FOC Restaurant Dinner

Having been awarded a Michelin Star for his restaurant Can Jubany in Spain, Nandu Jubany is en route to international expansion with FOC in Singapore. FOC (pronounced ‘fock’, and means ‘fire’ in Spanish) prepares exquisite Catalonian tapas dishes in accordance to the season and a plethora of personalized cocktails, of which the award-winning bartender Dario Knox formerly from Catalunya Singapore is in charge.

Stepping into FOC Restaurant, an uncommon sight greets you. It’s not every day you see oversized sculptures of the chef and owners’ heads on the wall on one end (they’re inspired by traditional Catalan figures with papier mâché heads), and a motorbike on the other. At this new restaurant in Singapore (well, newly reopened), the decor blends the usual restaurant design with unexpected surprises. Venturing inward, I spotted two rows of mirrors on another wall, which were shaped to resemble Barcelona’s cityscape from an aerial view. It’s a playful nod to the restaurant’s Catalan roots, no surprise if it still holds its reign as one of the best Spanish restaurants in Singapore.

For the uninitiated, FOC Restaurant was once housed at Hong Kong Street for 11 years until it temporarily closed for a revamp. Now that it’s found a fresh home amidst Keong Saik Road’s food scene, I was stoked to have a taste of its menu.

Rooted in Catalan and Mediterranean influences yet unafraid to play, this is a restaurant that knows how to feed your appetite and your sense of fun. With dishes that swing from familiar to experimental, interiors that double as conversation starters, and cocktails that beg to be photographed, FOC Restaurant is back – bold and brimming with flavour. I expected the menu to be as packed with surprises as its decor, and it sure delivered.

FOC has been around for decades. We savoured their Catalonian brilliance back in the early 2000s at Hong Kong Street.

I’d have to say the stuff ain’t the same - I’d give this 6/10 at best. Back then it was a solid 7/10. The Hong Kong street vibe befits this edgy eatery more IMO.