The Place Located along Tras Street in Tanjong Pagar, Latido is a relatively new restaurant which focuses on Colombian cuisine. Helmed by Bogotá-born chef Fernando Arévalo (previously of Preludio and Bacata), it is also the only Colombian restaurant in Singapore and possibly the whole of South-east Asia according to Chef Fernando. Unlike Preludio and Bacata, Latido is a shift towards a more casual and accessible approach to Colombian cuisine, which is befitting of the dining climate in Singapore right now, as diners are more conscious of how much they would spend dining out. 

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It is a charming shophouse space for Latido as it takes up two shophouse units to create a spacious interior.

The restaurant’s ambience takes on a neutral tone with beautiful arches, along with counter seating, high tables as well as regular tables for couples or groups.

To add to the character of the space, there are also handmade decor pieces from Colombian tribes. 

The Food The menu at Latido features a variety of traditional Colombian dishes with a modern twist. It is a straightforward ala carte menu categorized into snacks, starters, mains and dessert, even though you can also opt for the Chef’s Choice which is akin to a bespoke tasting menu. One noteworthy observation is that the prices are kept friendly, where most of the snacks and appetisers are below S$25. In terms of beverage, there is a varied selection of Latin American wines as well. 

For a start, I had the Pan de la Casa (S$8) which is Chef Fernando’s signature bread course which I recalled having at Bacata previously. This Signature Homemade Rye Bread is glazed with mushroom and served with a delicious butter. Trust me, you will end up mopping the soft rye bread with the butter.   

Next up I had the Bocados de Tiradito (S$22), a combination of Sawara Ceviche, Leche de Tigre & Lime Pearls. It comes with four pieces, and the ingredients are housed in a crispy shell which instantly reminds me of ‘kueh pie tee’, except that this is filled with fresh sawara ceviche along with a burst of flavours. 

Another interesting snack on the menu is the Pincho de Corazones (S$22), a dish I would expect to see in a Japanese yakitori restaurant but not in a Colombian restaurant. This is a grilled skewer dish of chicken hearts served in a rich sauce made from red wine and egg yolk. The chicken heart skewer is delicious and chewy in texture, and the sauce adds much depth to the overall enjoyment of the dish.

It is also served along with a bowl of delicious golden skin Andes potatoes which you can dip into the sauce to enjoy too. 

For appetiser, I was recommended to have something which I do not usually come across in Singapore –Braised Rabbit, Bacon, Parmesan, Cassava Wrap (S$38). A unique dish on the menu for me, there is no gamy element in case anyone is wondering. Instead, the braised rabbit shreds tasted quite similar to braised beef for me, and it is presented in a Cassava Wrap which is akin to a giant taco for me. I thought that the wrap itself has a good texture and bite to it, and it holds up all the ingredients very well. 

Another appetiser worth trying is the Arepa de Chocolo y Huevo (S$22) – Sweet Corn Cake, Pork Jowl, Egg – it reminds us of a luxe ‘min jiang kueh’ or pancake, so good!  

On to mains, I highly recommend the Sopa Langosta (S$50), an interesting take on lobster. It is rare that a soup dish is featured under main course, and this comes with chunky lobster meat with cubes of avocado, sweet corn and potato soup. I like that it is a light mains option on the menu, yet packed with many macros.     

The other main course I tried was the Lechonsita (S$38 per 100g), Latido’s signature Suckling Pig served with Pickled Chilli. I had 100g of the meat which also comes with thin wraps akin to how we eat Peking Duck. 

Last but not least, there is only one dessert on the menu and it is worth saving space for. The Platanitos (S$16) is a nice Sweet Plantain topped with Burrata ice-cream, a well-balanced combination of flavours and texture to conclude the meal. 

Rants Colombian cuisine is definitely not something familiar to most Singaporeans and granted, the menu does not have any images of the dishes. Hopefully our review is helpful in interpreting what to expect from the dishes here.

Will I Return Again? You do not need to know much about Colombian cuisine to enjoy Latido as I realised that there are similar reference points to Asian cuisine. The concept is an approachable take on something unfamiliar and far from Singapore, and it is one of the more exciting new openings in Singapore for a long time. And it is definitely a plus that prices are kept very reasonable.   

TheRantingPanda says:
Taste bud: 4.5/5
Hole in the pocket: 4/5
Ambience: 4/5
Overall Experience: 4.5/5 

Latido 
40 Tras Street 
Singapore 078979 
Tel: +65 8961 8191 

Opening Hours 
Tuesday to Thursday: 12pm to 3pm; 6pm to 10pm 
Friday: 12pm to 3pm; 6pm to 12am 
Saturday: 6pm to 12am 
Closed on Monday & Sunday 

Ranted by The Ranter