COCONUTS HOT SPOT — Let’s face it. We’re pretty spoilt (for choice) in Singapore, a city that welcomes food from all over the globe with open arms and empty stomachs. But Panamericana takes our love for variety and ups it a notch with a mashup of cuisines from 14 countries sprawled along the Pan-American Highway (where it gets its name from).
For those who’ve never heard of it, the world’s longest “motorable road” — according to the Guinness World Records — is a network of routes that passes through various climates and landscapes from jungles to mountains to deserts across countries like Costa Rica, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Chile, Argentina, Peru, and the United States.
Sitting pretty in its brightly-lit, high-ceilinged space at Sentosa Golf Club — surrounded by retirees (and the rich) enjoying life — Panamericana seats 200 in its chic indoor dining area and outdoor terrace, which overlooks the Singapore Straits. A stunning view, if you happen to visit on a sunny day.
With the brick-encased asador (a traditional pit to grill meats) right smack in the restaurant, the “farm-to-fire” menu focuses on grilled meats, seafood, and street food from the North, Central, and South Americas.
Start off with small plates and salads to pass around the table — options include Belize ($12), a simple dish of charred snap peas sprinkled with cheese shavings; Peruvian Ceviche ($16), a zesty mix of snapper and paw paw marinated in citrus, coconut milk, chilli, and coriander; British Colombia ($14), a bowl of tossed fennel, apple, beetroot, dates, and red cabbage; and everyone’s favorite cheese, Burrata ($29), with grilled zucchini, shallots, and salsa verde.
Just make sure you don’t make the oft-repeated mistake of filling up on sides because hearty mains come in the form of whole fishes and meats that have been grilled, roasted, or barbecued.
The Salt Baked Trout ($40) peels open the fish skin to reveal pink flesh best paired with salsa verde, while the rosemary- and thyme-glazed Lamb ($45) is cooked slow and low on the asador — although it wasn’t as smoky or tender as we would’ve liked.
Desserts at our table, on the other hand, were devoured with much gusto. The Sticky Date Pudding ($10) made for a sweet ending to the meal with its butterscotch drizzle and scoop of vanilla bean ice cream, but the Churros ($12) — though obviously not a newfangled creation — was a clear winner.
If you prefer to chill by the bar, crispy curry puff-like empanadas ($8) are a must-try; but you can also go for pork belly sliders ($7), maple mustard wings ($14), and mackerel tostadas ($15). Pair these with sublime alcoholic concoctions shaken up by Ricky Paiva, formerly from the award-winning Manhattan Bar at Regent Hotel Singapore.
Besides signatures ($18) like 50:50 Martini of Tanqueray gin, house vermouth, and orange bitters, or the Champagne & Absinth Colada with coconut rum and pineapple, the Grown Up Fanta is an adult take on the fizzy drink of your childhood, blending Aperol, soda, lemon juice, orange, vanilla, and Prosecco.
Alternatively, if you’re here with a group of friends for a boozy night out, the generously-portioned Explosion Serves ($68) will make your table a whole lot more rambunctious by the end of the evening, with options such as mojitos, sangrias, and Pimm’s long island iced teas.
For something a little simpler, peruse the Booze & Juice section and sip on blends ($10) like Ketel One vodka and sugarcane, Appleton Rum and coconut water (our fave), or Bulleit Bourbon and apple.
Even if you’re not into cocktails, the booze menu here includes wines and sherries from California, Chile, and Argentina, as well as draught and bottled beers from North and South American producers.
Not a bad spot to consider the next time you’re in Sentosa for a chill weekend out.
Panamericana is at 27 Bukit Manis Rd, Sentosa Golf Club, 6253-8182. Bar: Wed-Fri noon-11pm, Sat-Sun 9am-11pm; Grill: Wed-Fri noon-3pm, Wed-Sun 3pm-6pm & 6pm-10pm, Sat-Sun 9am-3pm.
