Barraka Bar Tasting Session
11 Unity Street
#01-18 Robertson Quay
Opening Hours:
Mon - Fri: 5pm - 1am, Sat - Sun: 12pm - 1am
http://www.barraka.com.sg/
This was an invited media review. I did not pay for the meal during the free hosted tasting session, but I did pay the standard price during subsequent visits.
Attended with representatives from OpenRice, NightDoWhat, and Amie Hu.
Several photographs taken with Nikon Coolpix P340, sponsored by Nikon Singapore.
Wide Range Of Fresh Spanish Tapas & Cocktails
(Ratings: On a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 = Worst and 10 = Best)
Overall: 8
Ambience & Setting: 7
Food & Beverage: 9
Service: 7
Value for Money: 8
Budget about SGD $25 ++ per person.
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Barraka Bar is a hip, modern bar serving authentic Spanish tapas and sharing plates, also known for their house speciality Sangria cocktails. Co-owner Dragan is extremely proud of his chef, who hails from San Sebastián, bringing influences from Basque, Madrid, and Barcelona in Spain.
Ambience at Barraka Bar is casual yet modern, with seating layout in communal style, as befitting its sharing plates theme. Furniture is relatively comfortable, though I find the cushions tend to sink in slightly. Clean lines throughout, with bright spotlights creating a pattern of light and shadow. A brick wall with Guy Fawkes masks and the Barraka Bar signage fronts one wall, opposite the large bar with televisions screening live sporting events.
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| Barraka Bar Signage |
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| Guy Fawkes Mask |
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| Barraka Bar Layout - Shot With Nikon Coolpix P340 |
Service at Barraka Bar is friendly, though attracting their attention sometimes is difficult, due to the large floor space, ambient background music, and dim lighting. Food takes a little while to be prepared, as it's made to order. But staff are polite, and carry out requests quickly and efficiently. Not all staff are knowledgable on dish preparation, though they can make general recommendations for popular dishes or beverages.
Food at Barraka Bar is generally presented in a simple, rustic style, but tastes delicious. Chef uses fresh ingredients, and allows them to shine in well prepared dishes, where you can taste the nuances of the dish. Portions are meant for sharing, and prices reflect that as well, costing an average of SGD $25 - $40 per person. I find prices to be reasonable for the quality of food, and the quantity served.
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| Barraka Bar - Bar Area - Shot With Nikon Coolpix P340 |
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| Barraka Bar - Sports Channel |
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| Barraka Bar Indoor Seating |
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| Barraka Bar Outdoor Seating - Shot With Nikon Coolpix P340 |
The house signature cocktail Sparkling Sangria (SGD $10 Glass, $15 Small Jug, $30 Big Jug) is made from a Spanish sparkling wine called Cava, mixed with orange juice, cognac, and fruit slices, then served in a traditional Spanish terracotta jug. I find the fresh, orange citrus taste to be slightly sweet with a hint of sour, but refreshing and thirst quenching.
The Sparkling Sangria is 1 of the 20 must-try Singapore cocktails in the Cocktail Paspport from NightDoWhat. Showing this passport gets you a 10% discount on the Sparkling Sangria!
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| Sparkling Sangria (SGD $10 Glass, $15 Small Jug, $30 Big Jug) |
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| Sparkling Sangria |
The Calamares A La Andaluza (SGD $12) or 'Deep Fried Squid Rings In Andalusian Style', are prepared in the traditional Andalusia method of dredging fresh squid rings in pure flour without egg, frying in hot olive oil, then sprinkled with salt. This results in a crisp, savoury batter, while the squid rings within remain meaty and springy in texture. Very good, and rather addictive too!
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| Calamares A La Andaluza (SGD $12) |
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| Calamares A La Andaluza |
The Boquerones En Vinagre (SGD $10) or 'Fresh Anchovies Seasoned In Olive Oil, Vinegar And Garlic', use specially imported fresh anchovy fishes on ice. Prepared in a simple marinade by curing with lemon juice, vinegar, olive oil, garlic, then serving with fresh pitted black olives. This dish is an acquired taste, as the sour, tangy, slightly salty, taste may not appeal to everyone. I recommend pairing it with a starch if you don't fancy eating it on its own, but I personally like it as originally served.
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| Boquerones En Vinagre (SGD $10) |
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| Boquerones En Vinagre |
The Salteado De Setas Y Gambas (SGD $12) or 'Prawns And Mushrooms In White Wine And Garlic Sauce', is lovely. The mushrooms are fragrant, soft, tender, and lend an earthy aroma. The prawns are big, meaty and juicy, freshness is evident as they detach from the shells easily. Plated almost like a work of art, with a sprinkle of spices around the edges, and the mound of deliciousness in the middle.
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| Salteado De Setas Y Gambas (SGD $12) |
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| Salteado De Setas Y Gambas |
The Arroz Negro (SGD $32 Portion For 2, $58 Portion For 4) or 'Squid Ink Paella Rice With Squid And Red & Black Bell Peppers', is totally infused with squid ink, such that the entire dish is black. Squid ink is an acquired taste, as the briny, salty, oceanic taste may not appeal to everyone. I like it for the flavouring it gives the rice, which has a sticky, thick texture, very filling. The bell peppers / capsicum and squid rings used are very fresh as well. Garnished with a dollop of mayonnaise to cut through the thickness / heaviness of this paella rice.
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| Arroz Negro (SGD $32 Portion For 2, $58 Portion For 4) |
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| Arroz Negro |
The Cocktail Passport from NightDoWhat is useful for a night or two of bar-hopping. Hit 20 bars throughout Singapore to sample 20 iconic, made in Singapore cocktails! With a full map to all of Singapore's nightspots, plus the 10% discount if you show the Cocktail Passport when ordering any of the 20 cocktails, this is the passport to have for exploring Singapore's nightlife! Available at selected 7-Eleven stores, or online.
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Overall, a very satisfying experience at Barraka Bar (courtesy of OpenRice and NightDoWhat), and I will return with friends for the tasty and authentic Spanish food, chill ambience, and wide variety of drinks. Barraka Bar is a good place to catch a night soccer match, or even for business dinners.
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CONVERSATION