When comes to selecting venues for your chill-out nights, instead of going for your usual beer, wine or cocktails, why not try sake? Bōruto, at South Bridge Road, serves up a selection of one of the finest sake, alongside with a variety of Japanese tapas that bound to wrap up your day the way you needed it. Conceptualised as a modern izakaya, the double-storey establishment is opened by Chef Patrick Tan, who also owns Tamashii Robataya, the premium Japanese robatayaki restaurant located nearby.
This premise seems to be designated to be Boruto's. Meaning “vault” in Japanese, the bar's name transpired its past life as a bank. Being converted to a bar, the vault now functions effectively as a safe for all the premium sakes. Spanish sounding, it also naturally accent its part-Spanish identity.
Ichigo Gazpacho 4/5
Chef Patrick has chosen something cold for us to start off the evening - Ichigo Gazpacho ($10.80). I waited eagerly as their Head Chef Angus poured the roasted strawberry cold soup over the smoked blood orange sherbet . The tangy blood orange sherbet carried a hint of smoky flavour which set in slowly in mouth. That, grabbed my attention almost immediately. Peppered with salt, it teased out the subtle sweetness of the strawberry cold soup, which might otherwise be overwhelmed by its much stronger taste. This cold tapas really got me into the mood, and excited about what lay in store for us for the rest of the evening.
Saga Gyu Tataki 4.2/5
Saga Gyu Tataki ($28.80) seared saga beef with saffron . Thinly sliced, each piece of the seared beef was amazingly light on the palate. The taste was delicate, which developed slowly as I chewed on it, and got more pronounced when I paired it with a sake.
Tako a la Español 4.5/5
Having worked in a Spanish set up before joining Boruto, Chef Angus is pretty well-versed in tapas. Tako a la Español ($30.80) is just one of the dishes that have been imbued with strong Spanish influence. The mingling of the different flavours exuded from the smoked potato, sweet paprika & chili salsa definitely packed a punch. The octopus, imported from japan, yields a chewier texture compared to those from Spain. Adhering to the tradition of Japanese plating by using a narrow flat dish, it's a stellar example of a well-thought-out fusion dish. It wouldn't be as appealing should a usual octopus tapas plating is used. This has become one of my favourites of the evening.
Japanese Seabass 3.8/5
The Japanese Seabass with Curry Leek and Salted Egg Yolk Emulsion is a new dish created by Chef Angus which is not even in the menu yet. The dish is pretty well done with crisp skin, along with the moist and tender meat. The curry flavoured leeks did well in adding zest to the overall taste of the dish.
Kurobuta “Sio Bak” 3/5
Kurobuta “Sio Bak” ($20.80), roasted Japanese black pork belly with assorted vegetables . I was a little disappointed with this dish. I appreciate the way it was being prepared, as I got to taste both the skin and meat separately. however, I feel the fried skin was too dry, and the meat also seemed to be missing out the melt-in-your-mouth texture.
Zuwai Gani Sausage 3.5/5
Zuwai Gani Sausage ($30.80). For those that like sausages for its mesh of meats, you may enjoy Boruto's version of Queen crab meat sausage with crab bisque & toast. The sausage is made of real Queen crab meat. Though it is not exactly to my liking as I find that it lacks the usual tenderness and sweetness, it is an experience eating it. Afterall, this is likely to be the one & only solid piece of crab meat sausage that you can find in Singapore.
Kuro Meshi 3.8/5
Kuro Meshi ($20.80) - Squid ink baked rice with queen crab meat. i'm not exactly a fan of squid ink, but I love how pearly the rice was in this dish.
Tori Consomme 3.8/5
If you have had too much a drink throughout your meal, it’s good to cleared our ‘head’ a little with their Tori Consomme ($8.80) - double boiled chicken broth with seasonal vegetables . So light and yet flavourful, it did a wonderful job in recovering our senses!
Truffle Crème Brulee 2.5/5
At Boruto, besides the tapas, they also play around with their desserts. Truffle Crème Brulee ($8.80) is quite a subjective dish. The truffled milk custard with burnt sugar glaze, may or may not sit well with individual's taste buds.
The Tiramisu ($12.80) is actually made of Black sesame cream with mascarpone cheese. It tasted quite light for the first few bites, but got slightly cloying after a while.
Tiramisu 2.5/5
With the number of unfinished bottles of Sake tagged and left in their care, I can see that Boruto has already won its pool of loyal regulars. Don't be intimidated if you ain't a Sake aficionado. You can always turn to their trained Sake connoisseur, who is more than ready to advise you on appropriate pairings. Your first visit won't be the last, for sure.
Written 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.
Boruto
80 South Bridge Road
#01-01
Singapore 058710
Tel: +65 65320418
Website
Nearest MRT: Clarke Quay (NE Line), Raffles Place (EW Line, NS Line)
Opening Hours:
Mon-Sat: 430pm - 12midnight
(Closed on Sun)
Direction:
1) Alight at Clarke Quay MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk to North Canal Road. Turn right and walk down North Canal Road. At the junction on North Canal Road and South Bridge Road, turn left onto South Bridge Road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 8 minutes. [Map]
2) Alight at Raffles PLace MRT station. Take Exit G. Walk down Battery Street onto North Canal Road. Continue on North Canal North. At the junction on North Canal Road and South Bridge Road, cross the road and turn right onto South Bridge Road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 12 minutes. [Map]
