Bruno’s Pizzeria & Grill @ Tanjong Katong Road

Upon hearing raving reviews about Bruno’s Pizzeria & Grill, this particular Italian restaurant has been on my to-go list for quite some time. My clique has passed by the popular dining venue along Tanjong Katong Road on several occasions to find it fully occupied. As such, we decided to make prior reservations before paying our visit on a Saturday afternoon.

As brought about by the rather low hanging lamps and xanthous -coated walls, the setting was as though bathed in a warm yellow hue,  and I thought that this could have added a certain level of intimacy for her patrons. In order to accomodate large groups like ours, long tables were also found in the dining venue. There was this slight hint of grandeur around the air although there was no particular fuss about the allocation of antiques or grand furniture in the restaurant.

Complimentary Bread

Multi-grain and Italian bread were served warm, both which were deemed to be appetizing enough (with the olive oil and vinegar) for a hungry group of guys with growling stomachs.

Lasagna Di Carne ($19.90)

Minced beef layered with sheets of pasta, many of us thought that the oven-baked Lasagne was a little disappointing as it got especially dull after a few spoonfuls of the dish. The pasta sheets were a little too thick while the minced beef could have been more distinguishable within the creation.

Linguine Al Granchio Di Polpa ($22.50)

The hearty Basil Tomato sauce had a fine sweet taste to it and I must say that together with the shredded crabmeat, it accompanied the smooth strands of Linguine till perfection. A different texture to the bite was brought about by the crunchy pine nuts and I thought that they were a delightful addition to the pasta’s concoction.

TinTine @ Pahang Street

Having heard of this hidden gem from my friend, I decided to pay a visit to TinTine, which seems to be the perfect dining venue to satisfy both my Indian and Italian cravings on a Saturday afternoon. Nestled beyond the rows of shophouses huddled against one another in Arab Street, it was quite a hassle-free trip to the restaurant for us since we drove.

Established just last year under the foundation of Herbs & Spices, TinTine offers an extensive menu of both Italian and Indian inspirations, with several creations involving a fusion of both cuisines.

TinTine offers both indoor and al fresco seating. I am guessing that probably due to its rather inconvenient location, the restaurant was relatively empty (for a weekend) when we arrived around early afternoon.  We decided to settle for the seats located outside the restaurant for a considerably different experience (we have enjoyed air-conditioning too much).

Butter Chicken Curry ($8.80)

My friends and I concurred that TinTine’s Butter Chicken Curry was definitely one of our favorite dishes. The creation was hardly spicy and the significantly sweet relish of the Butter-cream Masala Gravy was well-prepared with several Indian spices which we later discovered in the luscious gravy. The chunky pieces of Tandoori Chicken accompanied the gravy well and they were really tender and delish. Definitely a must-try should you patronize the restaurant.

Pepperoni Pizzeria @ Binjai Park

Pepperoni Pizzeria has always been a to-go place for a quick pizza fix or takeaways when we crave for sinfully cheesy Italian-style pizza. Famous for its family-sized pizza, Pepperoni is consistently packed with a good mix of the expatriate and local community even on weekday evenings. Under the Les Amis group of restaurants, Pepperoni recently expanded its offerings with another outlet at Binjai Park located a stone throw’s away from the original at Greenwood Avenue.

Craving for pizza one Sunday evening, we made a trip down to the nearby Binjai outlet in hope of settling our gastronomical desires. The Binjai Park outlet was much more spacious, airy and brightly lit compared to the Greenwood Avenue branch which shares its premises with a specialty bar serving numerous different unique brews of beer. Arriving early in the evening, it was pretty surprising that the place was already starting to fill up with many of the outdoor seats being occupied as well.

Stepping into the retro-inspired bistro like pizzeria was like a trip back into the past with its black and white floor tiles, jukebox machine and countertop bar. Eager to dig in to our pizzas, we placed our orders in a jiffy.

Pete’s Place @ Hyatt

Pete’s Place has been an institution in Singapore’s Italian dining scene way before the wave of Italian restaurants hit out shores. Serving rustic Italian dishes, Pete’s Place used to be one of the few places where you could find good, no-frills quality Italian cuisine at very reasonable prices. Although the Italian restaurant scene is much more saturated, Pete’s place still continues to attract its fair share of loyal customers.

Located in the basement of Hyatt hotel, stepping into Pete’s place feels like a flashback to the past with its large checked gingham tablecloths, wooden chairs and tables and old-fashioned light fixtures. The dim lighting and brick walls also contributed to the feel of dining in a place of the past.

Basilico @ The Regent

Yes, most international buffets we often frequent, do offer a large variety but as calorie-inducing as they are, we are often faced with more misses than hits. Other than offering either set menus or dishes in ala-carte style, my family and I opted for a lunch buffet at Basilico, a much celebrated Italian Restaurant hidden in the The Regent hotel- widely acclaimed for her high standards of service and her exquisite Italian creations.

Step forth and be bewitched by the centrepiece crystal chandelier and below it, a huge and enticing circle of appetizers, a known hit with many diners when it comes to a buffet feast at Basilico. To one’s left, spot the chefs live in action; a corner offering grilled meat and vegetables, pastas and pizza and right infront of them, another circular table which puts forth a rather limited yet scrumptious-looking selection of other main dishes. End your meal with a vast corner of a comprehensive variety of desserts, be spoilt for choice when it comes to Basilico’s heavenly cakes, authentic Italian desserts and even an Gelato ice-cream section.

A small array of semi-cheese for you to cut slices out of; I preferred the Ricotta, Mozeralla and Bocconcini which in my opinion, had a stronger cheese flavor though they were still considered to be rather light due to the infusion of cream. They went really well with the tomatoes, specially imported from Italy. More commendation needs to be bestowed on one of everyone’s favorite vegetable; the tomatoes of either green or red hue, were fresh and with every bite on the firm exterior, I was met with an outburst of raw tomato flavor, which actually overwhelmed the relish of the light semi-cheese in my mouth.

Da Paolo Bistro Bar @ One Rochester

Rochester Park is a cluster of old-fashioned black and white bungalows located in Buona Vista. Having always wanted to try the branch of esteemed Italian chain Da Paolo located here, we finally made our way down after attending our friend’s commissioning parade in the west. Located pretty conveniently opposite the MOE Headquarters building and near Holland Village, Da Paolo Bistro Bar is a recluse away from the usual hustle and bustle of the area.

In a spacious sixteen thousand square foot colonial bungalow, Da Paolo Bistro Bar is the perfect place for a chill-out night with good company. We chose alfresco seats as it was a perfect night to be seated outdoors with a hint of cool breeze flowing through the large outdoor area. The crowd there was pretty diverse that night, with a good mix of locals and expatriates. Not feeling too hungry that evening, we decided to order a couple of mains and desserts for sharing.

Favola Italian Restaurant @ Le Meridian

Having braved the rain and one of KL’s infamous traffic jams to get here, we were eager to start our gastronomical adventure. Favola translating into fable in Italian, we couldn’t wait to be charmed by the place and the food. And boy were we!

Pizzeria Mozza @ Marina Bay Sands

Having heard raving reviews of Mario Batali’s famous Pizzeria Mozza, which hails from LA and recently landed on our shores,  I knew I had to try it since I am personally a huge fan of pizzas. What was said to make Mozza’s pizza uniquely delicious was its special pizza dough formulated by chef Nancy Silverton and the high quality of the ingredients used.