COCONUTS HOT SPOT — We’ve got pretty good Mexican grub in Singapore — some of our favorites include Super Loco, Piedra Negra, and Margarita’s — but there’s always space in our stomachs for more. Enter Lower East Side 45 (LES45), the CBD’s newest addition brought to you by the people behind Sear, Angie’s, and Lower East Side Taqueria, its casual sister restaurant in the East.
But don’t expect the same treatment here. Besides boasting views of the Marina Bay area from its perch on the 45th floor of the Singapore Land Tower, LES45 is the swanky but whimsical, cozy but eclectic relative, with skull motifs on the ceiling and multi-colored string lights in the tiny alfresco area.
For a breezy and chill night out, we recommend you take a seat at the outdoor tables to admire the city skyline before the sun goes down. Just take note that the terrace is sandwiched in between Sear and Empire, so noise levels can potentially rise as the clock ticks towards midnight.
With a kitchen helmed by Mexican chef Jorge Leon, the menu at LES45 hones in on contemporary Mexican nosh infused with Asian ingredients. Unfortunately, with its rooftop home and prime address comes sky high prices — expect to pay slightly more than you would at your regular Mexican hangout.
For those who wish to add a little kitchen flair to your meal, the tableside guacamole action will already set you back a whopping $30 (damn these avocado prices). The guac here could go a tad heavier on the flavor, so if you’re feeling generous, add on dips like hibiscus and cracked black pepper or pineapple and sweet corn ($12 each) to go with your corn chips.
Starters come in the form of fresh scallop aguachile with avocado and pickled jicama ($25), but we much prefer the pan of brussels sprouts and chorizo ($17) for mouthfuls of heat, salt, and crunch.
Of course, familiar items like tacos, tostadas, burritos, and quesadillas make appearances on the menu, with expensive ingredients like lobster and uni racking up prices above $30. If you prefer to stick with something simple, try the crispy tempura hake taco with hibiscus mayo and salsa fresca ($18) for a zesty, light bite, or take a walk on the mild side and order the chicken tinga tostada with mango guacamole and wasabi sunny-side up ($18).
Plates of marinated wagyu steak ($32), chicken fajitas ($25), and pulled pork enchiladas ($20) are also available, but should you choose to skip those for dessert, you’ll only get a choice of churros with chocolate hazelnut cream ($8) or scoops or lime, raspberry, and coconut sorbet ($12).
On the cocktail side, pick your poison from a selection of standard drinks ($18 each) like margaritas, mojitos, pina coladas, and sangrias. Alternatively, add a splash of booze ($16-$17) to the restaurant’s homemade horchata ($8), a traditional chilled Mexican beverage made with rice, milk, almonds, and cinnamon.
LES45 is at L45 Singapore Land Tower, 50 Raffles Place, 6221-9555. Mon-Fri 11am-2pm, Mon-Thurs 5pm-11pm, Fri-Sat 5pm-2am.
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