If you have ever been to Barcelona, memories of those trips will flood back as you walk into Cocina La Taperia at Shaw Centre…the bright splashes of orange, yellow, red, green and brown combined with a lively vibe transport diners to the vibrancy of Spain.

Against a backdrop of lively Spanish music, which is managed by a resident DJ, start off your meal with a sample of cold tapas, paired with the restaurant’s selection of choice white wines. What will strike guests will be the confluence of bright colours, appealing to one’s visual senses, that both lift the spirit and appetite!

The mild burrata cheese in the Burrata con Gazpacho blended well with a tomato based sauce to form a creamy moat around gazpacho (Spanish style blended vegetables) served as a colourful appetiser to what was to come. If you are a fish lover, your preference has to be the Capricho de Santona, which has freshly marinated tuna and anchovy engulfed by the sweet brilliant red piquillo pepper. The juicy flavour bursts with each bite, preparing diners for the hot tapas.

If you hear sizzling sounds briskly approaching tables liken to a Chinese restaurant, it has to be the Gambas al Ajillo which has fresh tiger prawns sizzled in garlic and olive oil, indigenously Spanish with a local twist.  Perhaps the hotplate fusion was intentional as Head Chef, Ng Wei Han has extensive western cuisine experience working up through the ranks in various restaurants within the Les Amis Group.

Simultaneously served is the fried egg with dry cured sausage (Iberico Chorizo), mushrooms and potato flakes.  On closer inspection, the eggs were three quarter cooked, oozing comfort with each bite. It’s Spanish but one can see the Japanese touches to this dish.

If meaty tapas are in order, do switch to a stunning red wine (La Locotiora, Rioja 2014) stopping guests in their tracks as the warm oak-tinged flavour trickles down their throats, all this for Sgd85 per bottle before tax made it a winner. Inadvertently, it prepares diners for the highlights of the restaurant, the lamb and squid courses.

The crusty lamb on the bone comes in four inch sizes but each is a potent bite as one makes through the slightly charred crust into the melt in your mouth lamb right to the bone. Additionally, tender pieces of squid (Rollito de Jamon Relleno De Calamar) with tasty grilled ham wrapped around them can’t go wrong. These are high cholesterol infusions worth taking in.

This Spanish meal is complete with the indomitable lobster tapas. It comes with a generous serving of a whole lobster as good as that might be, the paella stole the show. Infused with intense seafood stock, saffron, peas amongst other spices gives it a slight Asian touch making it a unique triumph.

To top off the meal, try sampling different desserts such as the creme brulee like Crema Catalana with mango slices and the berry crumble. The 15 minute wait for the baked berry crumble, Al Horno dela Migaja de la Baya, on a fresh mixture of berries (blueberries strawberries and cherries) is a worthwhile one.

The restaurant is part of the Les Amis Group, more known for its fine dining.  Hence, the casual but vibrant atmosphere with a passionate quality of food is an eye opener. A value sample is the set lunch menu which goes for only Sgd35++ without compromising on the quality.  It is a testament of their diversity and commitment to affordability… and they do it very well too.

ADDRESS:
Shaw Centre #02-10/11, 1 Scotts Road Singapore 228208
PHONE: +65 67378336
WEBSITE: www.lataperia.com.sg/