. Possible dishes to look forward to include pares carpaccio style and escabeche.
Thoughtful Filipino food
De Leon and Almendras are both veterans of the city, but they only met about two years ago. The connection was instant as they bonded over their shared identity as queer Filipinos and an exciting prospect: working together to bring a taste of the Philippines to Manhattan.
With both of them at the helm, they tease an interesting collaboration filled with Filipino favorites and a delightful variety of fine wine. One of the bar’s staples is a white wine called Wink Wink from Australia, one of the closest wine making regions in the Philippines.
As they introduce more mouthwatering dishes, De Leon shares a nugget of wisdom: ‘The food never needed elevating, it’s always been in front of us. [The only problem] is that we need to care about it way more.’
Beautiful Eyes dishes
A good cause
While guests await Beautiful Eyes’ official opening, the chefs and their team have hosted a number of pop-ups. Though they have yet to open at full capacity, they are already fostering a safe space for marginalized communities. Their profound presence in New York’s competitive culinary space is a notable safe haven for queer people and immigrants.
The beauty of this enterprise is that de Leon and Almendras don’t just support those who share in their identity. They have also offered their resources to the Palestine Children’s Relief Fund, donating a portion of their sales to the nonprofit providing humanitarian aid to children in Gaza.
As they continue to cultivate a charitable connection with their community, they are meticulous in ensuring that all feel welcome.