Tapas Club is a casual Spanish restaurant chain which brings Spain’s vibrant and rich culinary culture to diners at accessible price points. In addition to creating an immersive dining experience where guests are able to enjoy traditional Spanish food, each Tapas Club is also known for housing a mercado in each outlet – a traditional Spanish grocer, where customers can purchase authentic Spanish food products as gifts or for their homes.
Initially launched at Orchard Central in 2017, Tapas Club has since expanded into a second outlet at VivoCity. This second outlet offers much more, including a seating capacity of 200 – more than double of that at the first branch at Orchard Central. The Tapas Club at VivoCity also aims to offer diners a richer understanding of Spanish culture with live performances and weekend specials in true Spanish style.
For one Thursday each month, diners are treated to traditional Spanish flamenco shows, while patrons of the Saturday, Sunday and PH brunch can be a part of the communal paella pan, tucking into unlimited servings of paella cooked in a 1.2-metre wide pan for only $10 between 12-3pm – echoing the way Spaniards eat on weekends; where large communal sharing dishes enjoyed in a spirited, vibrant atmosphere are the norm.
Nonetheless, both outlets have the same menu, so you can enjoy the same scrumptious tapas dishes no matter which outlet you visit! Here are some of the signature dishes Tapas Club has to offer.
Tapas
The Berenjena con Miel – eggplant fritters – is a common tapas delicacy in Spain. Eggplant chips are dipped in a light batter, deep fried and then drizzled with honey for a light and refreshing taste.
Not only are the eggplant fritters sweet and crunchy, but they also make for a good starter dish – or a side if you plan to head there just for drinks.
Piquillo pepper is a type of chilli that is common to Spain. Piquillo Rellenos is a dish of deep-fried piquillo peppers – stuffed with a filling of ground beef, béchamel and onion, and enveloped in a demi-glace sauce.
The Piquillo Rellenos tastes like a meatier and juicier version of the traditional jalapeño poppers. However, the taste of the pepper was rather faint due to the abundance of ground beef and demi-glace sauce – yet the abundant serving of meat makes it worth every cent.
An iconic Tapas dish from Spain, the Bocata de Calamares is a brioche bread roll filled with deep-fried squid rings and served with a classic alioli sauce and a touch of spicy red sauce for a punchy finish.
While they are essentially calamari sliders, the sauces make all the difference! If you’re not a fan of spicy food, then this dish might not be for you.
Tapas +
Seafood lovers, rejoice! The Pulpo A La Brasa features a beautifully charred grilled octopus imported from Spain and served with paprika oil, pimenton powder and a side of garlic aioli.
Served with a side of crispy potato wedges, the perfectly grilled octopus is visually appealing. It does not disappoint when it comes to taste either, especially the crispy ends of the tentacles.
Paella
Arroz Negro ($26) – Squid ink paella with cuttlefish and clams – serves up rice cooked al dente in a flavourful seafood stock, with dollops of garlic aioli.
The cuttlefish and clams complement the paella’s rich and briny flavour. However, I would not recommend mixing in the garlic aioli as the creaminess makes the paella taste rather mushed. Furthermore, the taste of the paella when mixed with the garlic aioli overpowers that of the cuttlefish and clams.
Dessert
Otherwise known as the “Tapas Club” Cheese Cake, the Mousse De Queso Con Frutos Rojos is a deconstructed cheesecake served with vanilla cheese mousse, a crumbly buttery crust and sweet-sour homemade berry compote of strawberry, raspberry and blueberries, drizzled with caramel sauce.
The “Tapas Club” Cheese Cake is the perfect finish to meal and can be shared with up to three diners. It has a generous amount of serving, and the unique take to the classic cheesecake makes it an Insta-worthy shot. The addition of berry compote and caramel drizzle sweetens the deal as well.
Great news for those staying in the east – Tapas Club will be opening its third restaurant in Singapore at the highly-anticipated Jewel Changi Airport, among other great eateries and retail outlets that can be found in our guide to Jewel Changi
Tapas Club VivoCity
Venue: 1 Harbourfront Walk, #01-98/99, Singapore 098585
Opening Hours: 12pm-10pm (Mondays to Thursdays) and 11.30am-10.30pm (Fridays to Sundays)
For more information or reservations, visit http://www.tapasclub.com
Photos by Soloman Soh of the DANAMIC Team. Other visuals courtesy of The Ate Group.
