Famous Tapas bar from Barcelona, Tapas 24 is opening its first Asian outpost in Singapore on 7 May 2021.

Brought here in collaboration with local restaurant group, L’Angélus, Tapas 24 will be setting up its restaurant at The Quayside in Robertson Quay.

For those of you who have never heard of Tapas 24, it is the brainchild of one of Barcelona’s best-known chefs Carles Abellán, who has worked for the legendary chef Ferran Adria at the world-famous El Bulli restaurant (which boasted three Michelin stars and was crowned World’s Best Restaurant multiple times when it was still in operation).

Tapas 24 is one of those places that appear in every guide to the best restaurants in Barcelona and we first dined at Tapas 24 in Barcelona back in 2012.

There is always a long queue at the tapas bar which is located in Barcelona’s Passeig de Gracia.

Other than the usual tapas such Bravas, Iberian Ham Croquette and Fried Anchovies, you have to try Tapas 24′s signature dishes which are the Bikini Black Truffles Sandwich, Mc Foie Burger and the divine Ous Estrellats al Gust, which is quite simply smashed eggs with potatoes—deceptively simple yet it hits all the right spots.

Tapas 24 Singapore will be headed by chef Carolina Garcia Santamaria and it have an extensive menu with seasonal Spanish products, Sangria as well as an interesting selection of Spanish street cocktails and a wine list.

A laid-back, casual dining space nestled in serene Quayside Isle, Sabio By The Sea exudes a stylish charm perfect for a date, or a casual dinner by the docks. Their food and array of cocktails lean towards traditional Spanish but are all refreshingly unique and made using high-quality ingredients.

A glass of sangria in one hand and a repertoire of delicious food in another, be prepared for one gastronomic fiesta you won’t forget.

PULPO A LA GALLEGA

Undeniably the highlight of our meal, the Pulpo A La Gallega (S$18++) impressed us with its robust flavours and lovely texture. In this dish, the octopus is cooked simply in a mixture of paprika, olive oil and lemon, bringing out the natural sweetness of the octopus and giving it a charred quality that amped up its flavour tenfold.

CHORIZO AL VINO

As far as quality Spanish sausages go, you won’t go wrong with the Chorizo Al Vino (S$14++). Smoky with a heady aroma of paprika, the sausages were beautifully charred on the outside while remaining soft and sweet in the middle.

CHURROS

A quintessential confectionery at any Spanish restaurant is, of course, Churros (S$11++). Here, their churros are surprisingly light and crispy from edge to edge, making it hard to resist seconds or even thirds. The chocolate sauce served alongside it? Just divine.

Sabio By The Sea
31 Ocean Way #01-02,
Quayside Isle,
Singapore 098375
Tel: +65 6690 7568
(Closed on Tuesdays)
Mon, Wed & Thu: 12pm – 10.30pm
Fri: 12pm – 11pm
Sat: 11.30am – 11pm
Sun: 11.30am – 10.30pm
Nearest Station: Harbourfront

Ever looked at a menu and wished that you could get just a small portion of each dish, simply because every option sounds so inviting? For us, that’s a problem we face whenever we open up a menu anywhere.

The next best choice is to pick a few of your favourites and split them with your dining partner so you can get a taste of both, yet sometimes, it just isn’t enough to satisfy. And that’s exactly why we absolutely adore the idea of having tapas—otherwise referred to small plates.

Not only does that mean that you get to sample numerous dishes in a single sitting, but portions are also kept small to reduce wastage. Here are 13 tapas bars in Singapore, including Taiwanese and Cantonese ones to hit up with your pals on your next gathering!

BOCHINCHE

Fueled by chef Diego Jacquet’s knack for putting together bold flavours with the use of quality ingredients, you can expect to find an array of classic Argentine dishes that has been spun with creative twists on their menu.

Their House Pork Chorizo Sausage (S$21) and Grilled Octopus (S$28) are amongst the most popular items and for good reason!

115 Amoy St, #01-02
Singapore 069935
Tel: +65 6235 4990
Mon to Thu: 12pm – 2.30pm, 6pm – 10.30pm
Fri & Sat: 12pm – 2.30pm, 6pm – 11pm
(Closed on Sundays)
Nearest Station: Telok Ayer

DON QUIJOTE

A true-blue Spanish restaurant known for their critically and traditionally made Spanish fare, Don Quijote is a must to go if authentic Spanish nosh is what you’re after. Here they offer a variety of both cold and hot tapas, on top of a range of savoury soups, pasta dishes and meats.

Dempsey Road
Block 7 #01-02
Singapore 249671
Tel: +65  6476 2811
Mon to Thu: 4pm – 10.30pm
Fri: 4pm – 11pm
Sat: 11am – 11pm
Sun: 11am – 10.30pm
Nearest Station: Holland Village

ESQUINA

If you’re a die-hard tapas lover, then you’re likely no stranger to Esquina, a hole-in-a-wall restaurant that specialises in tapas. The tapas here are utterly delicious and authentic, albeit a tad pricey but if exorbitant spendings aren’t too much a concern for you, then this is one restaurant you definitely cannot miss.

16 Jiak Chuan Road
Singapore 089267
Tel: +65 6222 1616
Tue to Sat: 12pm – 2.30pm, 6pm – 10.30pm
(Closed on Mondays & Tuesdays)
Nearest Station: Outram Park

FIVE TAPAS BAR

A local brand, Five Bar is best known for its value-for-money deals and is undoubtedly one of the most popular spots in town to hang out and chill over a pint of beer.

Under this brand, one of the concepts is Five Tapas Bar where they offer a stunning variety of small plates meant for sharing. From chicken wings to cold cut platters and even mini pasta, we reckon that there’s no way you’d be leaving this bar without feeling stuffed (and tipsy).

25 Cuppage Road, Cuppage Terrace
Singapore 229454
Tel: +65 8121 9304
Mon to Thu: 5pm – 12am
Fri & Sat: 5pm – 2am
Sun: 6pm – 12am
Nearest Station: Somerset

FRAPASBAR

A new venture by Saveur Group, FrapasBar combines French dining and tapas into a single concept. Their menu has plenty of tantalizing options that diners can choose from, including tapas that are meant for sharing and hearty mains such as Duck Confit.

