There’s a new tapas bar at Joo Chiat, and here’s what we think of it.
Carlitos, translating to “Little Carlos”, serves over 30 types of tapas and 30 labels of exclusive wine from various Spanish cities.
It’s helmed by celebrated chefs Carlos of Esquina and Antonio of La Bottega.
Our honest review of Carlitos Casa de Comidas
With such a warm and welcoming ambience, Carlitos was such a great place to chat with your friends or to get to know each other on a first date. Of course, the food was great as well. We ended up sharing 12 small plates because we couldn’t stop ordering more.
We’ll be sharing more about some of the best items we ordered below, but to sum it up, you have to get their Spanish octopus, flatbreads, squid orzo and flan.
The Tapas
If you’re drinking, you have to get some of these tapas to go with your wine. Don’t hesitate to check with Carlitos’ staff on which wine pairing they recommend.
But, for the food itself, we recommend starting your meal with the Gilda Pintxo ($10), which is a skewer of smoked sardine, pickled onions and olives, to kick up your appetite.
The Pimientos de Padrón ($10), while simple, was also a great palate cleanser. It’s roasted green peppers with sea salt, and I love how it holds a bit more kick than usual green peppers.
While those were great, here are the two must-order tapas when you’re dining at Carlitos.
The Pulpo La Coruna ($20) was kept simple, with just a extra virgin olive oil and a dash of paprika. But that’s because there’s no need to overcomplicate it when the octopus itself was so well cooked. It was briney, thinly-slice for soft, yet pleasantly chewy texture. This was my top favourite dish of the day.
Meanwhile, if you want something heavier, opt for the Txipirones Bilbao ($18). This was a flavour-packed, creamy orzo, topped with grilled squid and crispy baby squid.
Other tapas we tried include the Tortilla Donostia Slice ($10), Alcachofa Brasa ($18), and Patatas Bravas Bonanova ($10).
Molettes
Molettes are a mini toasted flatbread sandwich.
These may look kinda crusty and hard, but it was actually so soft once you bite into it. It was the perfect texture with just a hint of crust, and the fillings packed a punch.
The Bikini ($12) was so earthy with its mushroom duxelles and truffle brie, enhanced by the saltiness of the iberico slices.
Meanwhile, the Sobrassada ($12) had a spicy coating of Mallorcan paprika smoked sausage, counteracted by a spread of honey and burrata.
Postres
Save space for desserts, also known as postres.
We only tried the Flan y Cafe ($10), which happens to be the best flan of all time. The texture was incredibly creamy, but it was still structurally intact.
We heard their basque burnt cheesecake tart was also great, but we’ll save that for another day.
Location: 350 Joo Chiat Rd, Singapore 427598
Opening hours:
Mon-Tue: Closed
Wed-Thu: 5.30-11pm
Fri-Sat: 11.30am-3.30pm, 5.30-11pm
Sunday: 11.30am-3.30pm, 5.30-10.30pm
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