With a refreshed menu of modern European dishes with a twist, set lunches, and daily brunch; Porta is the place to go for a voyage of your tastebuds.
Since its opening in December 2016, PORTA Fine Food & Import Company has offered bistro-style, modern European cuisine with flavours influenced from around the world. Specially curated by Porta’s Executive Chef Alex Phan, the menu showcases his creative culinary expressions using contemporary techniques on classic European favourites.
Photo: Porta
Chef Alex’s new menu presents a wider repertoire of well-loved European and Mediterranean dishes, combining fresh produce sourced both globally and locally. He also maintains a selection of favourite dishes from the former menu, while featuring new creations that draw inspiration from his travels around the globe. Chef Alex brings to Porta flavours that are at once both familiar and yet exciting, with an approachable bistro-style dining experience for travellers and local diners who enjoy bonding over great food adventures.
Photo: Porta
If you are a light eater, or prefer to dine healthy, fret not: a wider range of options are available for those who are vegetarian, or prefer fish instead. The Grilled Summer Vegetables with Hummus (S$14) offers a burst of flavours with the creamy nuttiness of the hummus, complemented by the smokiness of the grilled vegetables and paprika, as well as the citrusy cumin.
Photo: Porta
Our favourite appetiser would be the Spicy Salmon Tartare (S$16) – a modern European dish with Asian-inspired flavours, that whetted our appetites with its piquant, tangy flavours. The diced salmon is marinaded with spicy sugar cane vinegar, mixed with crystal pear, and dusted with sprinkles of delicate white sesame snow, and served with crispy deep-fried rice paper and nori crackers. Mix up the ingredients before scooping them up with the cracker, and savour how the salmon pairs well with the fragrant sesame, sweet pear, and spicy-sour vinegar.
Photo: Porta
Another amazing and interesting appetiser to try would be the Chicken and Egg (S$14), a playfully-named dish that’s a mix of refreshing slaw, edamame, corn and soy-marinated grilled chicken thigh; with a pretty pink-hued soft-boiled egg (thanks to beetroot juice) nestled on the very top. Which came first, the chicken or the egg? We don’t know, but with a dish so delish, we don’t really care!
For main courses, we loved the Pork Belly (S$26) cooked sous vide, glazed with barbeque sauce, served with a sweet-savoury potato and grilled green pineapple purée and charred leeks. The melt-in-your-mouth pork belly was wonderfully moreish, and reminded us both of charsiew and barbecued ribs. Have it together with the potato and pineapple purée – a combination that may sound strange, but is amazingly refreshing and summery.
The Roast Chicken Leg (S$24) too is a favourite – tender confit chicken leg served with sweet Lyonnaise potatoes, wild mushrooms, and red wine sauce. The skin of the chicken was so crisp after being sous vide-cooked and shallow-fried that it crackled as we cut into it!
Photo: Porta
More of a brunch person? Well, Porta offers brunch daily from 8AM to 4PM: hearty classics great for having a leisurely chat over or as comfort food!
We recommend the French Toast (S$16) – thick brioche topped with fresh summer berries and a generous scoop of vanilla ice cream; and the Eggs Ben (S$14), served with avocado purée and bacon.
For vegetarians and those who are looking for healthier options, the Breakfast Burg (S$18) is a meat-free burger with roasted whole Portobello mushroom, sautéed baby spinach leaves, a thick slice of tomato, and a runny sunny-side up egg, between fresh toasted brioche buns, and served with shoestring fries on the side.
Photo: Porta
Of course, don’t forget to save some room for dessert! The Black Forest (S$14) is a delicious and creative spin on a classic dessert: a chocolate lava cake served with fluffy whipped coconut cream, chocolate shavings, Maraschino cherries, and sprinkled with toasted desiccated coconut. Crystallised raw cocoa nibs complete the dessert and add a caramelised, bittersweet crunch to the dish.
Photo: Porta
What’s most attractive about Porta, we think, is that on weekdays, they offer set lunches from 12.00pm to 2.30pm. Be it a lighter fare of 2 courses or a heartier 3-course meal to replenish your energy at midday, the choices on the set lunch menu are adjusted regularly for refreshing variety.
Click here for more information.
1 Unity Street Level 1, Park Hotel Clarke Quay, Singapore 237983
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