We thought the whole Spanish food craze would die down, but if there’s one place that’s keeping it alive, this would be it. You can thank Olivier Bendel for that, the man responsible for L’Entrecôte and newbie 83.

Like the former, it’s a compact space and they don’t take reservations, ever. But that’s where the similarities end. Despite the fact that it’s usually so full that its crowd of fashionable diners spill out of the stylish black-and-white setup onto the sidewalk, you don’t get that same feeling of claustrophobia here.

We scored ourselves counter seats and ordered up some of the usual, champiñones al ajillo ($9) and embutidos mixtos ($25). The garlic mushrooms weren’t anything to shout about, but the mixed platter of Spanish ham, sausages and cheese was fantastic and made for sharing. The jamón especially was luscious, and when paired with some red sangria ($10) proved a killer combination.

Other noteworthy items included the moreish patatas alioli ($8), fat wedges of fried potatoes with a thick garlic sauce, and pincho moruno de pollo al ajillo ($14). The latter was a generous portion (by tapas standards anyway) of chicken skewers draped seductively with melted Manchego.

There’s also a decent selection of Spanish wines and cocktails to be had. Sure, the wait staff could be more attentive, but it’s hard not to be won over by the vibe and infectious energy of the place.

We strongly suggest getting here early, unless you fancy waiting a good 30-45 minutes for a seat. Oh and one last thing, leave the jacket at home; because it’s bound to get hot and sweaty.

Have you tried the patatas aioli? It's one of I-S Magazine's 50 things to eat in Singapore before you die (2011).