Caracara celebrates its first anniversary and Singapore’s 60th birthday in August, with the curated Carakase prix fixe menu ($138+ for 2 pax) that fuses Singaporean flavours and neo-Japanese cuisine. If you are feeling up to try interesting fusion dishes and looking for a cozy place to dine with a comfortable ambience, Caracara is the place for you.
Caracara: Where Singaporean Flavours Meet Neo-Japanese Dining
Founded by the owners of furniture manufacturer Falcon Incorporation, Caracara is a lifestyle-concept restaurant housed in a heritage shophouse along Neil Road, that outfits its space with sleek bespoke wooden furniture, with a jewellery showcase and neo-Japanese inspired dining in one place.
It has a 50-person indoor seating and a patio that separates the elegant dining space from the buzz of the busy streets.
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A haven for coffee lovers as a café serving barista coffee in the day, the space transforms into a dining hall that welcomes guests into its comfortable setting.
Carakase Prix Fixe Menu
To celebrate Singapore’s birthday, Caracara invites guests on an exploration that joins local and neo-Japanese inspirations on the dining table.
The menu adds reinterpretations of local dishes such as kopi and mango sago that tease diners in the game of balancing cultural tributes and gourmet adventure.
Head Chef Tan Kian Hong brings his Michelin-starred pedigree to the dishes and shares that “this menu is our way of celebrating Singapore’s food culture with playful elegance”.
The starter is sprinkled with elements of Singaporean influences, from the Kopi Roti giving a jump start to subtle kopi fragrances in the butter served to mains options such as the ‘Satay’ Hokkaido Pork Collar.
Kopi Roti is a crusty sourdough paired with Milkadoodle beans and AOP French butter. It is certainly not your typical roti, but the butter infused with the unmistakable kopi aroma is a simple yet ingenious starter that sets the scene for the fusion journey, bridging memories and new flavours.
Seasonal Tartlets brings the freshest ingredients of the season to the table. We had tuna as the selected seasonal pick. The contrast between the soft meat texture and crunchy tart was as delightful as its aesthetic display.
Hiyashi Somen is a chilled somen dish in a tangy clarified tomato dashi topped with snow crab that is light and refreshing.
The mains include an option between fish of the day and the ‘Satay’ Hokkaido Pork Collar. The fish of the day is prepared with a simplicity that highlights the natural freshness of the fish.
The ‘Satay’ Hokkaido Pork Collar is nothing like what you would expect of the typical satay on a stick, with grilled pork collar served with cucumber-onion ribbons on a delicate dish. The essence of the satay though, is found in the nutty satay sauce.
We tasted both and would recommend going for the fish of the day, if you are tied between choices.
While the fish may seem deceptively simple in its presentation, the sweetness of the meat is well-delivered and melts in your mouth with every bite.
For those wondering about the carbs and if the fine dishes would fill the stomach, not to worry as there is donabe (clay pot dish) in the menu. We tried the A5 Wagyu with White Corn that is an indulgent dish that oozes richness in each savoury bite.
Drinks, Dessert and Add-On
The meal wraps with the ‘Mango Sago’ Espuma that, like the dishes on the menu with fusion spins, is not as its name might suggest. The dessert is a mango sorbet with pomelo granite and a cloud-like mango sago espuma. It is bite-sized and a light and sweet twist to the savoury meal.
Diners can choose to add on the awabi ($38 per pax), a pan-seared Japanese abalone in a red wine reduction sauce that is accompanied by seasonal vegetables.
For the drinks, Caracara does have an extensive selection of sake, wine and non-alcoholic beverages, but do note that your favourite kopi and teh are only available for the lunch menu.
Dining at Caracara is as much about the ambience as it is about the food. The contemporary backdrop provides a stylish backdrop to the meal. It is also a dialogue between cultural connections and craftsmanship.
As founder Gabriel Tan puts it, “Whether it’s a dish, a chair, or a piece of jewelry—there’s a quiet reverence in how things are crafted. Whether it’s food, furniture, or wearable art, we believe in preserving the story behind it.”
Dining at Caracara
Caracara is located at 77 Neil Road, Singapore 088903, and opens at 11 am till 10.30 pm daily, except Tuesdays when it is closed.
Check out its website and Instagram page at @bycaracara for more information.
