Moosehead - Hardly Dear

With many hole-in-the-wall tapas restaurants populating our city, it is evident that the Spanish dining culture holds a strong influence over us. Perhaps it’s our misinterpretation of fitness gurus’ mantra of eating small meals; but whatever the case may be, I do enjoy variety on my plate for a meal as opposed to a 200gram slab of meat. Moosehead @ Telok Ayer adds to the list of tapas restaurants in Singapore that offers a bustling vibe paired with good food that reminiscence the streets of Spain. Opened by father-son duo Glen and Daniel Ballis, the kitchen is helmed by Chef Manel Valero Ruiz, whose work tenured in the startup of Foodbar Dada. The menu is simple and unpretentious, laced with Mediterranean influences from his heritage. Take the Pig Ears and Kimchi ($16) for example; the pig ears are deep fried to a crisp, while retaining their unique chewiness. An absolute delicious snack to start the meal, albeit the accompanying kimchi felt more like a separate order.

Another crowd pleaser was the Bacon-wrapped dates ($8). Well, anything with bacon tends to be a crowd favourite. The first bite is an intricate weave of flavours brought about by the juicy bacon and sweet dates, mixed with a smoky garlic aioli that was not too overpowering to mask the flavours.

The main courses however did not fare as well. The Beetroot Salad ($16) caught our attention, but in truth was more of a rocket salad with a side of beetroot. Chef Ruiz’s choice of feta-yoghurt dressing may be a tad heavy on the salad, and faintly Mediterranean. Another disappointment was the Lamb Rump ($30), which went wrong at every turn – charred, tough and dry. The accompanying feta-yoghurt dressing may possibly prove to be the only weapon in Chef Ruiz’s Mediterranean arsenal.

While I usually stick to the chef’s specialties at a new restaurant, the special of the day – a wagyu steak, renewed my hopes. Unlike the lamb, the steak was done to a great medium-rare consistency while retaining its juicy flavours with every bite.

Desserts ended the meal at Moosehead on a sweet note. The Pistachio cake ($12), topped with crème fraiche, was enjoyable. While it felt more of a sponge cake sprinkled with pistachio, the cake was dense and not too sweet.

A meal at Moosehead is not going to blow a hole in your wallet. Given the many tapas restaurants and hipster joints that have sprouted in our tiny wallet, Moosehead does offer some great value for customers to return.

Moosehead 110 Telok Ayer Street Singapore 068579

Tel: 6636 8055

Opening Hours: Mon – Sat: 11am – 11pm