Can’t decide on what’s tempting you the most? Get multiple plates and share them with your friends so you can sample every dish!

2 Tampines Central 5, #01-35
Singapore 529509
Tel: +65 6789 1121
Daily: 11.30am – 12pm
Nearest Station: Tampines

Photo Credit: La Taperia

LA TAPERIA

Renown for the authentic Spanish food that they push out, La Taperia will be a safe bet when it comes to unwinding over some wine and tapas with your squad, all without having to break the bank. Pair their Spanish signatures with one of their many wines in their impressive collection and you won’t regret!

1 Scotts Road
Shaw Centre #02-10/11
Singapore 228208
Tel: +65 6737 8336
Daily: 12.30pm – 3pm, 6.30pm – 11pm
Nearest Station: Orchard

MY LITTLE SPANISH PLACE

Said to be one of Singapore’s first Spanish restaurants, My Little Spanish Place serves a myriad of Spanish cuisine that is set to impress. On their menu, you can find Spanish cheeses, cured meats, soups and a variety of wines as accompaniments to your tapas!

54 Boat Quay
Singapore 049843
Tel: +65 6532 0665
Mon to Fri: 12.30pm – 3pm, 5pm – 12am
Sat & Sun: 5pm – 12am
Nearest Station: Clarke Quay

SABIO BY THE SEA

Paying homage to the vibrant, group-friendly delicacies of Spain, Sabio by the Sea, Tapas Bar & Grill serves up an impeccable array of both hot and cold tapas with an elaborate cocktail list to match.

Coupled with a serene ambience and a view of the boat docks, their delectable grub won’t be the only thing impressing you!

31 Ocean Way, #01-02
Quayside Isle,
Singapore 098373
(Closed on Tuesdays)
Mon to Thu: 12pm – 10.30pm
Fri:12pm – 11pm
Sat: 11.30am – 11pm
Sun: 11.30am – 10.30pm
Nearest Station: Harbourfront

Photo Credit: Sum Yi Tai

SUM YI TAI

For good ol’ Chinese food served tapas-style, Sum Yi Tai would be it. Decked out in quirky paintings and neon lights, Sum Yi Tai serves delectable Cantonese food in generous portions alongside wines and other alcoholic beverages.

What’s more, the restaurant also has a DJ who plays in-house on some nights so you can imagine how fun the atmosphere is!

25 Boon Tat Street
Singapore 069622
Tel: +65 6221 3665
Mon to Fri: 11.30am – 2.30pm, 5pm – 1am
Sat: 5pm – 1am
(Closed on Sundays)
Nearest Station: Telok Ayer

Photo Credit: Tapas Club

TAPAS CLUB

As its name suggests, this restaurant situated in Orchard Central dishes out tapas that makes dining in a group convenient and fuss-free.

Helmed by Executive Chef Jose Angel Alonso and one-star Michelin Chef Manuel Berganza, the grub here is authentic and scrumptious but rest assured that you wouldn’t get a shock upon receiving your bill as prices are kept economical for the masses.

181 Orchard Road
#02-13 Orchard Central
Singapore 238896
Mon to Thu: 12pm – 3pm, 5pm – 11pm
Fri: 12pm – 3pm, 5pm – 12am
Sat: 12pm – 12am
Sun: 12pm – 11pm
Nearest Station: Somerset

THE GREAT MISCHIEF

From the folks that brought you Working Title, Afterwit, The Mad Sailors and STACK, The Great Mischief is a new halal-certified Spanish tapas bar and the fifth installation from The Black Hole Group.

Besides a humble range of delectable and affordable Catalan-inspired savoury tapas such as Coca Pizza, Croquetas and Calamares Sliders, the restaurant also offers a selection of Spanish-style desserts such as Churros and Torrijas alongside mocktails, speciality coffee and tea.

30 Madras Street
Singapore 208423
Tel: +65 8768 0460
Mon to Thu: 12pm – 4pm, 6pm – 11pm
Fri & Sat: 12pm – 11pm
Sun: 11am – 5pm
Nearest Station: Jalan Besar

THE SALTED PLUM

Previously known as Five Ten, The Salted Plum is a casual restaurant which serves a medley of Taiwanese street food—from favourites such as Braised Pork Belly, Braised Pig Intestines and Taiwanese Sausage Patties to other interesting options including the likes of Salted Pork and Oyster Steamed Egg.

Priced affordably at mostly S$5, S$10 and S$15, what better way is there to enjoy Taiwanese tapas than at The Salted Plum?

10 Circular Road
Singapore 049366
Tel: +65  6260 0155
(Closed on Sundays)
Mon to Sat: 11.30am – 2.30pm, 6.30pm – 9.30pm
Nearest Station: Clarke Quay

XIAO YA TOU

Xiao Ya Tou, or better known as XYT,  is a modern Asian restaurant bar on Duxton Hill that serves up a plethora of playful and somewhat cheeky food and drink offerings—all of which find their inspirations stemming from cuisines from all across Southeast Asia.

6 Duxton Hill
Singapore 089592
Tel: +65 6226 1965
Mon to Thu: 12pm – 11pm
Fri & Sat: 10am – 12am
Sun: 10am – 5pm
Nearest Station: Outram Park

Looking for a new spot to bring your Muslim amigos for dinner? The Great Mischief is a new Halal Catalan-inspired Tapas concept in Little India that you need to know about it!

Look no further for this new concept by The Black Hole Group offers a menu of savoury Spanish cuisine and house blend coffee. An overdue catch up with your compañero is calling!

From the folks that brought you Working Title, Afterwit, The Mad Sailors and Santap, The Great Mischief is a new halal-certified Spanish tapas bar and the fifth installation from The Black Hole Group.

Sprawled across the lobby of The Great Madras hotel, The Great Mischief adds a vibrant and playful Catalonian twist to the vintage setting of the hotel and rich heritage of Little India.

Photos Credit: The Great Mischief

Besides a humble range of delectable and affordable Catalan-inspired savoury tapas such as Coca Pizza, Croquetas and Calamares Sliders, the restaurant also offers a selection of Spanish-style desserts such as Churros and Torrijas alongside mocktails, speciality coffee and tea.

