Kaarla Wood-Fire Grill and Bar @ CapitaSpring - Pivoted From Fine Dining to Casual Australian-Japanese Restaurant

Formerly a fine dining concept, Kaarla at 1-Arden CapitaSpring has transitioned into a casual Australian-Japanese restaurant that offers a welcoming space for communal dining over wood-fire sharing plates and classic cocktails. Diners can also look forward to regular live entertainment for a chillout evening. Despite this pivot, Kaarla continues its commitment to sustainable dining by using ethically sourced ingredients from artisanal producers and local farms, incorporating over 158 species of edible greens, herbs, and flowers from its 10,000 sq-ft urban farm.

Yuzu Shoyu Salmon Skewers 4/5

Deep-Fried Lotus Root Chips 4/5

Parker Brioche 4/5

Instead of courses and a la carte dishes, the menu is now categorised into more affordably-priced sharing plates suitable for communal dining or after-work drinking sessions. To start the evening, we enjoyed some bar snacks, including crisped Deep-Fried Lotus Root Chips ($12), which were moreish with sweet-savoury furikake and dashi honey. The Parker Brioche ($10) with shio kombu butter added extra butteriness, and the Yuzu Shoyu Salmon Skewers ($15) satisfied with their fatty texture and smoky umami flavour.

Burrata 3/5

Coal Roasted Tiger Prawns 2.8/5

We tried the Coal Roasted Tiger Prawns ($22) and Burrata ($14) from the small plates. The burrata was lusciously soft and pillowy, complemented by a contrasting garlicky goma sauce. However, I couldn't help wondering what happened to the other half of the burrata. The prawns had good flavours imparted from sansho pepper and a tangy native tamarind jam, but they weren't as succulent as expected.

Natural Pork Loin 4.5/5

John Dory 2.5/5

For mains, the Natural Pork Loin ($36) was excellently done over a wood fire, served pink-tender over a bed of braised barley and garden vegetables from the farm. However, the John Dory ($46) fell short with a rubbery texture.

Wood Roasted Pumpkin 5/5

The Wood Roasted Pumpkin ($14) was a highlight for me. Slow-roasted, it had a dense and starchy texture, with a sweetness aptly contrasted by sharp goat's feta cheese and an umami miso glaze made from its own seeds, ground and mixed with miso. Atop the feta cheese was a handful of watercress from its farm, which surprised me with a refreshing, crunchy texture.

Cherry Ripe 4.5/5

Rounding off our meal was a divine Cherry Ripe ($18), featuring a classic combination of tart cherries and bitter dark chocolate ganache, brought together by a creamy coconut fudge.

Garden Fizz, Old Fashioned Kaarla

Alongside the revamped menu, the drinks selection has been refined to a concise selection of four signatures (all at $22), maximising house-grown herbs and kitchen ingredients. The Garden Fizz is a citrusy drink accented with rosemary, while the Old Fashioned Kaarla exudes a much bolder flavour, concocted with Australian bush tomatoes muddled with bourbon to give a slight caramel hint.

For the upcoming National Day, Kaarla is also one of the best options to catch the fireworks:

* Indulge in a 5-Course National Day Dinner priced at $168++ per person. (Available on July 27th, August 3rd, and 9th)
* Raise a Toast with Free-Flow Alcohol for $59++ per person on August 9th, from 6-8PM
* Join the Skyline Sparkle Party every Saturday from June 22nd to August 9th, Tickets are $30 nett per person and include one drink (choice of soft drink, juice, beer, housepour spirits, or wines).

Photos and words by Si An. A girl who is allured by travelling, loves the feel of freedom, smell of the rain and the aroma of fine coffee and food.


Kaarla Wood-Fire Grill & Bar
CapitaSpring
88 Market Street
#51-02
Singapore 048948
Tel: +65 8518 3763
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Nearest MRT: Raffles Place (EW, NS Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon- Fri: 1130am - 230pm, 6pm - 11pm
Sat: 1130am - 3pm, 6pm - 11pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Raffles Place MRT station. Take Exit A. Turn right and walk to Malacca Street. Walk down Malacca Street. Walk to destination. Journey time about 3 minutes. [Map]

Altro Zafferano @ Ocean Financial Centre - A New Chapter With A New Interior & Menu

In the blink of an eye, Zafferano has opened in Singapore for ten years. To mark its tenth year, the restaurant underwent a renovation, spotting a brighter and more spacious interior. It has also been renamed as Altro Zafferano.

