When Leah Raymundo was growing up, parents would shoo the kids out of the house to play. “All the kids in my neighborhood, we would play outside, it was a good place to play.” That’s why she chose the name Kalsada, which means “street” in Filipino, for her newest restaurant adventure with her partner, chef John Occhiato. The pair also owns Cafe Astoria and Stella Belle on the corner of St. Paul’s West 7th Street and Grand Avenue.
Kalsada will be a modern restaurant serving the food of chef Leah Raymundo’s native Philippines. Filipino food draws influences from Asia, Spain, and the indigenous island cuisine. The menu will stay true to those flavors, even if the dishes are less traditional.
From 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., the restaurant will resemble a Cafe Astoria West before reopening at 4 p.m. with table service, a full dinner menu stacked with shareable dishes, and a full bar serving some tropical cocktails.
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