Barrio by Mex Out @ Vivocity - Mexican Cuisine In A Beer-Garden Inspired Casual Dining Setting

With the success of its 313 Somerset outlet, Barrio by Mex Out has opened a second outlet at Vivocity offering Mexican cuisine in a beer-garden inspired casual dining setting. On weekends, it even has a breakfast deal at $12.90, which comes with a breakfast dish + a coffee (available 9am to 12pm).

Smashed Avocado on Toast 3/5

Let us check out what do Barrio by Mex Out has to offer on its breakfast menu. The Smashed Avocado on Toast ($7.80) comes with tomato jam and smashed avocado on a grilled sourdough. You can add bacon/fried egg / mushrooms for an additional cost of $3 each.

Huevos Rancheros 3/5

Comes in a Tortilla shell is the Huevos Rancheros ($12.80) that comprises of black beans, rice, guacamole and a fried egg with barrio breakfast sauce. This is a bit heavy for me to eat as breakfast though. For those with big appetite, you may want to add extra bacon/fried egg/mushrooms for an additional $3 each.

Churros with Yogurt & Fruits 3/5

How about Churros ($11.90) for breakfast with Yogurt and Fruits? It is a first for me to have churros for breakfast. Not my preference but it is quite nice though with its crispy exterior and fluffy interior.

Loaded Nachos 4.2/5

Be warned! The Loaded Nachos ($13.60) is super addictive. I have told myself not to have to eat too much but I just could not control myself from going back for more of the freshly fried corn tortillas, which is topped with a generous amount of chilli con carne, cotija cheese, moazzarella and cheddar cheese sauce, pico de gallo, coriander, sour cream and freshly made guacamole.

Pulled Pork Torta 4/5

For a more hearty bite, the Pulled Pork Torta ($15.90) is a good consideration. Sandwiched in between the deep fried brioche buns is the delectable pork marinated with Chipotle Aioli, cotijatas cheese, pickled red cabbage and mayonnaise. Be prepared to get your hands messy.

Fish Taco 4.5/5

A mush try at Barrio is their Fish Taco ($13.40 for 2pc / $15.90 for 3pc). The taco uses beer battered sea bass and topped with pickled red cabbage, pico de gallo and chipotle aioli. With a squeeze of the lime to zest up the whole enjoyment.

Barbacoa Quesadilla 4.2/5

The Barbacoa Quesadilla ($13.40) did not disappoint with the diced chargrilled flank steak encased in a crispy tortilla, paired with pico de gallo, chilli jam, cheddar and jalapenos for a delightful combination of flavours and textures.

Jalapeno with Cheese 4/5

I am great that Barrio is still servicing the Jalapeno with Cheese ($8.40) on its menu. Lightly battered for a crispy exterior, the Jalapeno is stuffed with cheese for a harmonious combination of spicy and cheesy finishing.


Barrio by Mex Out
Vivocity
1 Harbourfront Walk
#01-116
Singapore 098585
Facebook
Website
Nearest MRT: Harbourfront (CC Line, NE Line)

Opening Hours:
Sun-Thu: 11am - 11pm
Fri-Sat: 11am - 12midnight

Direction: 
1) Alight at Harbourfront MRT station. Take Exit C or E. Walk to destination. Journey time about 3 minutes. [Map]

Esquina @ Jiak Chuan Road

Esquina located in the corner of Jiak Chuan Street has been known for its unique Spanish tapas since its launch in December 2011. From September 2015, new Executive Chef Carlos Montobbio helms the kitchen. At the same time, he also launches a new menu inspired by his fond memories of Spain and experiences in Singapore.

Oyster 4.5/5

Dinner at Esquina started with some Oyster ($7). The freshness paired with Jalapeno ponzu, salmon roe and pickled ginger flower works wonderfully on the palate, accentuating the whole enjoyment.

Esquina's Spanish Omelette 4/5

The Esquina's Spanish Omelette ($14) is Chef Carlos's modern interpretation of the classic dish. Comprising of confit onion, potato, olive oil caviar on a crispy bread, this is delectable especially the crispy bread giving an additional layer of texture.

