Esquina

Esquina is, as its name suggests (which means corner in Spanish), tucked away at the corner of Jiak Chun Road and Teck Lim Road. Located off Keong Saik Road, the Spanish tapas restaurant occupies two storeys of a shophouse. Sit at the bar counter on the 1st floor if you want to watch its chefs prepare dishes and do not mind fumes from the open kitchen. Requested for a table on the 2nd floor, which was quiet enough for us to catch up with one another. From the Snacks menu, we had three items – mediocre marinated olives with cardamom, cider vinegar, lemon and Mediterranean herbs, mixed reviews for Iberico bellota "5J" with pan con tomate (Spanish-styled grilled bread with tomato) and raw oyster topped with Jalapeno ponzu, salmon roe and pickled ginger flower that a dining companion raved about. The latter was fresh but not as plump as others I have eaten. Nonetheless, a delicate dish prettily presented with flavours that came very well together.

I liked how the tanginess of the tomato cut the saltiness of the grilled bread, and how perfect it was with the ham. Could not say the same of the sea urchin and lobster paella with saffron aioli and snow peas though. Found the short-grained rice too undercooked for my liking and would prefer it to be a tad dryer. Loved the potato and black truffle gratin with onion sauce, organic egg yolk and iberico ham. The crispy potato was good, both on its own and when paired with other ingredients in this dish. Another of our favourites was the Spanish Suckling Pig served with rhubarb and apple chutney and mulled wine jus – succulent meat with thin crisp skin and just the right amount of fats. While it was lovely on its own, the taste was accentuated with the sauce so delicious a dining companion wanted to buy it. Too full for desserts, we were served with chocolate mousse on thin slices of crispy bread topped with olive oil and sea salt to round up our pleasant meal.

Binomio Spanish Restaurante

One of my dining companions made a reservation for dinner at Binomio Spanish Restaurante on a weekend. We chose to walk from Outram MRT station though you can also walk from Tanjong Pagar MRT station. Located on Craig Road between Neil and Duxton Road, Bionomio means pair in Spanish. It is both a casual tapas bar and a fine-dining place. We started with an appetiser of Gambas al ajillo – succulent tiger prawns confit in olive oil "Ajillo" style, that I could neither rave about nor fault. This was followed by Arroz Negro (squid ink paella with clams and calamari) and Cochinillo "a la Segoviana" or roasted pig "Segovia style". The former failed to impress as the supposedly al dente rice was too undercooked for us. On the other hand, the latter wowed us with its crisp skin and tender meat that was well-marinated.

FOC

FOC is not free of charge but means fire in Catalan, a language spoken in the Barcelona region of Spain. Located on Hong Kong Street opposite Central, FOC is as synonymous with Catalan cuisine in Singapore as it is with hand-crafted cocktails by award-winning mixologist Dario Knox. According to its website, authentic flavours of the best local and seasonal produces are brought together to impeccably present traditional Catalan dishes in a contemporary format with an enthusiastic attitude. The collaboration between chefs Nandu Jubany, who received a Michelin star for his restaurant Can Jubany in Calldetenes, and Jordi Noguera reinvents recipes to the smallest details where the land or sea products find a balance of complexity and subtlety on the plate. This is an overdue visit and I finally dropped by for lunch on a weekday. Among the four of us, we shared six tapas (small plates) and one each of paella, main, dessert and cocktail – Blacked Out in Bangkok.

Milagro Spanish Restaurant

Initially, my dining companion and I wanted to catch up over a drink at Malones Irish Restaurant and Bar. Not only were we in time for happy hours, but the light bites on the menu also looked enticing. Alas, it was located along Discovery Walk at 313@somerset with no indoor seats and we could smell haze in the air. So I suggested Spanish cuisine though my only experience at a place well-known for its suckling pig was less than stellar. My usually enthusiastic companion, who seemed adventurous enough to try any cuisine, was reluctant due to previous disappointment at the paella served at this same place. Nevertheless, we decided to visit Milagro Spanish Restaurant. Tucked away in a quiet corner on the 8th floor of Orchard Central, it opened in April this year. And the owner is 27-year-old Raymond Chong, a Singaporean with double degree in accounting and finance, who fell in love with Spanish food while on holiday in Barcelona and Madrid during his overseas exchange in Denmark.

Ambush

I was intrigued by the catchy name of this casual European restaurant located on the 4th floor of newly-opened Jem, one of Singapore's largest suburban malls. After checking out its menu, my dining companions and I decided to eat there. Weekday lunch sets include a complimentary soup of the day and drink each. À la carte menu reminiscent of old-style newspaper offers a variety of fares such as Belgium moules and palourde (French for mussels and clams respectively), French entrées like Confit Duck Leg, Italian pastas, Spanish paella and Swiss-German wurst. The latter also includes German chicken schnitzels and pork knuckles as well as Swiss rosti among its choice of accompanying starch – other options are mashed potato, fries or pasta. Among us, we had three lunch sets and an à la carte dish. Except Ambush's Paella, the rest were pastas where we could choose fusilli, linguini, penne or spaghetti so our food was served quick enough.

Modern Asian Diner

Collaboration between Tung Lok Group, Dick Lee, Bakerzin, Bar Stories and Top Wines led to Modern Asian Diner at The Grandstand (formerly known as Turf City). Abbreviated as MAD, the 5-in-1 concept combines dining, bakery, bar, wine and retail under one roof. On the lower floor with a door that leads outside is the sunlit bakery by Bakerzin, with displays of freshly-baked breads and pastries. Located near the taxi stand at South Grandstand with glass walls, it is simply furnished with concrete floor and lots of space between wooden tables and chairs. A yellow feature wall stood out against the neutral palette, except for a wall with colourful polka dots. Climbed a few steps to the upper floor where the front and right walls were adorned by red cushioned booth seats, tables and walls. To the left is the bar, manned by mixologist from bespoke cocktail maker Bar Stories, with blue-lit boxes against black walls. In the middle were blue, brown and white rattan chairs.