Una (Closed)

Pictures are @ http://thehungrybunnie.blogspot.sg/2016/03/una-at-one-rochester.htmlThe food's a mixed bag of memorable highs and pedestrian fare. But while the food may not be strikingly fantastic to draw diners from around the island, the gorgeous setting might. With its candlelit and lush backdrop, and tranquil ambience, UNA makes for a wonderful date-night spot.Must trys:1) Iberico Ham Croqueta ($14): humongous creamy bechamel croquettes dotted with iberico ham nubbins, well-balanced and scrumptious2) Scallops la Plancha ($26): beautifully seared to perfection, and sided with meltingly tender veal cheeks, iberico crisps, velvety mash, and a robust red wine jus.3) Bonuelos de Belacao ($23): sumptuous salted cod fritters contrasted with a drizzling of a bittersweet and piquant orange sauceNice but ok to miss:4) Gambas a la Jio ($28): fresh prawns slathered in a thick jus sweet with the essence of prawn stock, and seasoned with crisp fried garlic, chilli flakes and seasalt - A change-up from the usual olive oil-infused version, and while I would have preferred the olive oil version, this was lovely.5) Churros & Chocolat ($14): crispy dough sticks with dark chocolate syrup and honey ice-cream is a fail-safeSkip:6) Pinchos Morunos ($25): pork fillet marinated in paprika and garlic, and served with piquillo pepper. Though commendably juicy, this was too full-bodied and overwhelmed the delicate sauce. continue reading

For pictures and full review, pls visit:http://madamechewy.com/2014/11/05/una-one-rochester/UNA at One Rochester launches an enhanced menu, passionately designed by Executive Chef Jean-Phillppe Patruno to embody the flavours of his heritage. Raised in France by an Italian father and Spanish mother, Chef JP presents a one-of-a-kind experience, with distinctly unique flavours paying tribute to of his multi-cultural heritage.Set in a an oasis of lush greenery frames with white trellises, there’s no doubt that UNA is the perfect place for a romantic date, or a relaxing end to the day.We started our evening with 2 appealing signature cocktails- Bastille ($20) comprises of gin, hibiscus, Maraschino, Amaranto, fresh lemon juice while Champs de Fraise ($19) encompasses strawberry infused cognac, fresh lemon juice and sparkling wine.The Iberico Ham Croquette ($14) took us by surprised with its creamy, melt in the mouth, soufflé textured bechamel mashed potatoes. Embedded within each golden sphere are bits of Iberico ham, which gave the croquettes addictive savoury punches.Amazingly soft and tender was the Grilled Octopus ($22), brimming with charred smoky flavour. Beneath the tentacles, is a bed of pan-fried Ratte potatoes, with bursts of zest imparted from capers. The elements went very well together and we were totally charmed by this tapas.A medley of wonderful flavours, the Grilled Mussels ($18) are doused in a robust broth based on a secret recipe. To prepare this dish, fresh Bouchon Mussels are placed in a pot and inserted into a pile of apple wood charcoal. Pine nuts are added to provide a contrast to the intense garlic broth with its subtle sweet nuttiness.Incredibly juicy and tender, the Pluma Iberica ($33) was beyond words. We appreciated how straightforward the chef approached the shoulder of the Iberico Pig- skilfully grilled over apple wood charcoal with smoky sweet marinade. The result is carefully browned surface while maintaining a pinkish tone inside. The sublime dish was made completed with silky smoked mashed potatoes and pickled capsicum.The standard of desserts we sampled were consistent with the earlier dishes. You got to be crazy to say no to Churros & Chocolat ($12). Lovingly handcrafted fluted sticks had marvellous texture- crisps on the outside, moist and fluffy on the inside. Dusted with cinnamon, the churros were accompanied with homemade honey ice cream and dark chocolate sauce.It may take you a few mouthfuls to fully investigate the delights of Bitter Chocolat Ice Cream, Olive Oil and Sea Salt ($12). A play on textures, smooth bitter chocolate ice cream nests atop rosemary sea salt soil, drizzled with olive oil, and garnished with paper-thin tuiles. Indeed, a good chocolate dessert does wonders for the soul. However do note that this may not appeal to fans of sweet chocolate.If you’re in search of an affordable dinner with quality ingredients and dedicated execution, set in an tranquil venue with impeccable service, UNA should be at the top of your list. continue reading

