The lush Bukit Timah neighbourhood welcomes some Spanish flavour in the form of Barrio. Sister restaurant to Kulto on Amoy Street, the new dining spot joins the likes of Rubato and Greenwood Fish Market in this charming cluster of restaurants on Greenwood Avenue.
Barrio means 'neighbourhood' in Spanish, which says all you need to know about the atmosphere at this restaurant. Cosy and convivial, it's just the sort of place for a relaxed family dinner. Flowerpots cover one wall, representing the blooming courtyards in the south of Spain. Meanwhile, wooden shutters bring to mind the charming apartment exteriors in Madrid and Barcelona.
The menu here leans towards traditional Spanish fare. Tuck into hearty tapas, starting with croquettes stuffed with Jamon Iberico ham ($14) – a creamy and flavourful start to the meal. Cut the fat with the ceviche ($20), a zesty dish with marinated seabass tossed with sweet potato, corn, onions, and coriander. Another highlight is the 'bikini' ($20) – these sandwich squares are small but mighty, packing a hefty punch of black truffle, cheese, and layers of roast beef.
Meat lovers will want to take a close look at its 'butchery' selection, featuring meats grilled over a Josper charcoal grill. The Iberico pork ribs ($40) with Panadera potatoes and Padron peppers come highly recommended, otherwise, the roasted chicken (from $28 for a quarter chicken) is fall-off-the-bone tender. And what's a Spanish restaurant without some fantastic paella? Barrio offers seafood, squid ink, vegetable, or pork sausage and mushroom paella (from $38 for a 2 pax portion) all with the savoury socarrat (the crispy crust on the bottom layer of rice) that we look for.
Finish the meal with light, crispy churros with chocolate ($14). If you've done everything right, you'll already have a bottle of wine or the 'Agua de Valencia' on the table – the latter is an iconic cocktail from Valencia made with cava, orange juice, vodka and gin.
Barrio by Kulto has a three-course lunch set ($25) available Tuesdays to Friday from noon to 2.30pm.