Inspired by the gastronomical culture of Catalonia, this place makes the perfect spot for sharing good food and spending quality time with family and friends.

If Spanish cuisine isn’t up your alley, you can check out these other Instagram-worthy Halal-certified cafés in Singapore for that caffeine fix or some late night sweet treats.

Mileslife is our favourite app to accumulate miles through everyday spending. You can earn 3 miles for every dollar spent at this restaurant. Download and try Mileslife out now! You can use our code ‘Ladyironchef‘ upon your first spending to get 1,000 miles.

The Great Mischief
28 Madras Street
Singapore 208422
Tel: +65 9392 2762
Sun to Thurs: 6pm – 10.30pm
Fri and Sat: 6pm – 2am
Closed on Tuesdays
Nearest Station: Rochor MRT

Dehesa, which in Spanish translates to “grasslands”—home of the Iberico pig—is a Spanish restaurant nestled in North Canal Road that is quite unlike any other.

Priding itself with being the only front-runner of the nose to tail eating revolution in Singapore—meaning to say, they use every part of the animal—what you can expect from Dehesa Restaurant is a tantalising array of edible treats that will leave even the most squeamish of diners satisfied from head to tail—literally.

Duck hearts on toast and lamb sweetbreads are just some of the things one can look forward to here and Chef-owner, Jean-Philippe Patruno, who has over 20 years of culinary experience, makes it his personal commitment to use modern techniques to delight your taste buds despite how off-putting the idea of animal innards may be.

This 50-seater restaurant features a long bar top that overlooks directly into the open kitchen, long communal dining tables as well as an alfresco area.

For the ballsy, consider the Crispy Pig’s Head Dehesa Signature (S$28++).

This dish may resemble a meatloaf from taste to texture but little did we know that the contents of this breaded and deep-fried parcel are made up of the odds and ends of a pig’s head. Yes, we are talking about the ears, the snout, and for good measure, possibly a touch of brain as well.

Contrary to what you may think (or feel), this dish was the bomb. Expertly butchered and brined for several days, the semi-finished product is rolled in breadcrumbs and deep-fried. Robustly flavoured with a series of interesting textures, this is one dish that got us nodding in approval.

If offal really isn’t your thing, scuttle back to a more familiar territory with their Dehesa Octopus (S$28++). This dish adopts the ’whole animal’ philosophy as well by making using of thin strips of lard that is blow torched and melted over a tender octopus leg.

Although we should admit that this was not the best (nor most visually appealing) octopus dish out there, we must give the chef credit for his technique and for sticking true to his philosophy of using every part of the animal.

Despite experiencing some hits and misses, we were pleased with our meal here. For palates unaccustomed to offal, our advice is to put aside your misgivings and dive right into their stellar array of unconventional cuts. Because if there is one place that champions the goodness that is an animal’s insides marvellously, it’s Dehesa.

Dehesa Restaurant
12 North Canal Rd,
Singapore 048825
Tel: +65 6221 7790
(Closed on Sundays)
Mon to Fri: 11.30am – 2.30pm, 5.30pm – 11pm
Sat: 5.30pm – 11pm
Nearest Station: Raffles Place

Hola! We spent an amazing Sunday late afternoon with our lovely readers at Changi City Point’s RessRoom, bonding over tantalising Spanish gourmet food and alcoholic beverages. We hope everyone had a smashing great time, because we sure did with all the company we were so happy to have.

The 2-hour food workshop was held at RessRoom – situated at The Oasis, a serene sanctuary tucked away at a corner of level one of Changi City Point and surrounded by beautiful lush greenery.

Now, while we reminisce the goodies we had that day, we would also love to share with you the fun and the behind-the-scenes of our cocktail making and food workshop.

We began with a live demonstration of how to prepare Sangria under the mentor of RessRoom’s bartender. Four volunteers came forth to join the introductory demo and we sure had a ball of time with it!

For the uninitiated, Sangria is an alcoholic beverage commonly enjoyed in Spain. It is made with brandy, sliced fruits, red/white wine and a sweetener.

Over at Changi City Point’s RessRoom, Australian Katherine Hills Cabernet Sauvignon, Martell and Soda Water are used. Do note that the exact ingredients and amount used vary – depending on one’s preference.

The recipe is a relatively simple one to follow and every attendee had a go at creating this Spanish classic concoction alongside other invited guests. It was really heartwarming seeing everyone work together as a team; we work hard and play hard together, right?

The best tasting sangria would be those mixture that have been left to sit overnight, for the sweetness of the fruits to add a touch of flavour to the alcohol, and for the wine to be absorbed into the fruits.

The thoughtful guys at RessRoom had already prepared a gigantic amount of red wine sangria for all our guests the night before, and we all got to taste the refreshing traditional Spanish sangria; talk about the best thirst quencher with juicy fruit bits! We are guessing all our guests can now make this crowd-pleaser cocktail on their own at home!

We also had the privilege to catch a glimpse of and to sample RessRoom’s new menu. We started with the zesty Gazpacho Soup – a peppery tomato-based broth served with prosciutto-wrapped potato.

Honestly, a good gazpacho can be so satisfying. We always seek comfort in a bowl of piping hot soup, but gazpachos are exception and we would gladly have them anytime, anywhere. The RessRoom’s version is made even better with that savoury potato ball!

And of course, what is Spanish food without some paella? Here at RessRoom, you get a simple Seafood Paella served with squid, prawns and mussels that is prepared fresh in-house with premium prawn stock. Squid ink has been used to blacken the rice’s colour and enhance its flavour.

And then we dived right back into everyone’s favourite part – alcohol. The entire party shifted to the long bar this time to watch the exciting preparations of Mojito, Flaming Lamborghini and the Waterfall Cocktail!

We had a few enthusiastic readers who were game enough to down the lethal shots in broad daylight.

Once again, special thanks to Changi City Point, RessRoom and last but not least, our wonderful readers for making this event a huge success! We sincerely hope that everyone’s tummies were satisfied and new friendships were forged.

