Dehesa Spanish Lunch Set below $25 with Steak, Ribs & Cheese

At Dehesa, go native and dine like a Spaniard.

Besides an Ala Carte menu filled with the classic paella and tapas, you get an interesting list of offals and meaty mains that line your stomach ready for a mid-day/evening booze. Having gnawed my way into the brain of the pig and had my lips smeared several shades darker with the Squid Ink Rice, Dehesa struck back with more than just muscles.

Revealing the four Power Lunch Sets at a cost no more than $25, Dehesa would feed you satisfied with the juicy 180g Ribeye Steak $25, 150g Hanger Steak $23, Pack of Ribs $25 and Grilled Haloumi Cheese $22.

The Grilled Haloumi Cheese came in four thick slabs, firm and not overly rubbery. Piled underneath were mesclun leaves tossed with a generous amount of quinoa, rife with sliced red onions and crunchy pomegranate.

This is a protein-packed lunch and your ultimate source for fibre and vitamins. It reminds me of an appetiser that would make the next few dishes nervous. Fit for small eaters but if you are looking to indulge in something sizeable, let the meats singe for you.

Slapped onto the hot griddle, the Ribeye Steak was grilled until the fats puckered, hissed and formed a glistening surface. Bring on a lovely wreckage of garlic, side salad and crispy potato fries, this could easily pass off as dinner.

Served medium rare, the ribeye was tasty on its own though a tad heavier on the tendons.

Our favourite had got to be the long chunky fries, meticulously sliced and pressed together before being doused in high temperature oil at the fryer. Fried till crispy, I could almost taste the individual layers; the juxtaposition of very thin crunchy surface against flat strips of potatoes was simply intriguing. These fries were out of the world.

No need to fight over them too as I found out they were called Dehesa Patatas $12 in the Ala carte menu.

The Pack of Ribs was, as its name suggested, a massive half portion of ribs accompanied with creamy mash and mesclun salad. Dripping with sauce made from mollasses and red wine, the pork ribs were thankfully not insanely sweet nor sticky, but achieved the right amount of balance with a touch of savouriness. My companion especially loved the tender, fall-of-the-bone meats to which her petite frame easily devoured.

The kitchen continued to fire up in pace with the oncoming crowd. Whether lunch or dinner, there’s no restrictions on the orders.

Some special mentions were the Lala (Clams) $23 cooked in sherry, chilli and garlic, Octopus $23, Crispy Tripe $16 and Dehesa Crispy Pig’s Head $28 with a raw yolk cracked over.

For large group gatherings, pre-orders are also available for the Crispy Suckling Pig $199, Salt Baked Seabass $49 and Big Pan Paella $22/pax. 

We rounded off with a portion of the suckling pig. The thin sheet of crackling skin buckled under my teeth while the soft layers of fats and meat underneath were so tender they literally melted away in my mouth. It was sinfully rich and flavourful.

Menu as followed.

Dehesa hardly has any shortcomings. Marking this my third visit in the third year, there had been tweaks in the menu but it has remained precise with none-too-fanciful descriptions. As for the dishes, the consistent quality serves as a strong pull for those who crave for classic Spanish specialties or who wish to delve into the fascinating parts of the pig. With prices standing in middle ground but tagged with remarkable food, it’s time to put this on your checklist, if you haven’t.

 

Dehesa

12 North Canal Road, Singapore 048825

Tel: +65 6221 7790

Mon to Fri: 11:30 AM – 2:30 PM

Mon to Sat: 5:30 PM till late

 

Website: http://dehesa.com.sg/

 

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