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.

Pizza Capers Gourmet Kitchen @ East Coast Road

While wandering around the East in search of a hearty meal, we stumbled upon Pizza Capers Gourmet Kitchen which seems to be an ideal spot for a bunch of hungry boys. As the restaurant introduces that she offers Australia’s Number 1 Gourmet Pizza, their promise seemed to have raised our expecations a little. After going through their rather extensive menu, we decided to settle down into our seats in the restaurant.

For a weekend evening, the dining venue was relatively empty with a mere couple of small families settled down. We did notice that there was certainly a limited amount of seats available. Anyway, it was rather interesting to find comic characters on the walls and sheets of paper on the tables. The wacky and animated concept seemed to have injected a certain dose of light-heartedness and  buoyancy into the atmosphere of the restaurant. The simple furniture had also provided for an ideal setting for a casual meal in the restaurant.

Beef, Bacon and Mushroom Risotto ($10.95)

Our first dish from Pizza Capers Gourmet Kitchen did surprise us in a pleasant way. Although the rice grains were not as fine as those from the classic Italian Risotto dishes, the congee-like creation was well prepared in the rich and delectable cream sauce. Other than the beef, there were rather generous chunks of mushroom and bacon bits which just could not go wrong with the grains and cream sauce.  

House, Barracks and Camp @ Dempsey Hill

Notably one of the few favorite dining venues nestled on Dempsey Hill, Barracks Cafe receives an overwhelming response from many of our locals and foreign expatriates throughout the day.

We were considered to be really fortunate since it was a very last minute decision to make a trip down to Barracks. Although the restaurant was really crowded and the dining tables venue were all reserved, the waiters were kind enough to put in the additional effort to confirm their potential customers’ reservations which were on hold. After some confirmation(s) over the phone (yes, we witnessed their painful process), we were finally led to a long table for our cozy weekend brunch session.

A casual cosy cafe with a slight fine dining touch, the lively chatter within the restaurant provides for a warm-hearted dining experience. The menu introduces a selection of Brunch items, a variety of Skinny Pizzas and many other delightful creations, causing many of my friends to be really spoilt for choice.

Definitely an attraction of House, Barracks and Camp; the greenhouse setting offers an excellent ambience for a meal during the day. With the rays of sun beam shining through the glass panes and providing for an arresting view of the greenery outside the restaurant, I find it a real pity that I have not been able to participate in this experience (soon enough, I am sure I will!)

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.

15 Minutes @ Laselle

Although many have had misconceptions over the origins of its name, 15 minutes, a concept café located in the Laselle College of the Arts, is actually named after the Andy Warhol quote that “In the future, everybody will be world famous for 15 minutes”.

Aiming to provide good food, good design and showcase good art, diners are treated to live performances on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday evenings and a mix of house, funk and soul music on other days while enjoying their simple bistro fare.

With full length glass windows and simple minimalistic décor, 15 minutes exudes a chic vibe. Separated into two half floors, the lower floor is more for chilling with friends over drinks and good music with a stage for live performances and the bar while the upper half level is where the crowd tucks into the hearty food served at 15 minutes.

Chicken Guacamole Cream $11.90

Al-dente linguine served in a rich cream sauce, this pasta dish was pretty decent and the sweet avocado puree complemented the salty cream. With chunks of tender pesto chicken tossed with the pasta, my friends enjoyed this simple dish over our other pasta.

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.

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.

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.