Escape the crowds in town and head up 55 storeys to 1-Atico, the latest multi-concept dining destination at Ion Orchard. Two restaurants, FIRE and FLNT, add spark to the rooftop location, serving up lesser-seen plates that take their cues from Argentinian and Japanese-Peruvian Nikkei cuisine.
Swing by FLNT, located on the lower part of 1-Atico, for light bites and sharing plates, paired with sake-forward cocktails. Classic Japanese bites come spiced up with heat and spices from Peruvian cooking; the menu offers an introduction to traditional Nikkei flavours, a hybrid style of cooking brought about by Japanese immigrants living in Peru.
Start with the Ceviche Nikkei ($25). While classic versions call for the raw fish to be steeped and cured for some time, the version here takes market fish and coats it lightly with leche de tigre right before serving to retain the seafood’s firm, meaty bite. Marinated tomatoes ($14), dressed with ume honey and nut pesto, makes for another refreshing appetiser. Seafood takes centrestage in its sushi bowls, too. Flame-seared salmon and briny pops of ikura ($14) come crowned atop rice tossed with crisp salmon skin for texture, then finished with the almost fruity aji amarillo or yellow chilli pepper.
The kitchen also grills up a selection of meat and seafood, prepped over the binchotan. Gindara Misoyaki ($28) is a must-order, where flaky miso-scented cod comes served with a side of bracing aji verde, a Peruvian green sauce. Pluma Iberico ($25), tender and smoky, is worth a try too. Other highlights include the addictive Sakura Kakiage ($15), with crisp strips of vegetables and shrimp drizzled with teriyaki sauce; and dainty bites of foie gras taco ($12), dolloped with rococo-spiced yoghurt to help cut through the creaminess.
They all pair well with a signature cocktail or two. Mizuame ($25) is an easy-to-drink Kyoho grape sake-based creation, with cherry blossom syrup, blood orange liqueur, and cognac; and Nuevo Casa ($23) mixes mate orange tea with yuzu sake and kumquat for a tropical libation. Be warned: a night-out at FLNT doesn’t come cheap; prices run steep for the serving size. But its winning views of the city and romantic ambience make this rooftop dining location worth the occasional splurge.
