I was looking forward to trying Cendra Tapas Bar & Grill at Gemmill Lane after seeing some promising social media posts about their Wagyu striploin rice dish. So my friend and I decided to visit for dinner, convincing ourselves that it would be a worthy culinary adventure. We opted to sit at the counter of the non-air-conditioned restaurant, which gave us a front-row view of the kitchen action.

The restaurant has a rustic Spanish tavern vibe with warm lighting and an open kitchen concept. The counter seating provides an intimate dining experience, though the lack of air conditioning meant we found ourselves feeling a bit warm as the evening progresses.

We started with cocktails (I can't recall the exact pricing), which were decent but not particularly memorable. The drinks set a pleasant tone for what we hoped would be an exceptional Spanish dining experience.

Here's the menu from their website. Pricing, as you can see, is a bit high.

For our tapas selection, we ordered the Iberico Ham Croquetas (S$7 for 2 pieces): These golden nuggets had a nice crispy exterior giving way to a creamy interior. However, the promised luxury of Iberico ham was somewhat subdued, lacking the rich, nutty depth one expects. At S$3.50 per piece, I was hoping for a more generous ham-to-béchamel ratio. 3.5/5

The Fried Calamari "Andaluza" (S$18) arrived well-presented with a light, crispy batter. The texture was slightly rubbery and the seasoning was rather ordinary. For the price point, it didn't elevate beyond what you might find at a casual Spanish restaurant. 3/5

I had specifically came for the Wagyu Striploin Rice "a la Llauna" (S$62), and while visually impressive with the perfectly seared wagyu striploin resting atop a thin layer of paella-style rice in a traditional llauna pan, the execution disappointed. The two elements tasted disparate rather than harmonising into a cohesive dish. The wagyu, though tender, lacked the fatty richness and profound beefy flavour that one expects when paying this premium. The rice below seemed more like an afterthought. 3/5

One thoughtful aspect of the experience was the service. The staff were exceptionally friendly and knowledgeable, providing excellent recommendations and checking in periodically without being intrusive. Their warm demeanour added much-needed brightness to what was otherwise a rather middling dining experience.

In all, Cendra offers a standard tapas experience that doesn't quite justify its premium pricing. While the ambiance is pleasant and the service excellent, the food itself sits firmly in the realm of average—neither poor enough to complain about nor exceptional enough to rave about. The prohibitive pricing for what you get makes it difficult to recommend for a return visit.

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Cendra Tapas Bar & Grill
5 Gemmill Ln, Singapore 069261
Monday, Wednesday - Sunday lunch 12pm to 2:30pm (last call food 1:45PM) and dinner from 6pm to 11pm (last call food 9:45pm, last call drinks 10:30pm)
Closed on Tuesdays and Saturday lunch
Reserve on Sevenrooms