Rosita's Kitchenette

A surprising paucity of Filipino places on the list this year, but Rosita’s, recently opened in a small, food-focused strip mall on the Mount Wellington Highway has elbowed its way right onto the list. A bright, non-assuming dining room with a slightly bedraggled looking al fresco area, Rosita’s Kitchenette has helpful and sharp service. It does a nice job with the staple adobo (their version is a little lighter on the vinegar than we are used to), Rosita’s really comes into its own with the chicken BBQ, a quarter bird in a rich glaze, and the pork sisig, a hot plate with sizzling pork and onion with a serving of rice and salad — all great. The sisig has the added bonus of crispy rice, stuck to the hot plate and richly flavoured, hidden at the bottom of the portion. When we were there the food came with a free small Oreo brownie for dessert — also very good.