Italian Aperitivo 4/5

I have the 4-course Experience Menu ($148++), which comprises a starter, pasta, a main course and a dessert. In addition, every diner will be welcomed with a complimentary Italian Aperitivo. It is a vibrant amuse bouche of Castelvetrano olive foam, martini gel, diced red capsicum, tarallo cube, Toritto almond, and tuna cream.

Hokkaido Scallop 4/5

For my starter, I picked the Hokkaido Scallop paired with smoked pear, potato mousse and guanciale. A light starter freshened up by the smoked Comice pear for that lift in sweetness.

Wild Red Bream Crudo 4.2/5

My dining partner had the Wild Red Bream Crudo with Tomato, Basil, and Frisella Bread. A beautiful sashimi-grade white fish complemented with vibrant flavours.

House-made Ravioli 4/5

For my pasta dish, I decided to go for House-made Ravioli, which has a unique shape that I have not seen or eaten before. It is stuffed with minced wagyu beef genovese and served with anchovy colatura, grana padano fondue, and beef and onion consomme. It is then finished with anchovy slices to add depth to the flavour.

Tagliolini with Langoustine Carpaccio 4.5/5

While I had the ravioli, my friend went for the house-made Tagliolini with Langoustine Carpaccio marinated with Amalfi lemon Garum and topped with sea grape. It was an excellent choice, and I would highly recommend it too. The pasta was cooked to a delightful bite and tossed in a refreshing zesty sauce.

Roaring Forties Lamb 4.2/5

Moving to our mains, I opted for the Roaring Forties Lamb. It comes in two cuts - lamb rack and lamb neck. The lamb rack is grilled over charcoal while the lamb neck is braised in Aglianico. They are paired with potatoes, sheep ricotta sfogliatella, green peas and finished with lamb jus.

Silver Cod 4/5

While I had the lamb, my friend went for the Silver Cod with Peperone Crusco and Mussels Veloute. The huge piece of Chilean seabass fillet was perfectly cooked. It was chunky yet moist, with cruso pepper puree in between. The silver cod is served in a creamy mussels veloute paired with yellow capsicum cream and mini red pepper stuffed with cod filling.

Amalfi Lemon Sponge Cake 4.2/5

I had the Amalfi Lemon Sponge Cake with Amalfi lemon curd, Amalfi lemon pulp, and white chocolate chantilly for dessert. I love sour, so this is to my liking for its light and tangy finish, served with limoncello granita.

Giffoni Hazelnut 4.5/5

Espresso 4.2/5

Other dessert options include the Giffoni Hazelnut and Espresso. The Giffoni Hazelnut comes in the form of a multi-textured sphere with Valrhona Guanaja 70% chocolate and fresh raspberry to cut through the richness. For the coffee drinker, you will enjoy the Espresso Mousse resting on top of an espresso sponge cake paired with Clementine sorbet to give it a touch of acidity.

Petit Four 3.5/5

Our 4-course dinner ended with a trio of Petit Four for a sweet ending. There is an interesting fact when dining at Altro Zafferano. It is cheaper to order the set menu than the a la carte item. I also checked that they would be serving the same portion, be it a set menu or a la carte.

Note: This is an invited tasting.


Altro Zafferano
Ocean Financial Centre
Level 43
10 Collyer Quay
Singapore 049315
Tel: +65 65091488
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Nearest MRT: Raffles Place (EW Line, NS Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon-Sat: 12pm - 3pm, 6pm - 11pm)
(Closed on Sun)

Direction:
1) Alight at Raffles Place. Take Exit C. Walk to Ocean Financial Centre which is on the left. Journey time about 3 minutes. [Map]

OUMI @ CapitaSpring - New Contemporary Japanese Kappo Cuisine At The Top Of Level 51

Located on level 51 of CapitaSpring is Oumi, the newest Japanese restaurant serving contemporary Japanese Kappo cuisine. It shares the same space with Kaarla, a contemporary Australian restaurant and bar.

