Escobar: Not Your Usual Bistro Pub in Singapore
Nestled in the Central Business District, you won't find the typical office crowd at Escobar but rather a group of loyalists who have come to love this unassuming bistro pub in Singapore for its chill vibes and friendly service. In fact, you'll probably find owner, Stan, walking around the eatery chatting with and serving patrons.
When you think of a bistro pub in Singapore, you think of a place you can head down for casual after-work drinks or chilling with friends over affordable booze. Generally, food at bistro pubs is an accompaniment to the drinks - standard finger food that seems like a bit of an afterthought.
Sure, if you want pub grub washed down with a cold beer, you can get a good deal at Escobar. But Escobar offers more than that. I went in with low expectations and was pleasantly surprised with the standard of the food. If you’re a fan of Narcos, you’ll also love Escobar’s homage to the show with their dishes’ names.
For one, the food is not greasy and the pizza has a super thin crust. The Magic Mushroom pizza is drizzled with truffle that isn’t overpowering and is simply ooh la la! In fact, I had leftover pizza a day later and it still tasted as good. I highly recommend getting the pizza if you enjoy thin crusts and lots of cheese. They have both tomato and cream based pizzas.
Also, these folks are flexible with their menu and willing to tweak most of the dishes according to various dietary preferences including my request for pescatarian versions of some of their dishes. They simply replaced the meat with shrimp or with vegetables for a vegetarian option.
You have to try the fries which come in the form of a dish called Commandos - spicy fries with anchovies and sausages or tofu. Another must-try is The Exorcist - spicy fried rice, shrimp, topped with a fried egg, and a side of veggies.
For those who don't take chilli, Sleeping with the Fish - crispy fish and chips; and District 9 - prawn aglio olio - are pretty good options.
Let’s talk about the homemade desserts. Their Blueberry Crumble with vanilla ice cream and strawberry sauce hits all the sweet spots! Also noteworthy is the Banana Cake with butterscotch and vanilla ice cream, as well as the crunch brownies from @brownieboys_sg.
Address: 20 Cross Street #01-23/24 China Square, Singapore 048422
Narcos
nachos with jalapeno, cheese and salsa (can add on minced chicken or lamb)
Commandos
fries with anchovies and tofu (normal order comes with sausages)
The Exorcist
fried rice with shrimp, tofu, mushrooms and fired egg
District 9
prawn aglio olio
Sleeping with the Fish
Banana Cake
with vanilla ice cream and butterscotch
Brownie
with vanilla ice cream