It is always so nice meeting our supportive and likeminded readers in real life, and to see everyone bonding over great food and beverages. We definitely look forward to meeting more of you (and hopefully to see all of our readers who attended this event again) in the near future. Muchas Gracias!

This post is brought to you by Changi City Point.

If you are looking for a place to spend a quiet afternoon at, Lepark at People’s Park Complex – an unlikely location for a cool mod-sin tapas bar, we know – counts as a recent discovery and is now our new hideout.

With its hole-in-the-wall setting, it might take a little more effort to hunt this cafe down, but we promise you will not be disappointed with a rooftop dining experience unlike any other.

With a scenic view overlooking Chinatown and the Central Business District, its name was inspired by the Malay slang “Lepak”, which was recently adopted by the Oxford Dictionary to mean the act of chilling or hanging out.

Lepark prides itself in that motto, evidently seen in the unique bench seatings rendered in the cafe that propels diners to bask in an atmosphere with great chill-out music at an alternative social space.

Lepark offers a menu with interesting fusion options, such as the SEY (S$12) – comprising soft shell crab, crab cake balls sitting on two nicely toasted mantou buns and finally drizzled with salted egg yolk sauce – where the medley of the bold flavours and distinct textures proved that one serving is simply not enough.

Another dish worth mentioning is their Poached Chicken Sushi (S$8 for 5 pieces) that is prepared by rolling homemade chicken rice into balls of sushi and wrapped with a thin strip of seaweed. A dollop of garlic chilli, egg floss and cherry tomatoes are then draped over it.

Our only gripe is that Lepark does not serve water. But fret not, for it carries a vast range of beers and drinks specially sourced from New Zealand. Beer flight options are also available for those who wish to sample a variety of beers at once.

Lepark
People’s Park Complex Level 6
1 Park Road
Singapore 059108
Tel: +65 6908 5809
Tue to Thu: 4pm – 11pm
Fri: 4pm – 12am
Sat: 11am – 12am
Sun: 11am – 11pm
Nearest Station: Chinatown

About the writer:
Cassandra is a staff writer for ladyironchef. During her free time, she fuels her passion for fashion through shopping and indulges in all things food. She loves anything egg related and is always ready for a cafe-hopping adventure.

Spanish food has been making big waves on the food radar, with new tapas bars popping up every month. If you are a fan of tapas, Salt Tapas & Bar at Raffles City by celebrity chef Luke Mangan is one place that you should check out. It serves Aussie-style tapas with the freshest ingredients.

Many people have the perception that Salt Tapas & Bar is very expensive. This is true. Most of the tapas are in the $20 to $30 range, and you can easily spend at least $100 for a meal here. But what you might not know that it has a fantastic lunch set for just $33.50++/pax. It includes a flat bread to share, and 3 tapas per person. When you consider the fact that most of the dishes on the set lunch menu are from the ala carte menu, you will agree that it is a very good deal.

The set lunch menu is essentially a scaled down version of the main menu. Both are divided into different categories: ‘Nibbles’, ‘Butcher’, ‘Garden’, ‘Sea’, ‘Paddock’ and ‘Sweets’, Below are some of the dishes that we ordered from the set lunch menu. I have also included the ala carte portion prices.

Salt Tapas & Bar has several options under their ‘Garden’ menu which include Heirloom Tomato Salad ($11), Beetroot & Red Capscium ($12) and a Rocket & Pear Salad ($9).

We started off with a superb Tuna Tartare ($19 for small, $27 for large) with wasabi mayo and ruby grapefruit from the ‘Sea’ menu.

We also had the Crispy Soft Shell Prawns ($15) with chilli and garlic aioli, and while it was not a scene stealer, it did not disappoint with its crisp and crunchy texture.

Another dish that was even more addictive than the Soft Shell Prawns is the Salt & Pepper Squid ($20) with lime mayo. The crunch squid was well-seasoned with salt and pepper, and it was perfect with lime mayo. Simply put, I’d not leave Salt Tapas & Bar without trying this.

From the ‘Paddock’ menu, we had the Wagyu Sausage, Sumac Spiced Veal and Confit Pork Belly. The Confit Pork Belly ($27) with lentils and chorizo was a let-down. It was a tad too tough and not as tender as I’d hope it would be.

The Wagyu Sausage ($14 for small, $25 for large) with polenta, capers and tomato was good, but what stood out was the accompanying polenta. We suspect they added in a lot of cream and butter to give the polenta a creamy and smooth and velvety texture. Also good was the Sumac Spiced Veal & Meatballs ($14 for small, $22 for large) which came with a very yummy fontina mash.

Desserts are also worth a mention. Not many places serve good churros in Singapore, and if you have been looking for it, you must try Salt Tapas & Bar’s Churros & Chocolate ($11). It is one of the few that has managed to impress me so far.

You also cannot go wrong with the Gooey Hot Chocolate Tart with caramelised banana and white chocolate ice cream ($14).

Salt Tapas & Bar
252 North Bridge Road
#01-22A Raffles City Shopping Centre
Tel: +65 6837 0995
Daily: 11.30am – 10pm
Nearest Station: City Hall

Note: Foodbar Dada at Robertson Quay has closed and they are currently relocating to a new location.

In Singapore, a city full of amazing restaurants, it really takes something outstanding to make me sit up and take notice. I am just going to say this once: visit Foodbar Dada – a Spanish tapas bar at Robertson Quay – before it gets too popular. Make a booking, and go there soon.

If you are into Spanish tapas, I can safely say that this is one place you must try.

During my first visit two months back, the crowd was quite a sight. By coincidence, there was a restaurant owner, executive chef from a restaurant group, and Singapore’s top food critic from Straits Times, dining in the same time. It was completely unplanned, and felt like a mini reunion for everyone.

The bar itself is small, with 20 seats along a narrow counter. Upon stepping inside, I fell in love with the place, and I knew immediately tat it was going to do very well. It was a multi-sensory experience for me: the music, the people, the vibe, the smell, the clanking of cast-iron pans, the heat from the Josper grill…

We started with the Iberican secret ($16) which came highly recommended and the sous vide pork was superb! It was tender, fat, and very juicy.

