UNA: Singapore’s first ‘South of Latitude 30°’ restaurant at Rochester Park
PUBLISHED May 12th, 2014 03:01 am | UPDATED November 10th, 2017 12:14 pm
Update: UNA is slated to move out from One Rochester at the end of 2017
Taking over the space at One Rochester that was formerly occupied by Roast is a very different concept altogether – ‘South of Latitude 30°’ cuisine. With a focus on flavours from Spain, France and Italy which – sherlock (!) – all fall under that term, new tenant UNA brings together sunny flavours and home-styled cuisines with just the right amount of chi chi.
The culmination of Chef Jean-Philippe Patruno’s culinary forte which he has spent years honing under 3 Michelin Star Chef Nico Landenis, of course this establishment scores top points for ambience – framed in a leafy enclave flanked by water features – but how about the food? On our visit, we had the choice of dining on tapas or from the a la carte menu. With a rather impressive number of attention-grabbing items, the a la carte menu won the fight.
After gently easing in with a complimentary amuse bouche, things started on a dizzying high note with the Scallops a la Plancha served with Veal Cheeks and Iberico Ham Crisp ($21 small/$31 large). This would be one of my top dishes to order again – fabulously meaty scallops and unbelievably buttery soft veal were a perfect marriage of flavours and textures.
Excited for the Gazpacho Salmojero ($12 small/$22 large), which is known as the thicker, more creamy relative of the usual gazpacho, there were unfortunately no fireworks here being a little diluted on the flavour front. However, a firm comeback was made with the Slow-Cooked Octopus ($21/$31). Tender yet just on the right side of chewy, and accompanied with a sweet tomato fondue peppered with black olives, this Provencal dish was absolute sunshine on a stick.
On to the mains. The Monkfish served with Crispy Courgette Flower and Lobster Juice ($33 small/$43 large) was deliciously sweet and dense, and paired with a umami filled, lobster bisque-like jus making it the perfect dish for fish lovers. Although the Slow-Cooked Iberico Pork Belly with Smoked Chorizo Mash ($32/$42) sounded too good to miss on paper, for the price, the small portion left us feeling a little deflated taking ‘small’ a bit too literally, in our opinion.
After that blip, the Ox Cheeks served with Smoked Mash and Persillade Snails ($33 small/$43 large) got things back on course – a genius and luxurious combination which could only be thought up by the French! Buttery-soft ox cheek, garlicky snails, sweet, smokey, velvety-smooth mash. Just pure decadence.
As for desserts, they continued to hold the flag high. For a wow! tastebud experience, the Catalunian Bitter Chocolat served with Olive Oil and Salted Rosemary Soil ($16 small/$20 large) should do the trick. With the intense flavours from the high percentage cocoa ingredients, this is a curious but rather fantastic combination of salty, sweet, chocolately flavours that tastes as fierce as it looks, and will leave your palate wide awake at the end of your meal.
Also not to be missed are the Churros served with Chocolat and Honey Ice Cream ($16/$20). Churros are sadly often bastardized and if you’ve been burnt by soggy churros, you may be reluctant to go there again. So it’s fantastic to sample light and crispy churros and wickedly delicious ones at that. Thankfully UNA is a place where you can do just that.
Although prices are definitely on the high side at UNA, for a special destination dining experience at an overall very high standard, we say it’s worth taking the hit. With so many more items on the menu which come-hithered at us from the page, and only a few minor adjustments needed on their offerings, this new contemporary Mediterranean restaurant is definitely bringing something rather impressive to the Mediterranean dining scene in Singapore.
We’re waiting with baited breath for the opening of its sherry bar, which will be the first in Singapore. Word has it Chef Patruno is on a mission to convert you all into die hard sherry lovers. Let’s see whether the trend that has gripped Hong Kong will take off in Singapore too!
Update: UNA is slated to move out from One Rochester at the end of 2017
