THE PURA BRASA REVIEW

Not that it needs any introduction…Fact is, I had given up coming here because of the perpetual full house since its opened..! But as fate would have it, I finally got a chance to dine at Pura Brasa, 8 years old on. And it’s not a day too late.

To start, Pura Brasa boasts more than one superpower. From the in-house aged meats, to the extensive wine list, a menu that screams as authentic Spain as it can get, and a crew that seems to get higher and higher into the night as they cheerfully take on every challenge thrown at them.

*Meet Kiki! Our server who’s full of energy, smiles (those eyes give it away), good advice and humor!*

But first things first.. let’s cut to the chase and get to the food, shall we!?

Arturo Sanchez 100% Iberico Jamon ~ A little of this fine cured meat goes a long way. That’s for most people. For me, I could have a ton of it! And then some more! Cut so paper thin you could read the words off the paper backing it came on. Irresistibly slick and oily on touch (I eat with my fingers, yes!), salty and the waxy on the tongue, a rich aroma that lingers on the palate even after it’s long gone down your gut. Unquestionably the king of Jamon and the pride of Spain. Pura Brasa hand slices the meat from a whole leg. This is the real deal!

The Homemade Spanish Croquettes were on extremities of crunch and creamy! Bite into the golden breaded crust and further into the softest of mash filled with bits of chicken and ham. Mmmm…!

It takes a lot of determination not to order the Spanish classic, Patatas! And evidently, we left determination at home this evening, and boy did we luck out! Those fine potatoes were roasted crisp on the outside while retaining much creamy fluffiness within. That allioli sauce that blanketed the spuds was extra tantalizing! I’m suspecting there’s more than just garlic in there! It’s one of those sauces you’d put on everything! Like, EEE-VER-RYYYY-THING!!

Grilled Mussels, neither steamed nor a la marinera… Cooked directly on the fire! That was how it read on the menu, which really, if you think about it, translates to “Do not ignore me!” And we obeyed… Flavor was on point. Cooking time nailed. The mussels were briny and smokey, and came with that precious little bit of broth that which was so smackin’ tasty, we drank it all up! I only wished the mussels were bigger and plumper! Then, it would be doubly unignorable!

These are the only chilis I could stomach without burning down my entire digestive system… it’s no wonder Padrón Peppers are my favorite chilis ever (if not the only chili ever). The plump peppers were fried to a wrinkle with just a sprinkle of salt to taste. They burst sweetness, green bitterness and a tingling sparkle on the tongue. I’ve read somewhere not all padrón peppers are non-spicy and depending on your luck, you could (un)luckily bite into a hot one! Thankfully, not this night!

As an Asian, I’ve had my fair share of aubergines. In every style from braised to fried to steamed, spicy, vinegary, hot, cold, you name it! But honey? That’s a first! So to check that off my Ways-to-eat-Aubergine list, I needed the Fried Aubergine with Honey! And how delightful it turned out! Think popcorn. With Aubergine!

Trust the Spanish to cook the best Octopus! Grilled and served over potato truffle puree, this beautifully meaty tentacle was cushy soft like pearls from a bubble tea! Sweet, juicy and smoky from the grill, together with that truffle potato puree, ahhh-mazing! I know many people who aren’t fans of chewy squid and octopus. Hear me out. THIS… Will change your life!

We couldn’t resist some Pizzas as they came highly recommended by our server, Kiki. Burrata, tomatoes and pesto on one; Parma ham, rocket leaves and shaved parmigiana on another. Don’t make me pick cuz they were both mamma mia deliziosa! And they come specially ordered from sister restaurant L’Arte Pizza & Focaccia from across the walkway! The pizza-focaccia hybrid was light, airy and moist. The toppings were generously piled on. Every bite was a full rounded balance of carbs and meat and cheese and flavor.

The day’s special, Spanish Carabinero Wild Prawn, was grilled and served whole. And yes, you could eat it in entirety from every antenna to every leg; any and everything you can scour in the head – brain gunk and juice! Chef Pao worked the beautiful scarlet red shrimp to its fullest potential. The grilled shrimp lies de-shelled gloriously with just its delicate head intact. The meat is firm, sweet and succulent. Pull the head off and suck up allll the brain juices you can find in there! It is full umami ecstasy in the mouth! If you thought the shell from the body had been discarded, you can’t be more wrong. Carefully removed, and making sure every leg stayed intact, the thin red shell is then salted, battered and fried to a shattering crisp! Gosh! I can’t think of a better way to enjoy this prized crustacean!

Next, we had the JOSPER® Grilled Spanish Pork Ribs, which was cooked for 20 whole hours before getting the final heat in the legendary Josper Charcoal oven. 20 well spent hours, I must say! The ribs were tender af! Fall-off-the-bone, no-teeth-required, tender! Every rib is meaty and flavorful from the sweet savory marinade. It’s hard not to grab a second… and a third piece.

The Tagliatelle all’aglio may not be what you’d expect. Pura Brasa upped the game and added a whole lotta goodie prawns, tomatoes, sesame seeds, plus, everyone’s favorite sunny side up! Funny how a fried egg never fails to bring a smile to everyone’s faces.

It truly isn’t Spanish enough without Paella. And though we were already stuffed, we weren’t going to leave without reviewing one of the restaurant’s famed Paellas. And we were very glad we powered on as it was pretty damn phenomenal. Absolutely loved how the oceanic brine of the prawns, clams and squids permeated the rice. Also wild about the char on the rice they’ve painstakingly achieved after cooking down the stock. The black, firm and gumminess of the rice, the tart tomatoes, the sweet caramelized onions, the warm sweet peas and the unmistakable lemon zest in every mouthful — pure bliss! The shellfish were yummy, but the rice was really, more D’Star, for me! Sadly, as much as I tried, I could not eat as much as I’d have liked! Note to self- Next time, eat the paella first!

We didn’t want to miss desserts. And got the Lemon Pie and the Chocolate Mousse upon Kiki’s firm recommendation. Dig into salty ricotta ice cream, down to velvety mascarpone chantilly, followed by tart lemon curd and finally crunchy biscuit crumble at the bottom for a taste of Lemon Pie which looked nothing like a pie, but tasted pleasingly better!

The Chocolate Mousse also turned out to be a little more than good old chocolate mouse. It was deep, and rich; silky smooth, delicate and sweet with bits of toasty walnut, almond, chewy cranberries and bursts of Oreo crumbs. Always enjoyed a chocolate mousse; And this one, was extra pleasurable! Kiki promised I’d be surprised by it, and I can’t deny I was pleasantly so!

No prizes for guessing why Pura Brasa is full to the brim every night. With the extensive menu, the remarkable service, the excellent culinary skills of Chef Pao and his crew, plus the spirit and atmosphere of Barcelona vibes all around you, it’s hard to resist a second, third and fourth visit! If you haven’t been, it ain’t too late. Just call and grab the first available table. You will not regret it!