During my visit to Barcelona last year, I felt let down that most of the squid ink paellas that we tried were mediocre. So I took a cautious approach when facing Foodbar Dada’s black mediterranean rice ($8). After trying it, I dare say it was better than most of the ones that I’ve had before. The rice was flavourful and cooked to the right doneness of what you would expect from a good paella.

I wasn’t very keen to try the watermelon gazpacho ($12) as I was not a fan of cold soup, until Foodbar Dada’s rendition changed that. It was light, and very refreshing. That said, I would probably order this just once as there are too many items on the menu to choose from.

The best dish of the night – and something I would return to Foodbar Dada again and again – is the Josper mini squid ($18) cooked with olive oil, salt, pepper, and egg. It was simple, but so so good. Definitely a dish that you must order!

We decided to push our luck and go for the potato bravas ($6). Here, it was done slightly refined, with four cubes of potatoes on a nice elongated plate. It was very from the usual potato bravas, but I have to give credit to the chefs for the presentation.

On the second visit, we had the same baby squid and black squid ink rice, and I am happy to say that the quality of both dishes were still very good.

I was disappointed to see that they removed salmon from the menu, as I remembered it to be nicely-seared, and paired with heavenly sweet grapes and a well-balanced sauce.

In place of it was the grilled seabass ($18), which my dining companion noted that the chef managed to maintain the integrity of the fish by not over-complicating it. I thought it was decent, but nothing to write home about.

Josper razor clams ($18) – with diced tomatoes, onions, olive oil, and lime – while good, was slightly overcooked, and it paled in comparison to the signature baby squid.

We also had the cod puffs ($12) – a new special item on the menu – which is essentially a savoury puff pastry filled with cod bits.

Next up was the 150g Josper steak ($30), accompanied by red pepper, pumpkin, and peas. Again, a piece of good meat seasoned well with sea salt, and prepared to a high level in the Josper grill.

For desserts, we were puzzled that the souffle ($12) did not rise as much as it should, and it had a molten chocolate-y centre. It was more like a chocolate lava cake than souffle. Not that we were complaining, it was a sweet ending for our wonderful meal.

The food at Foodbar Dada is not rocket-science. They use fresh produce, well-seasoned with good quality olive oil, maldon sea salt, and expertly-cooked in Josper grill. If budget is a consideration, prices here are significantly lower than the other top Spanish tapas restaurants in Singapore.

It might seem that I raved too much about Foodbar Dada, and the last thing I want to do is to set your expectations too high. But trust me on this, Foodbar Dada is worth a visit.

I’d go so far as to say it is one of the best new restaurants to open in Singapore this year. See you there!

Foodbar Dada
60 Robertson Quay
#01-12 Singapore
Tel: +65 6735 7738
Tue to Sat: 6pm – 11pm
Reservations are required.

For more recommendations, read my list of Spanish Restaurants in Singapore

Everyone knows Dempsey Hill. It is arguably one of the hottest dining destinations in Singapore, with popular restaurants like The White Rabbit, Barracks Cafe and PS Cafe. But not everyone knows about Don Quijote Spanish restaurant at Dempsey. Well, I guess now we all know.

Be it a nice date with your partner; or a birthday party celebration with a big group of friends – Don Quijote Spanish Restaurant is the ideal place if you like tapas, paella and sangria.

One thing to note: the original branch at Lorong Kilat is no longer in operation.

The menu is huge. From cold tapas like Mixed Platter of Ham, Sausages and Cheese ($36) and Anchovy and Piquillo Pepper on bread ($12); to hot tapas like Tortilla Espanola ($11), Calamari ($12) and Gambas Al Ajillo ($13); to meats like Ox-tail Stew ($36) and Tenderloin Steak ($39); to Paellas ($30 for small); and desserts like Leche Fritta ($9) and Warm Chocolate Cake ($19) – there is something for everyone.

Don Quijote Spanish Restaurant recently launched a Market Seafood Menu where they serve “live” seafood from the market. It largely depends on what is available in the market, but the typical menu will feature a selection of fishes, lobsters, clams, mussels, and scallops.

While waiting for Sophie to arrive, Qiuting and I started with the Mejillon Al Vino Blanco – Mussels cooked in White Wine ($16); and Gambas Al Ajillo ($16) – Garlic fried Live Prawns.

The Scallop ($18) that came next were equally impressive.

For main courses, we were served a gorgeous Baked Whole Lobster ($69), and the visually pleasing Baked Whole Snapper ($45).

We stared at the baby lobster when it arrived on our table and for a moment, we didn’t know what to do. After five seconds, instinct took over and the three of us started to attack it with the fork. Om nom nom nom. It was as good as it looked.

The Baked Snapper, on the other hand, was slightly disappointing. The fish was really fresh, but we felt that it was under-seasoned.

And of course, a Spanish meal would not be complete without having Paella. At Don Quijote, there are four different Paellas: seafood, squid ink, vegetarian and meat.

The Paella de Carne ($30 Small/ $45 medium/ $60 large) came  with Beef, Chicken, Chorizo Sausages and rice cooked in a delicious saffron stock.

Even though we were quite full after polishing off the Paella, we were tempted by the highly recommended Tenderloin Steak Cubes with Blue Cheese ($20). The owner was very confident about it, and truth be told, I was quite skeptical initially. But I had to take back my words after having a cube. It was oh-my-god-yummy.

I also ordered the Chorizo Asado Barbecued Spanish Chorizo Sausage ($10) as Qiuting never had it before. It was a shame that we didn’t have room for desserts, otherwise I would love to try their Warm Chocolate Cake made with Spanish Chocolate ($19).

Don Quijote at Dempsey Hill is a nice place to go to if you are craving for Spanish food. While prices are not cheap, neither are they exorbitant – it is on par with most of the better Spanish Restaurants in Singapore.

Singapore Food Blog Review
Don Quijote Spanish Restaurant
Blk 7 Dempsey Road
#01-02 Singapore
Tel: +65 6476 2811
Sun to Wed: 11.30am – 10.30pm
Thu to Sat: 11.30am – 1am
Note: This was an invited media tasting.

