La Taperia

La Taperia is a new-ish Spanish restaurant under the illustrious Les Amis Group, re-invented after the original collaboration with some Spanish heavyweight fell through. Notwithstanding the failed joint venture hiccup, La Taperia has been doing a roaring trade. The first time I popped by, the small-ish restaurant was at a full capacity. Our second attempt at dinner was luckier, we actually wrangled a counter seat, on the alfresco balcony.

The atmosphere at La Taperia is lively and convivial; fantastic for winding down after a long week at work. The menu is conservatively traditional, but extensive in variety, and absolutely scrumptious.

The Champinones con Jamon al Ajillo ($16), of white button mushrooms sauteed in extra virgin olive oil, sprinkled with garlic slivers, speckled with jamon serrano, was topped off by an organic egg confit.

The Huevos Estrellados con Patatas Paja, Chorizo, Pimiento del Piquillo y Champinones ($18), a hodgepodge of eggs fried with iberico chorizo, piquillo red pepper, mushrooms, and straw potatoes, was sublime.

We love mushrooms, and the Salteado di Champinones ($8), sauteed with extra virgin olive oil, was earthy wholesome goodness. 

A classic, the Gambas al Ajillo ($18) of fat juicy prawns swimming in olive oil, crispy garlic and chilli flakes. Simplicity at its finest.

To mop up all that addictive garlic-infused olive oil, Baguette ($4), crusty and fresh out of the oven, makes superb fodder. 

The Pulpo a la Gallega ($22), Galician-style octopus, was excellent, cooked to perfection, soft with a hint of bite.

The Rollito de Jamon Relleno de Calamar ($18) of moreish squid swaddled in salty jamon iberico a la plancha, was unctuous and umami. A liberal shower of fresh lime juice balanced the intensity of the squid.

The Croquetas de Jamon ($15), potato cutlets stuffed with suckling pig, bechamel and jamon iberico, was creamy and balanced.

A seafood variant of that, Crujientes de Lubina ($16) was stuffed with rockfish mashed with herbs and enlivened with lemon and a creamy aioli.

A must-try, the Presa Iberica a la Parrilla ($24), charcoal-grilled iberian pork marinated in paprika and drizzled with extra virgin olive oil, was luscious and meltingly tender.

The Chistorrado de Pollo Paella ($30) a sizzling griddle of rice dotted with sauteed chicken breast chunks, chistorra sausage, piquillo pepper and melty cheese, was flavoursome and torched with just the perfect amount of smoky char.


La Taperia
1 Scotts Road
#02-10 Shaw Centre
Tel: 6737 8336
Open daily for lunch from 12noon to 3pm;
Dinners Sundays to Thursdays from 6.30pm to 12midnight;
Dinners Fridays to Saturdays from 6.30pm to 1am;
Website: www.lesamisgroup.com.sg/la-taperia

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