Dear Chef Jean-Philippe Patruno & team at Una 1 Rochester Restaurant,Thank you for making our company event a memorable success. We were very pleased with the outstanding food, and the impeccable, professional service demonstrated by your staff.Ambience at Una 1 Rochester Restaurant is lovely. The abundance of greenery and well thought out spaces create a feeling of calm relaxation during the day, and a more intimate setting at night.The spacious outdoor alfresco dining area is beautiful with its high chairs and fountain waterfalls, and the indoor dining area exudes a casual elegance and sophistication with well chosen, comfortable furniture and art pieces. We also felt the choice of Bossa Nova piped music at Una 1 Rochester Restaurant was appropriate for its setting.Thank you for letting us have the exclusive use of the Private Dining Area on the 2nd floor, as well as the accompanying Private Bar, Private Banquet / Tapas Area, Bridal Changing Room, and Projector & Screen at no extra charge. The equipment (Projector, Screen, Audio/Video, Sound System) were in great working order, and we also liked that the lights could be brightened or dimmed upon request. The view of greenery from the upper level is serene, and I noticed you actually have Rambutan trees growing in your premises!I must commend your team of service staff at Una 1 Rochester Restaurant for their outstanding, professional and efficient service rendered during our company event. In particular, you and Ivee for your openess in accomodating requests and working through last minute changes. And Peter for handling on-the-spot guests requests to change meals, as well as your kitchen for preparing food efficiently and quickly, such that none of our guests waited more than 10 minutes for their meals.I was particularly impressed that when we requested a change of tables for our certificate display, your staff actually sourced a table, cut up a roll of cloth for the table top, and found skirting to dress the table, all within 15 minutes. Aside from a minor hiccup in the beginning of meal service where the canapes and amuse bouche took quite long to be served, the rest of the night went exceedingly well.What initially led us to consider Una 1 Rochester Restaurant was the fact that you could provide Halal certified meals. Although Una 1 Rochester Restaurant serves Western style fine dining, in particular cuisine from the South of Latitude 30° - Spain, Italy, and France, your partnership with a Halal certified kitchen to prepare Halal / Muslim meals that is presented in a similar manner to your actual dishes, tastes almost the same, and is even served with Halal certified cutlery, is fantastic.In fact, feedback from our guests is that Una 1 Rochester Restaurant is probably the first high-end, premium fine dining restaurant that is able to served Halal certified Western meals, that they've encountered! Our Muslim guests said the quality and taste of the Halal meals is extremely good, and are pleased that your staff took the trouble to provide Halal cutlery, at no additional charge. They were surprised that you also provide for / organise Muslim Weddings!We had originally agreed to a 5-course set menu (2 x Canapes, Amuse Bouche, Appetizer, Mains, 2 x Desserts - Per Person), at a fixed price of SGD $130 per person (without GST & Service Charge), although we ordered additional dishes at the last minute (for a total of SGD $180 per person, with House Wine / Beer + GST + Service Charge). Thanks for giving us the free flow of water, soft drinks, and fruit juices throughout the night!The Pimentos De Padron (SGD $16 Ala-Carte Tapas Portion, SGD $10 Set Menu Canape Portion) featured perfectly grilled Spanish Padron peppers. Most Padron peppers have a mild taste, only 5% are spicy due to the amount of water and sunlight they receive when grown, but fortunately, all the ones we had that evening were mild. I like how your staff describe it as "a lucky draw", as there is no way to tell the difference just by looking at them!The Octopus, Ratte Potatoes, Smoked Paprika (SGD $29 Ala-Carte Tapas Portion) were well received. The octopus was plump and fresh, with a meaty bite and clean taste. The potatoes had a slight sweetness and a slight earthy taste, which paired well with the octopus.Your signature appetizer of Scallops A La Plancha, Veal Cheeks, Iberico Ham Crisp (SGD $28) was very highly recommended, and I now understand why. Everyone was raving about how perfectly done the scallops were, plump, juicy, and just firm enough in texture. The veal was fork tender, coming apart easily when bit, while the black Iberian ham crisp lent a salty, savoury crunch to this surf and turf dish. The bed of mashed potato was smooth and creamy, absorbing the flavours of the veal and scallops.The mains of Wagyu Sirloin, Pequilo Peppers, Roquefort (SGD $50) has wagyu beef that was done to our liking, I had mine medium rare. The beef is very tender and flavourful, and the roquefort cheese added a burst of sharp tangy taste to each mouthful. The spinach and Spanish pequilo peppers added a vibrant colour on the plate, and a slight sweetness to the overall dish.The dessert of Panna Cotta, Popcorn (SGD $14) went down well with our guests, especially the crisp, crunchy popcorn-like bits on the top. The panna cotta itself was smooth, creamy, and sweet, and the passionfruit puree within gave it a tropical, fruity sweet taste.The off-menu / special request dessert item of Chocolate Ganache In Chocolate Soil didn't fare as well, as many of our guests thought it overly sweet. The texture was nice though, being thick, rich, and creamy, but the overpowering sweetness made it hard to finish.Overall, we had a fantastic evening at Una 1 Rochester Restaurant, and the bosses are likely to strongly consider this as a venue for future events our company may hold. I personally will be visiting again to try the brunch menu! Thanks once again for all the assistance, it's much appreciated!Best Regards,Ivan Teh RunningMan.Full Una 1 Rochester Restaurant review here: http://ivanteh-runningman.blogspot.sg/2014/08/una-1-rochester-restaurant.html continue reading