For more recommendations, read my list of best Spanish Restaurants in Singapore

Sabio Tapas Bar & Restaurant is located on the slope of Duxton Hill, alongside Buyan Russian Restaurant and Flor Patisserie.

There’s just something intoxicating about eating in a tapas bar. Maybe it’s the idea of having a glass/(es) of wine with many plates of Spanish appetisers. Maybe it’s the fact that you get to chill out with a group of friends after a long day of work. Or maybe it’s simply because I am a big fan of Spanish cuisine.

Like the Chinese dim sum, Spanish tapas offer you the luxury of having small bites of everything. Then, you also have the pinchos, which are somewhat similar to tapas. It is the name of certain snacks typically eaten at bars in the Basque country. The main difference is that they are usually served in individual portions with a skewer or toothpick, often to a piece of bread.

Gambas pil pil – prawns in olive oil & garlic

Anyway, I digressed, let’s get back to Sabio. The Spanish restaurant was full when we were there on a weekday night, with mostly expats enjoying a drink and some snacks after work.

The menu is broadly divided into four parts: Cold Tapas ($6-19), Jamon & Chorizo ($8-25), Hot Tapas ($8-18) and desserts ($6-8). It took us a while to scan through it.

I was rather attracted by the cold tapas like Boquerones en Vinagre ($9) – Anchovies served in vinegar; Sombrero de Setas – Mushroom hat in olive oil and garlic; or the Chipirones en sa tinta ($16) – Stuffed squid in ink. But my friends were not interested in cold tapas, so we focused on the hot tapas. Some of the options that were waving frantically at us include: Tortilla espanola con chorizo ($12) – traditional Spanish omelette with chorizo; Revuelto de esparragos ($12) – scrambled eggs with asparagus; and Pulpo gallego ($11) – Octopus cooked in olive oil and lemon.

There were over thirty Spanish small plates to choose from, and we were tempted to order everything. We eventually settled for some hot tapas, a paella and a jar of sangria.

I love Spanish food!

The Embutidos Mixtos ($25) – a selection of Spanish ham, sausages, and cheese – arrived before the hot tapas. We ate the fantastic Spanish ham, drank sangria, and ate more ham.

A must-try tapas at Sabio is definitely the Vieras en salsa de cava ($14) – Sea Scallops with sparkling white wine sauce. What a sexy dish! The scallops were kind of openly flirting with each other in a pool of sparkling white wine sauce.

It would be perfect if they were meatier (if there’s such a word), but it didn’t really matter because the sauce was the highlight. The sparkling white wine sauce was divine. In fact, it was so good that we had the other tapas with it. I was actually a little sad when the waiter cleared the pan away.

The Gambas pil pil ($15) – sizzling prawns in olive oil and garlic – was equally good. I also liked the Bacalao al ajo arriero ($18) – salt cod with red capscium, and the Calamares a la plancha ($11) – pan fried calamari.

The Chicken & Seafood Paella ($22), on the other hand, was disappointing. I can’t put my fingers on what’s missing, but it just isn’t something that I’d order again on my next visit to Sabio Tapas Bar.

Sabio Tapas Bar & Restaurant at Duxton Hill is a good place to chill out with a group of friends. If your office is near the Tanjong Pagar/Duxton area, why not drop by Sabio after work? At the same time, you can also check out the other new restaurants in Duxton Hill.

The idea of tapas bar hopping has always been at the back of my mind. I’m going to shortlist a few Spanish Restaurants, and go on a tapas bar hopping adventure!

Singapore Food Blog Review
Sabio Tapas Bar & Restaurant
5 Duxton Hill
Tel: +65 6223 4645
Weekdays 12pm – 12am, Sat 5pm – 12am

For more recommendations, read my list of Spanish Restaurants in Singapore

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Mother’s Day is just around the corner and I am sure all of you are making plans to celebrate with your family.

For Mother’s Day this year, I have decided to do something different. In this post, I will be suggesting a variety of restaurants serving different cuisines to give dearest mummy a little treat. Here is a list of Restaurants Recommendations for Mother’s Day 2011.

Where to go for Mother’s Day? Where to go for Mother’s Day? Where to go for Mother’s Day?

Chinese/Seafood Restaurants in Singapore

Formerly known as Pine Court, Mandarin Court Chinese Restaurant has undergone a revamp and they have a new Weekend Dim Sum Brunch Buffet at $78++for Mother’s Day Special (usual price $68++). With 120 items including dim sum and ala carte selections, your mother will be spoiled for choices.

If buffet is not your thing, why not go for a scrumptious Seafood Feast?

A few weeks ago, I went to Master Crab at Ghim Moh Road to celebrate my Mother’s birthday. The Salted Egg Yolk Crab was very impressive and the Zi Char dishes were pretty good too.

Mandarin Court Chinese Restaurant
333 Orchard Road Level 35
Orchard Wing Mandarin Orchard Singapore
Tel: +65 6831 6262

Master Crab
Blk 19 Ghim Moh Road #01-229 Singapore
Tel: +65 6314 1868

French Restaurants in Singapore

Initially, I wanted to suggest Cocotte at Wanderlust Hotel. But after hearing mixed reviews about the French restaurant, I decided to recommend La Petite Cuisine instead.

Located at Serene centre beside the popular Island Creamery, La Petite Cuisine is a no-frills French cafe where the food is above average but the main draw is definitely the affordable prices. For a slightly upmarket option, go to Au Petit Salut at Dempsey. They have one of the best set lunches in Singapore.

Au Petite Salut
40c Harding road
Tanglin Village (Dempsey)
Tel: +65 6475 1976

La Petite Cusine
10 Jalan Serene
#01-05 Serene centre
Tel: +65 6314 3173

German Restaurants in Singapore

Magma German Wine Bistro serves their Fruehschoppen Buffet Brunch on every second Sunday of the month. Guess what? Mother’s Day falls on the second Sunday of May, so it is the perfect excuse for you to enjoy a luxurious German brunch. Choose from sausages, hot dishes, soup, fresh baked bread rolls, cold cuts & ham, eggs, assortment of cheese, fruits, cakes for just $29++/pax.