Spanish Nigiri 4.2/5

How about some sushi at a Spanish tapas place? Well to be exact, this is Spanish Nigiri ($6), made from bacalao brandade and roasted bell pepper into a sushi form. The salted cod with garlic oil and the roasted bell pepper definitely is another unique experience to be enjoyed at a Spanish tapas place.

Chorizo Croquetas 4/5

The Chorizo Croquetas ($12) with piquillo mayo compared to the other dishes I have tried so far is rather straight forward in terms of textures and flavours. It just hit you like a bulldozer with its rich flavour and crispiness.

Grilled Spanish Octopus 4.2/5

A signature at Esquina is the Grilled Spanish Octopus ($28) which is first sou vide then charred for a tender and smoky enjoyment. It is accompanied with Jerusalem artichoke, burnt onion and oyster leaf.

Saffron Paella 4.5/5

The Saffron Paella ($24) is one of my favourite among the dishes I tried. The paella is not only flavourful but comes with a nice crispiness. I noticed the chef scraping the rice grains from the pan, which explains the crispy paella. The dish is further accompanied with pan fried red snapper, chorizo and snow peas for a complete meal.

Pigeon 4/5

I have tried pigeon before but they were deep fried. The Pigeon ($22) at Esquina is cooked to a beautiful pink and paired with forest berries escabeche, burnt rosemary polenta and crisp shallots. This is my first time having pigeon in this doneness and it tasted like having pig liver.

Beef Cheeks 4/5

Love the different play of textures in the Beef Cheeks ($18) with baked bone marrow, sesame pickled cabbage, wrapped in a corn tortilla. I thought a little Jalapeno will spice things up more.

US "Family Reserve" Beef Ribeye 4.8/5

The other memorable dish at Esquina is the US "Family Reserve" Beef Ribeye ($38) with charred leeks and romesco. It is cooked to a beautiful sear on the exterior while retaining the beautiful flavour and juiciness. This is pure heavenly enjoyment.

Sea Urchin 3/5

A classic from the old menu is the Sea Urchin ($22) with crab and lobster bisque, smoked herring ore and sea grapes. Unfortunately I felt disappointed with the dish. I noticed that the chef actually cooked the sea urchin before being served in the sea urchin shell. The result is a rather bland sea urchin with a cooked egg white like texture. In short, the unami flavour of the sea urchin is lost in the execution.

We were served some palate cleanser before moving to our dessert.

"BBC" Dessert 4.8/5

A real unique and surprise dessert is the "BBC" dessert ($15). It stands for Banana, Beer and Caramel. After many trial and errors, Chef Carlos finally found the right beer to his beer ice cream. I was really taken back by the distinct beer flavour in the ice cream. More so how the banana and warm caramel sauce work hand in hand for this amazing dessert.

Esquina definitely has live up to its name for creating unique Spanish tapas. I was really impressed with my dining experience. Chef Carlos has also brought in new refreshed idea to the menu that will delight both old and new diners.


Esquina
16 Jiak Chuan Road
Singapore 089267
Tel: +65 62221616
Facebook
Website
Nearest MRT: Outram (EW Line, NE Line)

Opening Hours:
Tue-Sat: 12pm - 230pm, 6pm - 1030pm
(Closed on Sun & Mon)

Direction:
1) Alight at Outram Park MRT station. Take Exit H. Walk straight down New Bridge Road. Turn right onto Kreta Ayer Road. Turn right again onto Keong Saik Road. Walk down Keong Saik Road. Turn left onto Jiak Chuan Road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 10 minutes.[Map]

Bumbo Rum Club @ Club Street

Long standing bar 83 Club Street has undergone a revamped and replaced with a new concept introducing Caribbean influenced cuisine and rum centric bar. Housing a whopping collection of 76 rums from more than 20 countries, 7 homemade infused rums as well as 25 exquisite rum cocktails, Bumbo Rum Club (BRC) is a rum heaven.

