Kaarla offers delectable Australian-Japanese creations, all served against the backdrop of the city’s panorama. Here’s what we savoured with a cocktail in hand…
Strolling into Kaarla on the 51st floor of CapitaSpring, we were immediately hit with a stunning view of the city. Beyond the glass doors, bright lights beckoned us to explore the alfresco area and the 1-Arden Food Forest – the world’s highest urban farm spanning 10,000 square feet. Kaarla offers an intimate, elegant ambience that makes it well-suited for anything from date nights to after-work drinks. Its convenient location in the heart of Raffles Place doesn’t hurt either.
With one fork in Japanese cuisine and another in Australian gastronomy, you’d be forgiven for expecting a menu of wacky creations at this restaurant. But dishes on its updated menu are decidedly familiar, featuring uncomplicated ingredients taken up a notch with elevated flavours and innovative pairings. As the flagship wood-fire grill and bar from 1-Arden, it draws inspiration from time-honoured techniques and ingredients in both cuisines. Its team of chefs is led by executive chef Lamley Chua, who also oversees other 1-Arden concepts in Singapore, like Oumi, a restaurant tucked away within Kaarla.
Kaarla review: Starters that left us wanting seconds
The menu features a selection of snacks and skewers that can be ordered as starters or canapes. The brioche and kombu butter ($10) was a simple combination that unexpectedly caught our attention. We were pleasantly surprised by the addictiveness of this pre-meal bite. Umami, buttery, and fluffy, this was everything we needed to whet our appetite.
That said, we held back from ordering another as more starters were calling. Topped with herbs plucked fresh from the garden, the pork belly skewers ($16) provided a succulent, meaty bite; while the yuzu shoyu salmon ($15) was melt-in-your-mouth tender.
We didn’t think we’d want to swap the usual potato chips for lotus root, but Kaarla won us over with the lotus root chips drizzled with dashi honey ($12) – which was inhaled in minutes. Order a plate for the table, and be sure to spread the honey evenly so that the sweetness isn’t cloying.
Hearty mains to please any carnivore
We love a good steak and we can’t lie. Pleasingly, we found a toothsome option by way of the black angus grain-fed sirloin ($48). Perfectly grilled to lock in all the juices, the thinly sliced sirloin was delicious on its own, but the tamari beef jus and chestnut mushroom puree took it to another level. Pickled vegetables on the side (reminiscent of the comforting flavours of local a-char) were tart enough to offset any heaviness.
Moving on to other meats, the pork loin ($36) was deliciously tender and held up well to the marinade. We savoured it with a delectable caramel miso brown butter, alongside earthy flavours of braised barley, and the refreshing crunch of the salad. This well-balanced plate beautifully captured the chef’s penchant for quality meats and farm-to-table ingredients.
Drinks with a view? You don’t need to ask us twice
Tipples were no pushover either. The fruity, gin-based Garden Fizz delighted us with the tropical notes of peach and lime, while the Garden Mojito offered a refreshing cordial. For classic concoctions, the wood-fire smoked negroni and old fashioned Kaarla didn’t disappoint.
If you’re craving a taste, more deliciousness awaits with Kaarla’s revamped menu. We’re toying with the idea of a return visit already…
Kaarla, #51-02, CapitaSpring, 88 Market Street, Singapore 048948
