Moo-ve aside Japanese Wagyu, a new contender is in town. Award-winning Spanish restaurant UNA celebrates their 10th anniversary with a new menu heralding Rubia Gallega beef as its signature dish, with other prized meats such as Moralejo lamb and “5J” Iberico ham. Foodies, Spanish cuisine lovers and those with a curious palate can feast even more with these authentic, melt-in-your-mouth dishes that will leave quite an impression for the night (or maybe even longer).
The Vent Machine has been given the wonderful privilege to sample the menu at UNA, and we – me and my plus one, Sam – will be giving our genuine review to share our thoughts on what dishes are a definite must-have when dining at UNA. Kindly note that prices listed are subject to a 10% service charge & prevailing government taxes.
UNA Mains
Paella de Mariscos
Red Sea Prawns | Fresh Clams | Black Mussels | Saffron | Sofrito | Parsley Oil
We were told beforehand that one of the highlights of the paella was the scorched crispy rice. Being Asian, we looked forward to it – and it did not disappoint. The paella had that smokey feel arising from the socarrat (Singaporeans might be more familiar with the Chinese term 锅巴 “guōbā”) stuck to the pan, with the rice bearing sweet and savoury notes of the spiced saffron. The red sea prawns were so tender, which further cemented my opinion that they taste better cooked than raw as tartare. The clams and mussels were fresh, oozing with juiciness at every bite.
Price: $62 | $82
Rating: 8/10
Asado Moralejo Lamb with Cauliflower
Grilled Moralejo Milk Fed Lamb Leg | Cauliflower Florets | Cauliflower Sheet | Cauliflower Purée
Sam: “I don’t know if it’s just me, but I swear I can smell the milk in this lamb.”
Many may shy away from lamb meat due to the smell and taste of its gameness. However, this lamb leg did not have that at all, due to it being on a milk-fed diet only. The meat was soft and when indulged in, offered a creamy flavour. The cauliflower purée was such a smart addition to the dish, balancing and complementing the subtle milkiness in the lamb. Overall, it is a smooth dish that makes you think of fluffy clouds – or at least, it did for me.
Price: $46
Rating: 8.5/10
Rubia Gallega Gold – Costillas a la Parrilla
Prime Rib | Fricandó Sauce | Oyster Mushrooms | Pumpkin Purée | Parsley Oil
Per Chef Kung’s recommendation, we started by trying the Gallega on its own without any sauces. Immediately from the first bite, you can tell what makes Gallega beef stand out from other types of beef. I was taken by surprise with the dish because I’m not the biggest fan of pure meaty flavours on steak alone; I’d prefer it with juicy beef fat to go with it. As Gallega beef comes from cattle that are aged 8-15 years, the dish was packed with a rich beefy flavour while remaining soft and juicy. Together with the meat’s charred edges from the grill, this dish was smoky, meaty and tender. We next tried it with the fricandó sauce and oyster mushrooms, which elevated the taste with an earthy, woody flavour. However, my favourite would be having the Gallega with the pumpkin purée, sweetly complimenting the savoury texture of the meat.
I’ve always believed that the marbling in beef was crucial for delicious beef, but this shattered my expectations. I now have a newfound appreciation for dense beef like the Rubia Gallega. Even Sam heartily agreed that the flavours were dancing around “like a tango on my tongue”. Not ordering this when dining at UNA will be a big missed steak.
Price: $138
Rating: 10/10
UNA Tapas
Pan con Tomate
Toasted Crystal Bread | Fresh Tomato Purée | Treurer EVOO
From the moment it was served on our table, I already noticed how glistening the tomato purée was under the lights. Right from the get-go, this appetiser, or tapas (as it’s more accurately called), did not miss the mark in offering a flavour that was rich and juicy. The toast may not be crystal as it was named on the menu, but it was sliced thinly such that every bite was crispy and crunchy. I’m personally not a fan of crusts on bread – I like to cut my crusts out if I had the choice honestly – but this bread crust had me reconsidering my bread choices.
This vegetarian dish is perfect for those who enjoy the flavours of fresh tomatoes. However, as I’m someone who would prefer my tomatoes cooked until sweet, I would rather open my appetite with another tapas instead.
