PasarBella is derived from the Malay word “Pasar” which means “marketplace” and “Bella” which means “beautiful” in Italian. Inspired by the quirky and rustic interior of Covent Garden in London and the rich aromatic scents of fresh organic produce in Melbourne’s Queen Victoria Market, PasarBella is a marketplace where traders of all kinds congregate to offer a marketplace experience like no other.
I have been wanting to check out this delightful place ever since I have learned of its existence a few years ago, but The Grandstand at Turf City is really out of the way for folks like me who do not drive, so I have been putting it off.
PasarBella has just opened a new outlet at the newly-renovated Suntec City and I am really excited to check out all the awesome foods. In fact, I am so in love with the idea that I am dedicating 2 month worth of post to PasarBella.
Next, let’s explore the stall with the bright yellow sign, Grillo.
Grillo specializes in the popular Pan-Asian rice bowl, Japanese-inspired skewers and creative sides.
The Truffle Short Rib Bowl is their signature rice bowl and it does not disappoint. Although I can’t really taste the fragrance of the truffle oil, the short ribs are well-marinated and grilled till soft and tender. Mix everything together before you dig in. The egg-coated rice goes beautifully with the smokey-grilled short ribs and fried garlic. I gobbled down this bowl in 5 minutes flat, that’s how tasty it is.
The Pork Belly Bowl is one of the newest additions to the menu, but it’s a little disappointing because it does not taste as good as it looks. I expected the pork belly to be melt-in-the-mouth smooth, but there seems to be more lean meat than fats in the pork belly.
I ordered one of each of the six available skewers to try them out (Beef Tsukune was sold out), so we have (from left to right): Panko Prawn, Dorry, Chicken Tsukune, Chicken & Leek, Shiitake Mushroom and Zucchini. Shiitake Mushroom left a deep impression on me because the grilling process has sealed in the natural juice of the shiitake mushroom and the sea salt accentuates its natural sweetness.
Garlic Tofu is one of the recommended sides. Personally, I don’t really see anything special about it except for the fried garlic slices which give the dish a distinctive flavour and crispiness.
Crunchy Golden Prawn sounded and looked amazing on the menu, but it turned out to be just four pieces of prawns deep-fried with batter and even the sauce is pretty bland but salty.
PasarBella (Suntec City)
Address: 3 Temasek Boulevard, Suntec City North Wing #01-445
Opening Hours: Daily 10 am – 10 pm (Sarnies Coffee and Porsena’s Deli are open at 8 am)
