Since opening their doors in late 2021, Moderato Restaurant & Bar has been serving an extensive selection of Mod-European fare that boasts an umami-bomb of flavours and generous sharing plates for groups, all while being very affordable.
The word ‘Moderato’ is typically used in music to indicate tempo, more specifically, a moderate pace. Moderato applies this concept to food, wine, music, and more; which are meant to be enjoyed at the right pace (and place) to not overwhelm the senses and savour each dish and drink.
Moderato is helmed by Head Chef John Ng. He has honed his craft since his early days at Zafferano, Four Seasons and more, so you know you’re in good hands for sure.
Drinks at Moderato
Getting down to the important stuff first – drinks! Moderato has a wallet-friendly selection of wines and craft tipples. Cocktail prices start at $12, all day long.
If you’re feeling adventurous, ask Moderato’s resident spunky bartender, Michelle, for a bespoke cocktail, and she’ll whip up one of her surprise concoctions that’ll have you coming back for more. We were pleasantly surprised by her version of a Negroni, adding her own touch of rosemary in various forms.
Sourdough Bun and Kombu Butter
To start, we were served the staple Sourdough Bun and Kombu Butter. And oh boy, it’s out of this world! It has just the right amount of savouriness, nuttiness from the sesame, tons of umami, and a dash of ingredients that John coyly keeps a mystery. At this point, we’d all go back just for the butter too #nocap.
Tapas & Starters
Moving on to some tapas, we had the Chorizo Croquettes ($15), which were lightly battered and crisp, with a creamy filling on the inside and a hint of spices. Serves five pax, single serving each.
If you’re a huge fan of seafood, you’ll be salivating at the mention of this Uni Capellini ($22). Dare we say, this is definitely one of the most affordable Uni Capellini dishes out there. For such an attractive price, you get very fresh uni that has a buttery consistency and melts in your mouth, al dente pasta and a generous dollop of Oscietra Caviar as well. Served as a starter, but it’s so good that you might not want to share đ
The Scallops Ala Plancha ($30) was served with burnt cauliflower, guanciale and scallion oil. Expect beautifully seared huge, fleshy scallops accompanied with flavours of slight mint and smokiness from the vegetables and a thick cream sauce.
Fresh Off The Grill
Moderato also houses a Binchotan grill, and the kitchen uses seasonal wood to elevate the flavours and aromas of each dish. The Tiger Prawns “Al Ajillo” ($40) boasted juicy, fresh tiger prawns cooked with confit garlic kombu butter and drizzled with burnt lemon. The char from the grill added such a nice smokey flavour to the dish as a whole.
We’re beginning to see a pattern here – each dish is well-balanced, with just the right amount of each component, so as not to overwhelm one’s senses, which is the essence of Moderato’s philosophy.
Plates To Share
A must-try dish is the Seafood Paella ($58) for sure when you’re here with a group! Made with bomba rice, clams, prawns, squids, mussel, saffron stock and serves two to three pax. The seafood flavours were sooo well-absorbed by the rice, making the dish extra flavourful and rich.
Order as a portion or as a whole, the Traditional Suckling Pig ($42) has everything you want in a roast pork dish. Tender and moist meat, well-seasoned with spices, and well-balanced by the creamy, thick mashed potato. Also served with potato foam, escalivada and pork jus.
If you love your spices, you’ll appreciate how well-matched each flavour on this dish is. The Iberico Pluma ($36) is seasoned with coriander seed, garlic, chilli, dark soya sauce and more, which gives you a distinctly familiar Asian flavour. Lovely medium-rare cook and overall a good balance of sweet and savoury.
Desserts at Moderato
No matter how full we are, there’s always space for desserts right? The Torrijas ($15) features a caramelised Brioche and Tie Guan Yin Ice Cream. The brioche was coated lightly was cinnamon sugar, lightly crisp on the outside and oh so soft and fluffy on the inside, and goes well with the fragrant tea notes of the ice cream.
Honourable mention for this one right here – the 20 Layer Cake, which is a brunch exclusive. This sinful-looking tower of chocolate cake may seem a little too rich, but it’s not overwhelmingly chocolatey. It’s coated with dark chocolate and has a chocolate cake base and cream, with biscuit-like bits every few layers for extra texture.
If you’re ever having a gathering with friends, we highly recommend Moderato. The ambience is cosy, there are excellent dishes for sharing, and affordable drinks. This is one hidden gem worth trying.
Address: 15 Hamilton Road, Singapore 209185
Opening Hours: 5pm â 11pm (Mon to Sat)
Nearest MRT Station: Bendemeer MRT
Disclaimer: We were guests of Moderato, but all opinions remain our own.
No Comments