Momotaro Cheese 4.5/5

We started our dinner with the Momotaro Cheese ($20) whereby miso cheeses are sandwiched between slices of Momotaro tomatoes. The sweet and savoury combination worked harmoniously on the palate, while the nori rice puff topping provided the extra textural enjoyment.

Kabocha Uni Tofu 4.8/5

A beautiful dish that is both pleasing to the palate and sight is the Kabocha Uni Tofu ($30). The housemade silky smooth pumpkin tofu is accentuated by sea urchin's topping, dressed in lovely shiitake tsuyu

Nasu Dengaku 4.2/5

I felt that the Nasu Dengaku ($20) may not be everyone's cup of tea due to the egg plant's slimy texture that has been grilled over binchotan with nori white miso and chopped into chunks and garnished with deep-fried golden buckwheat, deep-fried sakura ebi, hojiso (shiso) flowers and cat whiskers from the 1-Arden Food Forest. However, I enjoyed the dish for its complex play of textures and flavours coupled with smokiness from the grilling.

Gyutan Yaki 4.8/5

The thinly sliced Gyutan Yaki ($35), seasoned lightly with salt and pepper is grilled over binchotan for a delightful crunchy finish. The serving of shio negi complemented and freshen up the appreciation of the tender beef tongue.

Foie Gras Monaka 4.5/5

The dishes at Oumi are very beautifully presented. Take for example the Foie Gras Monaka ($15/pc) which is not only appetising in sight, but bright in taste profile too. The delicious foie gras ganache is piped into the light and crispy wafer, topped with Japanese salmon roe, Japanese flying fish roe, chrysanthemum petals, kombu-pickled daikon, wasabi, edible flowers and leaves from the 1-Arden Food Forest.

Tempura Crepe 5/5

Another beautiful dish on the menu is the Tempura Crepe ($25 for 2pc). I personally felt it can be one of their signature must try items. The cheesy crepe is topped with Australian scampi roe, Japanese flying fish roe, avocado slices, Ao-togarashi yoghurt, deep-fried sakura ebi, balsamic-teriyaki sauce, hojiso flowers and chrysanthemum petals. It is another multi-sensational dish with a delightful play of flavours and textures.

Kohitsuji Yaki 4.8/5

The Kohitsuji Yaki ($70) is another item on the menu that I enjoyed a lot. The juicy and tender Australian lamb chop is coated with finely chopped lemon myrite and lemon balm, served with Japanese sweet potato puree, fresh calamansi and garnished with edible flowers from the 1-Arden Food Forest.

Buta Kakuni 4.5/5

The Buta Kakuni ($60) reminds me of Okinawa cuisine which has Chinese influence. The wobbly and melted in the mouth braised pork belly has a hint of tang from the orange peel, served with grilled eringii mushrooms, fame flower, fresh egg yolk, mountain caviar, wasabi, edible flowers and leaves.

Awabi 4/5

The exquisite Awabi ($50), fresh live Australia abalone is salt-baked on the teppan. Once cooked, it is sliced and served on its shell, together with the innards topping and chipped wasabrina.

Wagyu 4.5/5

The Wagyu ($30 per serving) with fill you up at Oumi with the luxurious Kagashma A5 wagyu sirloin on top of Akita Komachi sushi rice, topped with an onsen egg yolk, Ao-Togarashi Yoghurt, Japanese leeks, lemon balm and served with freshly grated wasabi.

Kyoho Sorbet 4/5

To wrap up our dinner, we had the Kyoho Sorbet ($20) paired with warabi mochi and black sesame praline. A light and delicious dessert to end the dinner on a sweet note.

Note: This is an invited tasting


Oumi
CapitaSpring
88 Market Street
#51-01
Singapore 048948
Tel: +65 83383251
Facebook
Website
Nearest MRT: Raffles Place (EW Line, NS Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon-Sat: 12pm - 230pm, 6pm - 1030pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Raffles Place MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk to Malacca Street. Turn right and walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]

Sol & Luna @ CapitaSpring - A New Latin-European Bistro Nestled In Lush Greenery

Sol & Luna is the latest concept by 1-Group perched 100 metres up on Singapore's latest 51-storey skyscraper CapitaSpring. It is a Latin-European bistro nestled in the building's green oasis, a unique sanctuary-in-the-sky of lush greenery.

