Despite Singapore being a tiny island, I seldom travel to the eastern part of the country. Since I live and work in the west, and most of my friends and family live around the area, that is where I am most of the time. It is a shame though because it is well known that East Coast plays host to innumerable restaurants, cafes, hawker delights and is considered a bona fide foodie haven. The food scene at Katong, East Coast, Joo Chiat, Bedok and Changi Village areas have largely remained unexplored in my 16 years on the island. That said, I've been to many of the restaurants located in Jewel Changi (if that counts!).
The westie that I am, I usually settle of some of my favourite haunts in Holland Village, Bukit Timah and Dempsey while dining out. I do like to go to Seletar Aerospace Park up north with my family in tow. Even if I have to go further towards the heart of the city when dining out with friends, Orchard, Little India, Arab Street, Clarke Quay and Robertson Quay are usually as far as I'll go.
During late last year, I met up with one of my old college buddies. Since she lives in the east, we decided to meet up for lunch at a restaurant near her place. We chose Italian because, 1. Duh, who doesn't like Italian food? and 2. We were bound to have vegetarian options which was a prerequisite for the venue.
The restaurant is known for importing fresh ingredients like whole peeled tomatoes and cheeses directly from Italy and use of traditional wood fire oven which imparts a delightful taste to their pizzas and fresh breads.
I liked the location of the restaurant. Rather than being housed in a glitzy mall or busy commercial complex, the restaurant is located within a charming shophouse along the East Coast road in what appears to be a residential enclave.
As you enter the restaurant, your eyes are instantly drawn to the pops of red, white and green which obviously are the colors of the Italian flag. The furniture is what I would describe as rustic. I was glad to notice that the tables were spaced wide apart to maintain a sense of distancing and privacy. The walls are adorned with plaques of awards and lots of photographs. The restaurant has a quaint and cosy vibe. I could see that it is a popular hangout spot for expats.
We went through the menu which has a reasonable selection of Antipasti (starters), Primi Piatti (pasta), Pizze (pizza), Secondi Piatti (main course), Dolce (dessert) and some red and white wines. We were pleased to see that there was a decent selection of vegetarian dishes.
