At The Crossroads Of Flavour

Free-spirited, enigmatic and gloriously spicy, the hot new izakaya Barood combines its Latin and Indian influences to delicious perfection

- Suffian Hakim

UP AN UNASSUMING STAIRWELL along Tras Street, you will find one of the best-kept secrets in our F&B scene, and it's a secret I intend not to keep. Walking along the road, you would miss Barood for the other street-level cafes that demand attention. No glaring neon signs pointing upstairs, no signages declaring its existence is stylish font. Even the stairwell mentioned earlier is nondescript, unless you tilt your gaze further upwards to find the crimson-orange sign for Barood at the second-floor landing.

Barood is brought to you by the same minds behind open fire restaurant Revolver and its Michelin-starred neighbour Hamamoto. The 30-seater izakaya shares the same shophouse as Revolver, as well as its philosophy of culinary boldness and expert use of spices and ingredients.

Its ambience takes its cues from the moorish/orientalist leanings of Parisian bars and nightspots in the 1960s, creating a dim, intimate atmosphere perfect for dates and small gatherings. Guests sit on plush red leather seats and dark wood tables, strategically placed such that each table is its own cosy nook. The orangetinged walls are adorned with an eclectic array of black-and-white photographs with delightfully off-kilter subjects. One featured two middle-aged ladies styled as the spooky twins from The Shining. Another featured a group of nuns exchanging cigars. A nude woman waiting for her bathtub to fill. A funny sign on Hollywood Boulevard. A random flock of ducks. It's a delight to study if you have the time.