Iconic Melbourne restaurant MoVida’s Tapas served at Surrey Hills’ new Holland Village cafe

While there’s no shortage of eateries at new pet-friendly mall One Holland Village, local Aussie-style gourmet grocer and cafe chain Surrey Hills Grocer’s latest branch is gearing up to be one of its buzziest destinations, whether you’re a pawrent or not. 8days.sg visited the outlet ahead of its impending opening

Ed's update: The cafe was supposed to have opened on 9 March but is now pending SFA approval. 

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Tapas menu by iconic Melbourne restaurant MoVida

Following Surrey Hills’ collaboration with Melbourne-based pancake chain The Pancake Parlour at its Woodleigh outlet, the cafe chain has teamed up with yet another iconic Melburnian brand – Spanish restaurant group MoVida – for its Holland Village branch.

Started in 2003 by Spanish-born Australia-based chef Frank Camorra, MoVida Original has been credited as kickstarting the tapas craze in Melbourne. Currently, the restaurant group has five concepts under its belt in Australia. Surrey Hills Holland Village will offer ten signature MoVida dishes – prepared by the local cafe’s team, who spent a week training at the Melbourne flagship.

How did the partnership come about? “I’ve enjoyed their food ever since I was a student [in Melbourne]. There are always new restaurants opening in Melbourne, yet MoVida always remains good. If somebody asks me for a recommendation, I’d always say MoVida. That’s why I wanted to partner with them,” says Surrey Hills founder Pang Gek Teng, 35. The entrepreneur used to run a grain bowl business in Melbourne for five years before returning to Singapore in 2021 – the same year that she launched her gourmet grocer and cafe brand. 

The MoVida Original team. From left: Head chef Adrian Clemmens, co-founder Andy McMahon, co-founder & executive chef Frank Camorra.

MoVida co-founders Frank and Andy McMahon, who are in town for the opening, shared their thoughts on the partnership. “It just seems like a good fit because what we do is Spanish cuisine with a Melbourne perspective. There are lots of cosmopolitan influences that are similar to Singapore,” says Frank. Andy adds: “We’ve noticed that Singapore is just obsessed with food, so it’s always good to play to an audience that’s willing to try new things.”

MoVida Singapore next?

Both MoVida and Surrey Hills owners share that they are open to the idea of setting up a full-fledged Singapore outpost together – though there isn’t a fixed timeline at the moment. “Hopefully there are opportunities where we can showcase the ambience and service of MoVida,” says Frank.

Rustic chic vibe

Spanning over 4,000 sq ft in a quiet corner of level three of the mall, Surrey Hills' newest outlet has a spacious farmhouse-chic vibe, complete with lush greenery and rustic wood accents. With seating for 130 guests across indoor and alfresco areas, furry friends are welcomed with open arms.

Scoops from Tasmania served out of a ‘truck’

Adding to the countryside charm is a custom-built truck displaying freshly-churned gelato from Tasmanian brand Van Diemens Land Creamery, priced at $7 per scoop. Very lush and chewy – go for the rich, full-bodied chocolate option. 

For its opening, the cafe will be giving away free ice cream. Check their socials for more info.

In-house dog bakery coming up soon

Expect the usual array of Australian produce like cheese, condiments and wines at the grocery area. As for our four-legged friends, you’ll find a wide selection of Australian pet products like freeze-dried raw food, shampoo and more at the chain’s aptly named pet grocer section, Furry Hills. Keep an eye out for the chain’s upcoming in-house dog bakery, serving freshly-baked treats for your furkids.

Hot off the grill

Surrey Hills Holland Village has also introduced an exclusive charcoal grill menu, featuring burgers, steak and chicken – all cooked over Japanese binchotan in a cool Argentine-style parrilla open-flame grill.

From the MoVida tapas section:

Anchoa, $16 for two pcs

MoVida’s signature dish looked tempting, but the overly salty artisan anchovy left us reaching for water after just one bite, overshadowing the flavours of the smoked tomato sorbet and paper-thin crouton. When we shared our feedback, the Surrey Hills team mentioned that they’re working on refining the dish. Best to skip this one for now.

Pez Real, $24 (8 DAYS Pick!)

This was much tastier. The cold smoked kingfish has a lovely, delicate texture, and pairs well with refreshing pine nut sorbet. Simple and stunning.

Pincho, $22

Apart from the slightly overzealous char, the wagyu skewer is tasty and satisfying. The beef is juicy, smoky and fabulously drenched in a bold, layered sherry and cippolini onion (an Italian variety) sauce.

Cordoniz, $32 for two pcs

The charcoal-grilled Brisbane Valley quail is tender, not too gamey, and dressed in a sticky, tangy berry-based sauce that lends a festive feel to the dish.

Bomba, $14 for two pcs

The crispy croquettes are stuffed with smoky, savoury chorizo, with a punchy boost from the spicy, creamy red pepper sauce. A classic that’s worth a try.

From the Surrey Hills menu:

Lobster Hash, $42; additional $6 for pork sausage

A posh brunchy item with silky scrambled eggs, chunks of Canadian lobster, baby potatoes, gruyere dressing and ikura. That’s already plenty on the plate, but the team urged us to add their supplier-sourced miso kurobuta sausage to our order. The banger is succulent and tasty, lending a heartier finish to the meal.

Wanderer Prime Rib, $108; feeds 2-3 pax (8 DAYS Pick!)

Beautifully tender Australian free-range, grain-fed beef with gorgeous smoke-tinged char. Comes with fresh greens, bearnaise sauce and flavoured salts, including a pepperberry (a Tasmanian pepper) option with a bright, slightly fruity aroma.

Truffled Wagyu Donut, $35; additional $8 for egg and bacon

Juicy, flavourful wagyu patty and caramelised onion sandwiched in a plain house-made doughnut that lacks the usual fluffiness we’d prefer in a brioche bun. Quite substantial on its own, though you have the option to include a fried egg and crispy thick-cut bacon – we enjoyed the savoury crunch of the latter. The truffle cheese sauce adds richness to the burger, though you can also do without it.

Bottom line

If you’re a pet-owner, this is one of the loveliest spots in town to hang out with your pooch. If you’re not, the food menu is one of Surrey Hills’ most varied and comprehensive. While MoVida’s tapas selection is a mixed bag due to opening kinks, the smoked kingfish and beef skewer are tasty – and we believe the other dishes will improve once the team settles into the new kitchen. The regular menu has a fancier, at times unnecessary, flourish to most of the dishes, with a price tag to match. Thus, we gravitated towards the more straightforward and better-executed dishes, like the hearty steak and beef doughnut ‘burger’ from the new grill section.

The details

Surrey Hills One Holland Village is at #03-29 to 33 One Holland Village, 7 Holland Village Way, S275748. Open daily 10am to 10pm. Check their Facebook & Instagram for updates on their opening date.

Photos: Aik Chen & Surrey Hills Grocer