Carlitos: A little piece of Spain opens in Joo Chiat
Joo Chiat is an interesting neighbourhood with a variety of dining and recreational options. With the opening of Carlitos – Casa de Comidas, we can now add Spanish cuisine to that list.
Barcelona-born Chef Carlos Montobbio of Esquina helms the restaurant in partnership with longtime friend Antonio Miscellaneo of La Bottega, with management by Ebb & Flow Group and Unlisted Collection.
Meaning “Little Carlos” in Spanish, Carlitos aims to bring the best of Barcelonian authenticity to Singapore with zero frills. Stepping into the restaurant feels like being whisked away to the streets of Barcelona – the interior is warm and intimate, but also laidback with a traditional tapas bar setup.
The menu is very much the same. Unpretentious, casual and authentic, the food is a collection of over 30 different types of tapas, recreated from Chef Carlos’s favourite memories of the best tapas bars in Spain.
For small bites, diners can choose from items such as the following: Patatas Bravas Bonanova (S$10), featuring crispy potatoes with garlic aioli and a spicy tomato sauce.
The Pulpo La Coruña (S$20) showcases buttery octopus dusted with smoked paprika and extra-virgin olive oil (EVOO).
Macarrones del Gardenal (S$16) is almost like the Spanish version of mac & cheese – homemade penne is cooked with an Ibérico sofrito and finished with Manchego cream.
The Alcachofa Brasa (S$18) features a whole fried Spanish artichoke atop a bed of saffron polenta, making for an interesting combination of textures and flavours.
Continuing on, we have Txipirones Bilbao (S$18) with squid prepared in 3 ways, served with creamy shallot orzo. If you love squid, don’t miss out on this. The Bunuelos de Pamploña (S$12) is a creamy codfish fritter with ajoarriero sofrito and saffron aioli.
One of the items that you shouldn’t miss out on is the Tortilla Donostia (S$10). Featuring organic eggs and high-quality potatoes, this labour-intensive dish is only prepared in limited quantities each day for the best taste and texture.
For heartier dishes, we move onto the Xup-Xup section, named for the noise that these simmered delights make when they bubble in the pot. Fricandó Barcelona (S$30) is Chef Carlos’s homage to his mother – a dish she often made for him in his childhood, it features Black Angus beef with porcini mushroom in a hearty, thick ragu.
Seafood lovers must have the Arroz Caldoso de Gambas (S$28). Large Mediterranean red prawns are poached in a delicious seafood-rich broth with rice, and topped with vongole veraci clams.
No meal is complete without desserts. Cheese lovers will be spoiled by the Tarta de Queso (S$12), an oozy creamy Basque burnt cheesecake tart served with Sangria sorbet. The Flan y Café (S$10) is a Spanish caramel pudding that’s complemented by Cortado coffee elements.
There are also exclusive Spanish wines at Carlitos with over 30 curated wines from just S$58 per label. There’s also a private room that’s available for intimate gatherings and can seat up to 12 pax.
Carlitos officially opened on 8 Nov 2024, so make your reservations now!
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