Located at Craig Road, in ITALY is an expression of Chef Mario Caramella’s own personality and culinary tastes. It serves Tuscan style Italian food including antipasti, homemade pasta, pizzas and baked specialties. Chef Mario, originally from Milan, is a renowned and recognised chef within and outside his native Italy. He has headed up the kitchens of some of the region’s most well known and awarded restaurants.

Chef Mario arrived in Singapore in January 2011, as a chef Patron of FORLINO AT One Fullerton. His new venture at inITALY begins in July 2012 which sees his signature style in full flight, combining authentic Italian ingredients with culinary integrity.

Boy and I went there for dinner on weekend and we enjoyed ourselves. Our dinner started with their homemade fried beer bread which is pretty unique as compared to the usual bread. Pairing it with parsley sauce, we love it loads! Here, they offer The Real Raspadura ($12) with freshly shaved Lodigiano cheese flakes which is very light and fragrant, with a sweet taste.

Polipo e Gamberi (octopus & prawn salad with roasted capsicum, $28) is a wonderfully fresh and well balanced seafood entree where the octopus is sous vide with Italian sparkling water for 6 hours. The refreshing flavours from octopus and prawns are complemented by the sweet roasted capsicum.

Ficato Di Sette Cannola (seared Foie Gras with sweet n sour pumpkin sauce, $28) is well-executed with a nice medley of sweet flavours from pumpkin sauce plus extra crunch.

With its shocking colour and sound flavour, Smoked Eel Risotto ($32) is quite the exhibitionist. The vibrant risotto cooked in earthy beetroot and tangy red berries and finished off with a top layer of smoked eel that almost emulates the texture of the risotto. My favourite for the night!

Chilled Spaghettini ($32) is Chef Mario Caramella’s award-winning dish. The chilled spaghettini is generously topped tomatoes, prawn tobiko and finished w a light drizzle of olive oil.

Saltimbocca di Pollo ($30) features succulent and moist roasted chicken thigh wrapped in slightly crisp parma ham, bathed in a sinfully-rich white wine sauce and served with polenta.

Another highlight is the comforting Guancia di Maiale (stewed pork cheek, $36). The meat is stewed until it is tender and juicy. Eat them together with the balsamic sauce and soft polenta, the warm, savoury dish is perfect for a rainy day.

Desserts we had that night were faultless. The boy loves Cannolo Aperto ($16). Crispy golden cannolo biscuit is beautifully stacked up with sheep’s milk ricotta cheese mousse and Sicilian candied fruit in between. Topped with pistachio ice cream, it is a treat both in texture and in taste.

I prefer the delicate Rosolio Souffle ($20), flavoured with edible rose petals and an exquisite Venetian rose liqueur. Originally created for serving alongside a dessert wine at a vintner dinner, this soufflé won the heart of the visiting winemaker who declared it better than his own wine!

Homely Italian food with homely Italian setting and decent prices. Many diners who came here seems like regulars as they talk to each other like a family.

in ITALY Bar Ristorante

Address: 38 Craig Road
Tel: 6423 0918
Opening hours: Lunch Sun to Fri 12pm – 2.30pm, closed for Saturday lunch. Dinner Sun to Thur 6pm – 10.30pm, Fri & Sat 6pm – 12am midnight

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