El Mero Mero, Singapore
I first got to know of El Mero Mero through that American reality TV juggernaut The Bachelor, where ladytestants vie for the affection and possible proposal of one supposedly eligible man. In Season 23 (Colton Underwood’s season), Colton the Bachelor, the ladytestants and the whole American production team travelled to Singapore for the first time and the ladytestants had dinner at El Mero Mero.
El Mero Mero is located in Chijmes, you know, that church where they had the wedding in Crazy Rich Asians and where all the glitterati arrived in their Rolls Royces. Besides being a historic church and the previous premises of an all-girls school, Chijmes is more known nowadays as a dining destination.
Within Chijmes, El Mero Mero holds court among all the restaurants there. The restaurant sits centre within the enclosed compound. The signage of the restaurant is the biggest there; you just can’t miss it.
The sheer size of El Mero Mero also points to it being the dominant player at Chijmes. Together with sister restaurant Senor Taco next door, El Mero Mero is the largest restaurant at Chijmes.
El Mero Mero offers the most flexibility in seating options of any restaurant I have seen. You can sit under the sheltered all fresco area; you can sit at the bar.
You can also sit in the main dining area facing the spotless open kitchen. The main dining area is warm, inviting yet classy enough.
Best of all, you can sit in an air-conditioned verandah with lots of natural light pouring in. Decorated with lush green plants, rattan chairs and warm tones, this air-conditioned verandah whispers colonial charm and the glamour of a bygone era.
Blood Orange Margarita $18
Mezcal, homemade blood orange soda, lime juice, worm salt.
This felt like a regular margarita except that it is more intense and more fruity. Regardless, I liked it. The fruitiness was refreshing coming in from the hot weather outside.
Oaxa Mule $18
Aged mezcal, beer reduction, fresh lime tepache, aromatic bitters spiced ginger beer.
Delicious! The flavours are all harmonious and the heat of the spiced ginger beer gives it a irresistible kick that makes you want to drink it again and again.
Hamachi and Coconut Ceviche $21
Hamachi aguachile on a fresh, green coconut, hibiscus flower milk, trout roe and avocado puree.
This is a masterful appetiser! I love the presentation first of all. I mean, how often are dishes presented in a fresh, green coconut? So, right away, this appetizer scores top marks for visual impact and memorability. As for the taste, the acidity stimulates your salivary glands and prime you for more while being complemented nicely by the warming milk. The saltiness and umami of the roe add further dimensions. All in all, this appetiser has everything and sure to remain in my memory for a long time.
Yes! This dining experience is off to a good start.
Tostadas De Atun $17
Tuna tartar, chipotle mayo, matchstick tempura banana shallots, avocado puree on a crispy corn tortilla.
This is a competent appetiser too. It is creamy; the fish is fresh; the tortilla shells add crunch.
Baja Fish $14
Tempura tooth fish, Pico de Gallo, pickled shallots, chipotle mayo, flour tortilla.
I was told this is a popular option here at El Mero Mero. I can definitely see why. The fish itself feels clean, fresh and delicious. The white fish takes up perfectly the muted, creamy spiciness of the chipotle mayo. The shallots give you a very mild zing and the sourness of the vinegar, balances the protein, the fat and the spiciness. A very masterful and well-conceived taco. Most memorable though were the tortillas. They were light and felt unbelievably fresh. It turns out El Mero Mero has her own tortilla factory in Singapore. I couldn’t believe it. I couldn’t believe a restaurant would be so dedicated to excellence of a product they would go to the extent of setting up their own factory.
Pork Belly In Pipian Verde $34
14 hour slow cooked pork belly with crunchy skin, pumpkin seeds and green tomatillos salsa.
The portion is large! The pork is beautifully roasted with a most satisfying crackly skin. Though the pork itself is quite heavy, thankfully the clever chef has thoughtfully balanced it with salsa.
Tequila Pecan Pie $14
Homemade pecan pie, 1800 Anejo tequila, cinnamon ice cream.
Warm and comforting, this was the BEST pie I ever had! Did I mention that it was warm and comforting? It also had copious amounts of crunchy pecans on top. The cinnamon ice-cream too, was warming and hence, provided a coherent counterpart to the pie.
The service staff Miss Gemma who served me, is quick, polite and she knows her job well.
Backed by a serious commitment to authenticity of cuisine and excellence, a thoughtfully curate ambience and carefully designed dishes, El Mero Mero is a serious contender in the Singaporean dining scene.
El Mero Mero
30 Victoria St, #01-20 Chijmes, Singapore 187996
Tel: +65 9722 8171