Price: $7 (2 pieces) | $12 (4 pieces)
Rating: 7/10
Cinco Jotas “5J” Jamon Iberico
The name for this dish comes from its rating. “Cinco Jotas” or “5J”, is the highest attainable rating for Iberico ham. This dish was served thinly sliced, where the translucency of the meat can be admired when picked up with a fork.
Do you ever feel, feel so paper thin?
Don’t let its paper-thin appearance fool you though, because it is packed with a rich, nutty flavour that melts in your mouth. The fat was just so succulent, Sam said, “My body is melting with the ham.” (Big mood.) Our table was filled with soft yet firm grunts of approval with every bite of this delicacy. Just a slight catch to this delicious tapas – it can get stuck in your teeth. So, bring some toothpicks along because you’ll be searching for extra flavours.
Price: $46
Rating: 9.5/10
Gazpachuelo de Gambas Roja
Red Prawn Tartare | Ham Jelly | Cherries | Gazpacho
The dish was served with the gazpacho sauce poured in from a sauce boat. The prawn tartare is sweet and chewy, offering a fresh taste of the sea. Despite being a fan of tomato-based dishes, the gazpacho sauce was a little too “zingy” for my taste, though Sam enjoyed it much more than me. I’d recommend this for people looking for tapas that lean towards the palette’s subtle, delicate sweet side.
Price: $26
Rating: 6.5/10
Pulpo a la Parrilla
We were waiting in anticipation for this dish because we could smell the grilled octopus from the table beside us, two to three metres away. When it finally arrived, we were visually treated to a symphony of colours from the sauces and potatoes, with the octopus tasting juicy and tender. The potatoes were baked till soft but were slightly salty for my liking. I could not stop dipping my food into the sauces though, especially the mojo verde, which elevated the dish with its herby flavour.
Price: $36
Rating: 8/10
UNA Desserts
Crèma Catalana
The crème brulee was made on the spot to treat our eyes first, before our stomachs, through a classic technique. This was done by first pouring the sugar on top of the custard, followed by heating a metal plate. When it is hot enough, that plate would be lightly pressed onto the sugar to caramelise. Finally, it was garnished with an assortment of fruit before landing at our table, piping hot.
Smoke on the water sugar…
Once we dug in, we immediately felt the contrast between the caramelised sugar crackling on our tongues and the smooth custard, blending so well to give a sweet and light flavour. The custard is so creamy, it melts in your mouth. Admittedly, this dessert is so sweet it feels sinful, but I guess that is the point! It’s a must-try for first-timers, but if you indulge in it more than once, well, you have been warned…
Price: $16
Rating: 7.5/10
Turrón de Almendras
Visually speaking the colours of the dish went well hand-in-hand, with Sam joking that this must be a Deadpool and Wolverine-inspired dish (sadly, it’s not). The sorbet was quite sweet to the taste and its sourness pierces your palate. The nougat cake might not look like much at first glance, but after slicing it we were surprised to find glistening yellow lava flowing right out, which tasted similar to a salted egg. I would recommend eating this dish by placing the sorbet on top of the nougat cake, and then drizzling it with the hazelnut streusel before diving in so that you can get the best combination of all flavours dancing in your mouth – I guess somewhat like the chemistry Deadpool and Wolverine have with one another.
Price: $22
Rating: 8.5/10
Final thoughts on UNA
UNA delivers quality dishes that are bound to leave an impression on you, just like how I am still tasting the Gallega in my mouth when writing this article. For those who are considering visiting UNA and indulging in the first Spanish Rubia Gallega in Singapore, we strongly recommend you to visit sometime after the mid-month, as the restaurant brings in limited shipments of this prized cattle every middle of the month.
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed the ambience of the restaurant and the dishes that were served. I enjoyed the desserts more than the starters, but the mains stole my heart that night. If you are considering going to UNA for the first time, I’d highly suggest starting with the “5J” jamon Iberico, followed by the Gallega beef and the Moralejo lamb, before ending your hearty meal with the crème brulee for a culinary experience that is sure to send you straight to food heaven.
Location: UNA at The Alkaff Mansion
Address: 10 Telok Blangah Green, Level 2, Singapore 109178
Opening hours: Lunch (Set Menu only), Tue – Fri: 12 pm – 2.30 pm (Last Order: 1.30 pm)
Dinner, Tue – Sun: 6-10.30 pm (Last Order: 9.30 pm)