Bumbo Rum Club Signature Cocktail 4/5 and Hurricane 4.2/5

Starting with some pre-drinks before our dinner at Bumbo Rum Club, we had the Bumbo Rum Club Signature Cocktail ($24) and Hurriance. The signature cocktail at BRC is made from homemade infused rum in a concoction of red wine and strawberry. While it comes with hints of fruity berries, the rum can still be appreciated in this cocktail. For those that is not very much into alcohol, the Hurriance which is made up of white rum, gold rum, orange and passionfruit is more suitable with its more fruity and tangy combination.

Pan Con Tomate 4/5

Sometimes good food does not need to be sophisticated, simplicity allows one to appreciate the natural flavours of the ingredients even more. The Pan Con Tomate ($9) comes with tomato marinated in citrus and herbs served on toasted garlic bread. I like the extra topping of the parmasan giving it a extra boost in flavour.

Salmon Ceviche 3.5/5, Camarones Ceviche 4.2/5 and Lubina Ceviche 4/5

A delightful trio of Salmon Ceviche ($16), Camarones Ceviche ($15) and Lubina Ceviche ($14) welcomes us next. Among the three ceviche we tried, our favourite was the camarones ceviche which comes with prawn with chilli paste, coconut milk and deep fried plantain banana. The rich and creaminess of the camarones ceviche with hint of spiciness resembles the familiar taste of Indian cuisine, so good that I could not stop going back for more. The lubina and salmon ceviche on the other hand were as good too. One is refreshing with the seabass marinated in citrus juice while the latter has an interesting light and fruity flavour with the salmon marinated in watermelon juice.

Quesadillas 3.8/5

The Quesadillas ($14) is filled with cheesy beef, spicy guacamole and jalapeno. The tortilla was fresh, soft and has a delectable chewy bite to it. If the flavours could be bolder and spicier, that will make it even more perfect.

Nachos 4/5

How to resist Nachos ($14) when it is further topped with shredded pork, melted cheese and spicy guacamole. The shredded pork interestingly has an Asian flavour to it. I like the added jalapeno giving the corn chips a boost in flavours.

Accras Bacalao 3/5

The weakest link among the dishes we tried is the Accras Bacalao ($20). The cod fish beignet made from flour, onion, chilli and cod fish is served with spicy tomato sauce. I felt that the cod fish was wasted in this interpretation where the buttery flavour of the cod fish is lost.

Pollo Dulce Y Picante 4.5/5

The Pollo Dulce Y Picante ($16) was our favourite for the night. The sweet and spicy chicken with jalapeno confit was grilled to a nice charred and smoky flavour. The flavoursome chicken definitely hit the spot with its tender and juicy chicken.

Churros 4.2/5

If you prefer Churros ($9) that has a doughy innard and yet still has an exterior crisp then the one at BRC will be for you. The crunchy fried dough coated with sugar and dipped in chocolate sauce for a sweet finishing to these yummy Cuban doughnuts.

Bumbo Rum Club Punching Bag (2-4 Sharing) 4/5

For big group that is looking for a great place to gather, BRC would be an idea place with its selection of rum and mouth watering food. Saying that the Bumbo Rum Club Punching Bag ($60), a concoction of white rum, dark rum, gold rum, orange, pineapple, lemon and ginger ale is good for 2 to 4 pax sharing is a light and easy cocktail to kick start the night.

Step into Bumbo Rum Club and be transported to the world of Caribbean sensuality and tastes. Special themed programs are also lined up every night, there is always something to get one entertained each night.


Bumbo Rum Club
83 Club Street
Singapore 069451
Tel: +65 66907563
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bumborumclub.official
Website: http://deliciae.sg/
Nearest MRT: Telok Ayer (DT Line),

Opening Hours:
Mon-Tue: 5pm - 12midnight
Wed-Thu: 5pm - 2am
Fri-Sat: 5pm - 3am
(Closed on Sun)

Direction:
1) Alight at Telok Ayer MRT station. Take Exit A. Turn left and walk down Cross Street. Turn left onto Club Street and walk to destination. Journey time about 8 minutes. [Map]

2) Alight at Chinatown MRT station. Take Exit B. Walk down Smith Street. Cross the road onto Ann Siang Road. Turn left onto Club Street. Walk to destination. Journey time about 8 minutes. [Map]