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Gan Yakitori
someone commented recently that it has been awhile since we last went for Japanese food. so it felt very timely that we came across this new concept at The Star Vista recently. Gan Yakitori is opened by the folks that brought you Itacho Sushi; as the name suggests, the focus is on Yakitori sticks and several other Japanese 'tapas-like' dishes. as usual, we'd say that whenever there are native Japanese both serving and eating at a restaurant, the place should be selling pretty authentic stuff..
tucked at the end of the top floor of The Star Vista, the setup includes a bar counter where the masters showcase their craft on the grill. the wide selection of sakae and beers around the bar suggests that patrons here know how to have a good time. an old school chalk-board tells you the catch of the day. we tried a grilled Aji fish marinated overnight in shio (salt). the seafood is not bad, though we felt that a similar dish at Langkawi's Unkaizan was much better. 
the main specialty at this place would be their Yakitori sticks of course, and there is such a delectable spread to choose from. we came in a big group and practically tried everything, from chicken balls, to liver, to skewers and potatoes wrapped in bacon. the meat were all well-marinated, and grilled to perfection. apparently, they are flamed over traditional bincho charcoal that enhances the flavours of the sauce. they don't come in large quantities though, and we found ourselves ordering a few servings of the same things. 
other side dishes that are popular include Japanese cabbage, grilled corn and mixed Oden (Japanese bean curds and fish cake served in soup). while the cabbage was addictive and went well with the meat, we found the Oden a tad too plain and disappointing. probably, having the skewers with rice could be a viable option the next time we come. go for what they do best, have the tried and tested. 
Sapporo beer would make a good accompaniment to the food, the draught is smooth and unlike the rougher version of Asahi. we think that in all, Gan Yakitori would be the place to visit if you are craving for quality Japanese skewers and some drinks. You pay for what you get, and this place is certainly pricier than other Yakitori food kiosks that you'd see around. but i guess this works for an occasional treat or a celebration, where you'd like your food served fresh and to have a good time. 
Gan Yakitori 1 Vista Exchange Green #02-20 The Star Vista Singapore 138817 Opening Hours 10 am to 10 pm (daily) Happy hour from 6 pm to 8 pm! Serenity Spanish Bar & Restaurant
good restaurants in Singapore serving Spanish food is hard to come by, and hence, a good tapas fix can be a costly affair here (Catalunya and Binomio comes to mind). you pay for what you get, and the big boys are certainly right up there in terms of ambience and quality. at the corner of Vivocity though, there's a little Tapas place (the restaurant takes a huge space actually) thats pretty good for an evening of chillax.
Serenity Spanish Bar & Restaurant takes a waterfront facing corner of the mall, priding itself with the full works of tapas, Spanish suckling pig, Paellas and Sangrias. pretty authentic stuff, with a wide variety of tapas to choose from, the full plate-smashing routine for the suckling pig and some pretty good tasting dishes to recommend. the sprawling premises ensures it probably won't be too crowded, and gives you that much sought-after space to have a quiet chat over dinner. 
the wide range of tapas leaves you pretty much spoilt for choice. we went for the chef recommendations as it was our first time here. the picture above is the Datiles con Bacon, which is essentially dates rolled in bacon, well fried and served chewy with some crisp edges. The Calamares a la Plancha (squid in olive oil) as well as the Pulpo a la Gallega (grilled octopus) are also some of their specialty dishes. while some seafood can be really tough to chew down, those served here are fresh, well garnished in paprika and olive oil, making them very easy on the palette.. 
their signature dishes come from their Paella or Spanish fried rice. we selected the Paella de Marisco (seafood) and didn't regret our choice one bit. the rice was aromatic, with a very generous portion of seafood - from tiger prawns, mussels, dory fish and squid, all blended into one very rich-tasting pan of rice. whoever said that the Europeans cannot do a good dish of rice obviously hasn't tried Spanish Paella.. 
there is al-fresco dining as well as indoor seating at Serenity. pair your meal with some Spanish Sangria, mocktails or have it with some old-fashioned frothy beer, the quiet evening by the waterfront makes this bar a good place for chillax and catching up... well, almost.. we thought that the live band was a little... disconcerting.. not really the best for ambience and perhaps the restaurant could do better with simply some Spanish music over the airwaves. but in all, there's some quality food, nice corners with sea-view, at more value-for-money prices. Serenity is certainly worth a visit. 
Serenity Spanish Bar & Restaurant 1 Harbourfront Walk #01-98/99 VivoCity, Singapore 098585 Opening Hours Sundays to Tuesdays: 11 am to 11 pm Wednesdays to Saturdays, Eve of Public Holidays: 11 am to 12 am Spanish noodles are called Fideua.. |
..ThE lEgEnD..
Last Movie: Ad Astra
Golden Village, Singpost Centre 
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