La Taperia - Hidden Gem With Pretty Good Spanish Fare In Orchard

I think that there aren't that many true hidden gems in Orchard Road serving great Spanish fare, La Taperia is one of those few restaurants that does it well. The 58-seater restaurant is brought to you by the award-winning Les Amis Group and the team led by manager Javier Ordas.

The restaurant opened in early October last year (2014) bears a casual yet homely ambience from its indoor facade and semi-open kitchen concept; while its outdoor terrace overlooks the quiet Claymore Road where tapas and drinks can be enjoyed alfresco.

La Tapería is focused on offering a holistic dining experience with Spanish signatures, affordable booze, a curated genre of music and late closure. It boast the largest Spanish wine collection in any local restaurant, on top of a plethora of Glendronach single cask whiskies aged in the best Spanish Oloroso casks. 

Heading the team in the kitchen, Chefs Ng Wei Han and Dalton Fong formerly from the group’s Au Jardin and Bistro Du Vin respectively, are injecting their flare of cooking styles to whip up a range of Spanish signatures which include the Piquillo peppers stuffed with tuna and anchovy remoulade; Grilled lamb rib confit glazed with honey mustard; signature Lobster paella and many other spanish repertoire.

Capricho De Santona ($16) 

- Piquillo pepper stuffed with tuna and anchovy remoulade

Huevos Estrellados Con Patatas Paja, Chorizo, Pimiento Del Piquillo Y Champinones ($18) - Fried egg with iberico chorizo, piquillo red pepper, mushroom and straw potato 

Gambas Al Ajillo ($18) 

- Fresh prawns cooked with garlic chilli and extra virgin olive oil

Chuletillas De Cordero ($38) 

- Grilled Welsh lamb rack with piquillo sauce

Super Cochinillo Confit ($46) 

- Suckling pig confit served with calanda peaches, caramelised onions and thick chips

Paella De Bogavante ($66) 

- Lobster paella, saffron, runner bean and tomato

Churros Con Chocolate ($14) 

- Churros with chocolate sauce

Crema Catalana ($10) 

- Catalan cream enriched with mango bits and a la minute crispy caramelised topping 

Marquesa De Chocolate ($14) 

- Chocolate marquise topped with baked almond praline

My Verdict
La Taperia is one of the latest additions to the tapas scene, although a little hidden, I like the quaint location as it takes me away from the bustling shopping belt of Orchard Road but just 5 minutes to head back.

La Taperia serves up tapas classics like Chorizo and Gambas alongside more rustic small plates. I would recommend like the Gambas Al Ajillo - The prawns are big in size and generally fresh as I could taste the sweetness and crunchy texture. Love the aromatic pieces of fried garlic floating on the oil, but it can be a little spicy for those who are shy with spices.

I like the Champinones Chorizo too - These are mushrooms sauteed with sliced piquillo red pepper and bits of Iberico chorizo in olive oil and topped with a half-cooked egg an straw potato. It is best eaten when hot and mix together for the flavourful texture. 

For mains, most diners would go for the show-stopper Suckling Pig Confit but my vote goes to the exquisite small treat of Grilled Lamb Rack. The lush, natural pastures of Wales produces what is arguably some of the finest lambs in the world. The welsh lamb that La Taperia chooses has the correct amount of fat cover for succulence and taste. If you are a paella fan, go for the Lobster paella it shares two and you will not regret.

Desserts, however turn out a little disappointing. The Churros came out a little overdone with one of the sticks not at its desired shape and it wouldn't hurt if they could be more generous with the cinnamon sugar. The Crema Catalan dessert tasted too bland when it should be sweet. All hands-down to the Chocolate Marquise, which is an absolute treat for anyone with a sweet-tooth. The contrast of the baked almond praline with its crisp texture set against the rich, thick and decadent chocolate is definitely something I wouldn't miss. 

Overall, the food here is simple and honest with a touch of Spain, nothing crazy except for the challenge of pronouncing the items on the menu in Spanish as we all know that Español is one of the toughest languages to master; but thankful enough there were English translation on the menu, and not forgetting the exemplary service of the team at La Taperia, making sure every customer feel comfort like at home. Well done guys thank you!

La Tapería
Address: 1 Scotts Road, #02-10/11 Singapore 228208
Reservation: 6737 8336

Opening Hours 
Lunch (Daily)
12.00pm to 3.00pm (last order 2.00pm)

Dinner (Sunday-Wednesday)
6.30pm to 11.00pm (last order 10.00pm)

Dinner (Thursday-Saturday & PH Eve)
6.30pm to 1.00am (last order for a la carte is 10.00pm, tapas 12.00am)

Website: http://www.lataperia.com.sg