Fried Soft Shell Prawn 4.2/5

We began our dinner at Sol & Luna with the Fried Soft Shell Prawn ($16) served with lime aioli and parsley. There is no need to de-shell the prawns. It can be eaten together with the crispy shell. An addictive snack to kick start the dinner, especially with a few glasses of drinks.

Grilled Tomino Cheese 3.5/5

You may like the Grilled Tomino Cheese ($22) wrapped with parma ham if you are a cheese lover. You can also taste a hint of sweetness from the acacia honey, coupled with a peppery kick from the black pepper. To enjoy the gooey grilled tomino cheese, you can spread it on the crostini.

Prawn & Octopus Nicoise Salad 4/5

The Prawn & Octopus Nicoise Salad ($25) will delight the carnivores as the meats are more than the greens. You can find prawn, octopus, quail eggs, haricot beans, Rescoldo potatoes, olive and Spanish anchovy on the plate.

White Gazpacho 3.5/5

Next, we have the White Gazpacho ($19) with grape segments, marcona almonds, grilled half avocado and mixed seeds, drizzled with a few drops of basil oil. I find it quite bare with just half an avocado floating in the middle of the white gazpacho in terms of presentation. While the cold soup is tasty, complemented by the various textural bites of the ingredients, I thought the cold soup was not chill enough.

Grilled Australian Shark Bay 4/5

This is our third prawn dish for the night, Grilled Australian Shark Bay ($25). There is nothing fancy, just simple cooking to appreciate the sweetness of the tiger prawns, topped with corn and tomato salsa.

Truffle Risotto 4.2/5

One of the crowd's favourites is the Truffle Risotto ($25), cooked to a delightful creaminess packed with beautiful flavours from the grana padano truffle and mushroom paste. Customers have the option to add fresh seasonal truffles, subject to market price.

Wood-Fired Sardine 4.2/5

The dish that surprised me was the Wood-fired Sardine ($19). Shaped like a sausage, it is actually a concoction of sardine, mussel, herb and pine nuts wrapped with parma ham, paired with butternut puree. There is something familiar with the wood-fired sardine that I can't pinpoint. It just grows on me to go back for more.

Baked Veal Shank Pie 3.5/5

Good for sharing is the Baked Veal Shank Pie ($28). Tearing the puff pastry apart reveals a bowl of chunky veal, carrot, onion, and potato in delicious veal jus. Though I find the veal shank was a bit tough for my liking, the rest are well executed.

Escalivada 3/5

As for the Escalivada ($14), I do not know how to appreciate the mushy texture of the ragout of eggplant paired with capsicum, pearl onions, Spanish anchovies and hazelnut oil. However, the taste profile is indeed delicious.

12 Hours Slow Cooked Welsh Lamb 3.5/5

The 12 Hours Slow Cooked Welsh Lamb ($28) is cooked to fork tender, paired excellently with the bordelaise sauce, broccolini and garlic crumbs. 

Sol & Luna Tiramisu 3/5

For dessert, we tried the Sol & Luna Tiramisu ($16) and Tarte Tatin with Creme Anglaise Sauce ($13). The tiramisu is light-handed compared to other versions I have.

Tarte Tatin with Creme Anglaise Sauce 4/5

My preference goes for the Tarte Tatin with Creme Anglaise Sauce. Pour the creme anglaise sauce over the caramelised apple layer resting on the puffy pastry for a sweet ending to a satisfying dinner.

Overall, Sol & Luna is a beautiful restaurant on top of CapitaSpring. It brings together dishes from the Latin-European region - Italy, France, Portugal and Spain, reinvented with a twist and finesse. While there are hits and misses for the dishes, it is still worthy of a visit to immerse yourself in the green oasis.

Note: This is an invited tasting.


Sol & Luna
CapitaSpring
88 Market Street
#17-01
Singapore 048948
Tel: +65 80314316
Facebook
Website
Nearest MRT: Raffles MRT (EW Line, NS Line)

Opening Hours:
Breakfast
Daily: 7am - 1045am
Weekend Brunch
Sat & Sun: 10am - 230pm
High Tea
Daily: 230pm - 5pm
Lunch
Mon-Fri: 11am - 230pm
Dinner
Daily: 6pm - 1030pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Raffles MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk to Malacca Street. Walk down Malacca Street to Market Street. Cross the street. Walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]