Otherwise, go to Paulaner Brahaus at Millenia Walk for some German Beer, and Pork Knuckles!

Magma German Wine Bistro
2 Bukit Pasoh Road
Tel: +65 6221 0634

Paulaner Brauhaus Singapore
9 Raffles Boulevard
#01-01 Millenia Walk
Tel: +65 6883 2572

Italian Restaurants in Singapore

If you have been reading my food blog for a while, I’m sure you know that my favourite Italian Restaurant is Ristorante Da Valentino at Rifle Range road. Recently, I visited La Cantina in venezia at Changi Village Hotel and I had the best Crabmeat Linguine there. Is your mother a fan of Italian cuisine? Just remember: Valentino and La Cantina.

La Cantina in venezia
1 Netheravon Road
#08/09-02 Changi Village Hotel
Tel: +65 6546 9190

Ristorante Da Valentino
11 Jalan Bingka
Mayfair Park
Tel: +65 6462 0555

Japanese Restaurants in Singapore

“My mom loves Japanese food, where can I bring her for Mother’s Day Celebration?”

For the best of everything, try the Japanese Buffet at Senki Restaurant. It is $30++ for lunch, and $33++ for dinner. Prices are the same for weekday and weekend. For eve/public holidays, it is $39++ for the buffet dinner.

If you are not a fan of buffet, check out Izakaya Nijumaru at Cuppage Plaza. It is a great hidden gem with good Japanese food at very affordable prices.

Izakaya Nijumaru
5 Koek Road #02-10
Cuppage Plaza Singapore
Tel: +65 6235 6693

Senki Japanese Restaurant
109 Killiney Road Singapore
Tel: +65 6734 5565

Korean Restaurants in Singapore

Most people are not very adventurous when it comes to food (I used to be like that before starting my food blog). Naturally, I can understand that most people prefer to go to somewhere reliable, and Crystal Jade is evidently one of them.

Crystal Jade Korean Restaurant at Ngee Ann City is surprisingly good and affordable. Be sure to try the fantastic Korean Ginseng Chicken Soup.

For Korean BBQ Buffet, go to Blue Garden Korean Restaurant at Link Hotel. The Korean BBQ buffet is priced at $19.90 for lunch and $26.90 for dinner.

Crystal Jade Korean Ginseng Chicken & BBQ
391 Orchard Road #04-20
Ngee Ann City Singapore
Tel: +65 6733 3229

Blue Garden Korean BBQ Buffet Restaurant
50 Tiong Bahru road
Link Hotel #01-07
Tel: +65 62240700

Spanish Restaurants in Singapore

I am not sure about you, but I think it is a cool experience for the whole family try something new. So how about having Spanish Food for Mother’s Day?

Bilbao Restaurant & Tapas Bar is conveniently located in town, at the second level of TripleOne Somerset. Bring your Mom to shop in Orchard and have a good Spanish dinner after that.

Another good place to have Spanish food is Don Quijote Spanish restaurant. They have been getting good reviews in the Singapore food scene, and if you do not want to go all the way West to Lorong Kilat, they have a new outlet at Dempsey.

Bilbao Restaurant & Tapas Bar
111 Somerset Road #02-16
TripleOne Somerset Singapore

Don Quijote Spanish restaurant
Blk 7 Dempsey Road #01-02
Dempsey Hill Singapore
Tel: +65 6476 2811

Thai Restaurants in Singapore

It is a shame that not many people have heard of Sweet Salty Spicy as they have good Thai food. Not that I am complaining since I’d prefer them to stay under the radar.

But I guess the location makes a difference since Railmall at Bukit Timah is not exactly accessible. Let me suggest another Thai Restaurant for Mother’s Day if Railmall is too far.

Previously located at Hort Park, KHA (above picture) has recently shifted to Martin Road near Robertson Quay. Prices are not cheap, but this is an upmarket Thai establishment and you are paying for the ambiance after all. They have a kick-ass Tom Yam Soup and I am absolutely in love with the Red Curry Rubbed Wagyu Beef.

KHA Thai Restaurant
38 Martin Road Singapore
Tel: +65 6476 9000

Sweet Salty Spicy
394 Upper Bukit timah road
The Railmall
Tel: +65 6877 2544

Exotic Cuisines in Singapore

For mothers who have an adventurous palate, there is a new Russian restaurant in town. Buyan Russian Restaurant at Duxton Hill promises you the full experience of Haute cuisine. In a quiet corner of Shaw Towers is Sofra Turkish Cafe & Restaurant. I think Mother’s Day is a good opportunity for us to venture out of our comfort zone and try new things. Turkish food for Mother’s Day, anyone?

I’m sure most of you are familiar with Peranakan food, but it is definitely an ‘exotic cuisine’ to those who are not living in this part of the World. Candlenut Kitchen at Neil Road has been getting raved reviews since opening last year. Be sure to try their delicious Kueh Pie Tee, Ngoh Hiang and the signature Ayam Buak Keluak.

Buyan Russian Restaurant Haute Cuisine & Caviar Bar
9/10 Duxton Hill Singapore
Tel: +65 6223 7008

Candlenut Kitchen
25 Neil Road
Tel: +65 6226 2506
(Closed on Sunday)

Sofra Turkish Cafe & Restaurant
100 Beach Road #02-42
Shaw Towers Singapore
Tel: +65 6291 1433

Where are you planning to celebrate Mother’s Day 2011?

I am in love with tomatoes. It may sounds crazy, but I’m head over heels in love, and addicted to them. Who the hell eats tomato as snack while watching TV? Me. The irony is, I remember my mother used to force me to eat tomatoes when I was young and back then, I gave all sorts of excuses not to eat them. I only started to like them after the beauty blogger told me about the benefits of having tomatoes. Okay I digress, but there’s a reason why I’m talking about tomatoes — Spanish cuisine makes heavy use of ingredients like potatoes, tomatoes, peppers, beans and mushrooms. Honey, we are having Spanish food today!

Zsofi Tapas Bar is a quirky and fun Spanish restaurant located in the heart of Little India, Singapore. I know it’s a rather strange place to go for Spanish food, but hey, there’s French food in Little India too!

