The menu is similar to the one in the downtown FOC, which is Spanish tapas with an original touch, but with a focus on seafood.
I ate at the Sentosa offshoot twice, first on a weekday evening and then for lunch last Sunday. The first experience left me with mixed feelings, but things were brighter when I returned. A dish I ordered on both visits - Octopus Galician Style ($22) - was much better the second time.
The difference was a distinct taste of basil the first time that overwhelmed the other ingredients. This was odd because it was absent when I ordered the dish again. Instead, the octopus tentacles were seasoned with just olive oil and paprika.
The tentacles were tender and had a nice balance of spice and smokiness. And I loved the crushed boiled potatoes, dressed in aromatic olive oil, that accompanied them.
Basil also dominated another dish I ate at dinner, Clams In "Marinera" Sauce ($18), which would have been fine if it had not robbed the shellfish of its natural sweetness.
The Steamed Mussels With "Bouillabaisse" ($16) I ate for lunch were so much better. The blue mussels were tiny, but packed tight with sweet, tender meat.
It was a generous serving too, enough for two as a starter.
At the table, the server squirted a white foam from a cream whipper into the pot - a secret recipe, she said. Whatever it contained, the foam quickly blended into the broth, giving it a delicious flavour of shellfish.
Cold tapas is a good idea for the current hot weather and I'd recommend the King Crab Cannelloni ($22), which comprised shredded crabmeat rolled in thinly sliced zucchini and topped with diced tomato. It was refreshing and a delicious appetiser.
For the mains, I would recommend a paella, especially the Squid Ink Paella (from $40 for two people). The flavourful rice was studded with bits of squid, which provided a nice chewy texture. Pieces of lightly grilled scallop and prawns were placed on top and stood out prettily against the inky rice.
From the selection of meats among the mains, I tried the Baby Lamb Rack ($48). It was cooked just right, with the meat tender and juicy. The flavour was a tad too mild for me, but would please those who do not like gamey meat.
There are items I do not recommend though. Among them, Cauliflower With Pickles And Manchego ($16). The chunk of cauliflower covered in browned cheese looked very impressive when I spotted it at the next table, which was why I ordered it. But it was underseasoned and the manchego cheese was hardly detectable. It was not only bland, but also cost as much as the mussels. So skip it, I say.
Among the desserts, I'd also suggest skipping the Rum Baba ($14), which was dense and chewy.
The Gin & Tonic Lime ($10) was more successful. It looked pretty, with a ball of gin and tonic sorbet covered in a thin layer of green lime sorbet. Cut into wedges, they looked like slices of lime.
Not only do they look good for Instagram, but they also provide a lovely and refreshing end to the meal.
•Follow Wong Ah Yoke on Twitter @STahyoke
•The Sunday Times paid for its meals at the eateries reviewed here.