There is no more appropriate name for a Portuguese restaurant than ‘Boca’, which is Portuguese for mouth. Boca, a quaint, three-storied number, is the latest addition to the row of shophouses-turned-trendy-restaurants along Bukit Pasoh Road.
Making a good impression is paramount, and it’s clear that Boca’s owners take this seriously, because the aesthetics are wonderfully conceptualised. Setting foot into the restaurant, your eyes will trace webs of black ceramic andorinha birds (the national icon of Portugal), adorning the cyan walls. Would we expect any less from a group of homesick Portuguese yearning for glimpse of home 11,775 kilometres and two oceans away here in Singapore?
“Ok… decor – check. So what about the food?”, you ask.
Patience, my young Padawan. We’re just about there.
Special mention has to be given to the Bread Basket ($7), which includes 3 types of freshly baked breads, which is accompanied by an olive oil dip, and a side of olives. Our table couldn’t get enough of the bread, which was a perfect canvas for the concentrated olive oil. The bread is made in-house, and the flavours vary daily. Needless to say, we were impressed.
The batter was of the perfect consistency and lent a slight, but still delightful, crunch to the tender cod flesh encased within.
Wait, what?
Relax – using two-day old bread is totally part of the plan because the bread has to be of a certain stiffness. Though the shrimp came in generous chunks, I found the taste of coriander a tad overpowering.
I was pleasantly surprised with these three, immaculately presented dessert items. Boca might just shape up to be a wonderful after-dinner dessert stop.
A curious-looking egg white quenelle is balanced atop a pale, yolk yellow vanilla custard that has been dusted with cinnamon. Yet what catches your attention almost immediately is the intricate, nest-like fixture comprising of golden threads of spun sugar.
This proved to be as much as a treat for the eyes as it is for the palate. Not cloyingly sweet, this sophisticated dessert was a subtly nuanced balance of sweet and tart notes.
Together with the meringue and strawberries, allow yourself a spoonful of such rich indulgence, and appreciate how a simple cup of mousse is imbued with such a delicate complexity.
I am delighted to inform you that we didn’t wait in vain. Biting into the crisp pastry shell produced a satisfying crunch, but its flakiness soon gave way to smooth creamy custard nestled within. It’s safe to say that we more than enjoyed every bite of this sweet treat.
Some might find Boca pricey, but most of the dishes here are meant for sharing. That, plus taking the quality of the food here into account, I would actually say it’s pretty reasonably priced.
Boca is a 10 minute walk away from Outram Park MRT.
Address: 6 Bukit Pasoh Road, Singapore 089820
Telephone: 6221 0132
Open Mon to Sat 6pm – midnight.
Rating: 8.5/10
This post is brought to you by Boca.
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