Look at that beauty up there. Tell me, who can resist not eating the Spanish Paella?

I think the Spanish Paella is an amazing creation. It may seem simple enough to throw in a variety of ingredients like prawn, mussel, tomatoes, chorizo, saffron into a pan, but preparing a good paella is never easy.

I like the Paella Valecia ($35) from Zsofi Tapas Bar. Tasty isn’t exactly an appropriate word to describe it since there are so many flavors within. I’m not too sure if this is the best Spanish paella in Singapore since I haven’t tried that many before, but it is definitely one of the better paella.

Be it with a group of friends, or in the company of loved ones – I love the idea of having Sangria with a few Spanish tapas and Paella after a long day of work.

One day, I’m going to fly to Spain and take lots of photos to make all of you jealous. But until then, I can only visit the Spanish restaurants in Singapore to satisfy my cravings for paella, chorizo, churros and Spanish Tapas.

Sometimes, it’s good to step out of our comfort zone and explore new places and experience new cuisine. If you have never tried Spanish Cuisine before, it’s time to read my list of Spanish restaurants in Singapore. Zsofi Tapas Bar serves a free tapas with the purchase of every alcoholic drink.

Restaurant Review
Zsofi Tapas Bar
68 Dunlop Street Singapore
Tel: +65 6297 5875

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If you buy me an air ticket, I will immediately fly off to Spain. I have always read about the Spanish culture, and I think that the whole idea of bar-hopping is brilliant. Unfortunately, we do not have that many Spanish restaurants and tapas bars in Singapore and it doesn’t make sense to cab from one end of Singapore to the other. But hey, I think it will be really cool to find a group of friends for a night of tapas-bar-hopping.

Here’s a list of Spanish Restaurants in Singapore:

Catalunya
82 Collyer Quay
The Fullerton Pavillion
Tel: +65 6534 0188
Daily: 11am – 2am

Don Quijote Spanish Restaurant

Don Quijote at Dempsey Hill is a nice place to go to if you are craving for Spanish food. While prices are not cheap, they are not too exorbitant – it is on par with most of the better Spanish Restaurants in Singapore.

Be it a nice date with your partner; or a birthday party celebration with a big group of friends – Don Quijote Spanish Restaurant is the ideal place if you like tapas, paella and sangria.

Blk 7 Dempsey Road #01-02
Dempsey Hill Singapore
Tel: +65 6476 2811
Nearest Station: Orchard

La Viva Spanish Bar & Tapas
30 Victoria Street #01-12/13/14
Chijmes Singapore
Tel: +65 6339 4290

My Little Spanish Place
619 Bukit Timah Road Singapore
Tel: +65 6463 2810

Octapas Spanish Tapas Bar

Formerly known as The Tapas Tree, Octapas Spanish Tapas Bar launched back in August this year. If you are in the Clark Quay area, drop by Octapas to satisfy your Spanish food cravings.

3D River Valley Road #01-08
Clarke Quay Singapore
Tel: +65 6837 2938

Onion Restaurant & Bar

791 Bukit Timah Road
#01-01 Singapore
Tel: +65 6763 0398

Sabio Tapas Bar

Housed within a shop house on Duxton Hill, Sabio Tapas Bar has been designed to represent an authentic tapas bar in Spain. It is a good place to chill out with a group of friends. Fans of Sabio will be happy to know that it has recently opened a second outlet, Sabio by the Sea at Quayside Isle.

5 Duxton Hill Singapore
Tel: +65 6223 4645

Salt Tapas & Bar

If you are a fan of tapas, Salt Tapas Bar at Raffles City by celebrity chef Luke Mangan is one place that you should check out. It serves Aussie-style tapas with the freshest ingredients.

Many people have the perception that Salt Tapas & Bar is very expensive. This is true. Most of the tapas are in the $20 to $30 range, and you can easily spend at least $100 for a meal here. But what you might not know that it has a fantastic lunch set for just $33.50++/pax. It includes a flat bread to share, and 3 tapas per person. When you consider the fact that most of the dishes on the set lunch menu are from the ala carte menu, you will agree that it is a very good deal.

252 North Bridge Road
#01-22A Raffles City Shopping Centre
Tel: +65 6837 0995
Daily: 11.30am – 10pm
Nearest Station: City Hall

Sabroso Tapas Wine Bar

Sabroso Tapas bar at Holland Village has a Spanish Tapas Buffet Dinner which features 16 tapas at $32++ per head, from Sun to Thu from 6pm – 10pm.

26A Lorong Mambong
Holland Village, Singapore
Tel: +65 6766 0053

Serenity Spanish Bar & Restaurant
1 HarbourFront Walk #01-98/99
VivoCity Singapore
Tel: +65 6376 8185

Sol Tasca
3 Fullerton Road # 01-04
The Fullerton WaterBoatHouse
Tel: +65 6533 8913

Zsofi Tapas Bar

Most people probably won’t associate Spanish Tapas with Little India, but that’s exactly where Zsofi Tapas Bar is located. The whole area may be a little sleazy, but Zsofi Tapas Bar is cosy and unpretentious, and most importantly the Spanish food is affordable.

68 Dunlop Street Singapore
Tel: +65 6297 5875

This, was suppose to be done in July, somehow it was dragged till August, but it’s better to be late than never. And like everytime, I had lots of fun chatting with everybody, it’s very interesting to finally meet all the folks who have been quietly reading my blog for the longest time. From online to offline, now I can put a picture to your nick.

And I believe there is a common misunderstanding: everybody who attend the food outing does not know everybody. In fact there’s a lot of first-timers at each outing, who in turn become my regulars. Only I know everybody, so please don’t be afraid to come for my outing, I won’t bite. Thank you for those who made it to Limon, and I hope to see the rest of you at my next outing, which will be very soon (finger cross).

I won’t say anything about the food, my outings are never just about the food; it’s about the fun, it’s the company and friends that you make over food. In any case if you want to know more about what we had, you can read the detailed write-up of our menu.

My previous food outings:
Epicurious, Dallas, Persimmon, Obolo, Tetsu, Ochacha