Tag Archives: Clarke Quay

Ricciotti – Casual Italian dining with ample vegetarian options in Singapore

There are a lot of Italian eateries in Singapore, and it can get difficult to know exactly where to go for authentic food. Ricciotti is one such nice and cozy Italian restaurant located along the Riverwalk at Boat Quay, Singapore. The restaurant is spacious, has beautiful furnishing, and immediately gives you the vibe of dining in an Italian home.

The red open counter and the wall decor add a nice touch to the ambiance and one feels welcomed into a relaxing meal.

Riccciotti decor

The menu is quite extensive and has a lot of vegetarian options. The pastas were categorized into two sections: homemade and artisanal. We ordered the Spaghetti Pomodoro Fresco which was packed with great flavor from the tomato sauce and basil. The burrata on the top was fresh and of high quality. The pasta was cooked to the level I like and the whole dish came together perfectly. We ordered some Italian breads on the side which pair well with most of the pastas you order here.

Spaghetti Pomodoro Fresco

A well-made pasta makes me feel happy instantly, just like this pasta did. The Fettuccine Verdi al Ragu was thoroughly enjoyable as a dish. The spinach fettuccine and the mixed vegetables in the sauce made a nice combination and the portion was substantial for a meal.

Fettuccine Verdi al Ragu

The Gnocchi is available with a variety of base options and we opted for the Pesto Genovese. The potato pillows of gnoccchi had absorbed all the flavours from the sauce, making every bite delightful. Highly recommended.

Gnocchi

It’s tough to resist a pizza in a restaurant serving authentic Italian food. The Genovese pizza had basil pesto, mozzarella and burrata on the top. This was a thin crust pizza with a crispy dough that is best eaten as soon a it is served. As the meal progressed and as the pizza was no longer hot, the crispiness of the base decreased a bit.

Genovese pizza

In Italian desserts, tiramisu is the perfect treat for any sweet tooth. The Ricciotti version was rich and creamy with the right moistness and sweetness level. A good way to end your meal.

Tiramisu

For the chocoholics, the Soffiato is a must-try. The molten dark chocolate cake (served with gelato) was quite a visual presentation on the plate. The dessert was delicious with the berries on the side.

Soffiato

Ricciotti is a restaurant I chanced upon while I was exploring Singapore. The restaurant has been around for quite some time. For their good Italian fare, for the loads of vegetarian food options on their menu and for their overall vibe, Ricciotti is definitely worth trying.

In a NutshellDeelightful Rating
Nearest MRT: Raffles Place / Clarke Quay★★★★
Cuisine Type: Italian
Address: 20 Upper Circular Rd, B1-49/50, The Riverwalk, S058416
Timings: Mon-Sun : 11.30 AM – 11 PM
Website: http://www.ricciotti.co/home
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Lucca’s Trattoria – Robertson Quay

With Italian restaurants spread all across the red dot island, it would take some thought and planning to open a new restaurant serving this cuisine. My wanderings this time led me to Lucca’s Trattoria, a quaint and rustic eatery located in Robertson Quay. The quadrangle is filled with restaurants – and a lot of people! The moment you enter the restaurant, what strikes you is the long wooden paneled counter, the huge display of wine bottles, the red-checkered table cloths and counter design. The decor definitely helps in setting up a calm, no-frills and private atmosphere. The counter has a light display which shows the trademark Italian specialties they offer and states that they make everything in-house from scratch.

luccas trattoria

Lucca’s Trattoria


Lucca's counter

Lucca’s counter

The Orders
While trying Italian cuisine, I like to go for the quintessential classic – pizza. Since they focus extensively in this cuisine, they have a wide range of options on their menu. We ordered the ‘Vegetariano Supremo’ which contained bell peppers, black olives, mushrooms, grilled zucchini, artichoke, onion and rucola leaves. The special pizza grade flour is imported from Italy. The pizza is made in the open kitchen on a oak table top. The crust had a substantial bite to it and the pizza tasted great. It is available in two sizes in case you want to share. There was authenticity in the taste of the sauce too. The house-made pastas are also quite popular at this joint.

Vegetariano Supremo

Vegetariano Supremo at $21


For my drink, I ordered the ‘Apple Juice’ and steered away from the classic red wine pairing for a change. The juice was refreshing and had the subtle taste of apple to the amount I like.
Apple juice

Apple juice


What ultimately stood out in this place were the desserts. This course transported me to Italy as the taste felt authentic and the chef exactly knew the process for making it in a true Italian style. The item definitely not to be missed is ‘Lucca’s Tiramisu’. They make it using Lady’s Fingers soaked in Sicilian marsala wine and espresso. The mascarpone cheese was dense and every bite was like a dream. Overall, it was lush and boozy – and highly recommended.
Lucca's Tiramisu

Lucca’s Tiramisu at $10


Another yielding to temptation happened after seeing their extensive gelato counter. Prepared by Italian-trained gelato chefs, this has some new flavours that looked exciting. One of my favourites has been the ‘Chocolate Orange’ combination and the gelato was extremely good. The dark chocolate was bitter with the notes of orange cutting through it with elan. Savour every bite of this when you try it!
Chocolate Orange Gelato

Chocolate Orange Gelato


This is a restaurant that aims to bring Tuscany fare to the forefront in Singapore. The real connoisseurs can tell how much they have succeeded in doing that successfully. If you are looking for a nice evening in a homely Italian setting with authentic taste, this place won’t disappoint. They have lunch promo deals at $15 and also a tasting menu that looks promising as a promotional offer. For good service, great Italian desserts, hand-made gelatos, Luccca’s Trattoria is worth a visit.

In a Nutshell Deelightful Rating
Cuisine Type: Italian ★★★1/2
Nearest MRT: Clarke Quay
Address: Robertson Walk, 11 Unity Street, Singapore 237995
Timings: Mon-Thu: 12pm – 11pm ; Fri-Sat: 12pm – 1am ; Sun: 11.30am – 11pm
Website: http://luccastrattoria.com/

Motorino Pizza – Clarke Quay

The hub of nightlife in Singapore is Clarke Quay and the place is frequented by locals as well as tourists. Located right opposite the club Pump Room is this quiet place called Motorino Pizza serving good Italian food. Now, pizzas have come a long way with artisanal pizzas currently being the trend. Motorino has a huge wood fired oven that is fascinating to see in their open-concept kitchen display.

Motorino oven

Motorino oven

The Orders
For the pizzas, we went with the traditional vegetarian ‘Margherita Pizza’. Right from the time the pizza arrived on the table, there was a good feeling about it. The crust was thin and delicious. The tomato sauce used as the base was extremely authentic. They have a variety of toppings that can be added on the top of the traditional pizza out of which we picked onions. The char on the pizza was just right and this is one pizza worth ordering.

Margherita pizza

Margherita pizza at $22


We tried the‘Cappuccino’ as we needed the caffeine dose. It packed the necessary punch of an espresso and was well made.

Cappuccino

Cappuccino at $5.50


We tried our favourite Italian dessert – the ‘Tiramisu’ to end things on a sweet note. The dessert did not disappoint. Rich and unctuous without being cloying, the tiramisu hit all the right notes.

Tiramisu

Tiramisu at $12


For getting a quiet dinner in the vibrant setting of Clarke Quay, for a gathering with a large group of friends, for authentic wood-fired pizzas and for friendly service, Motorino is worth a shot!

In a Nutshell Deelightful Rating
Cuisine Type: Italian ★★★1/2
Nearest MRT: Clarke Quay
Address: 3A River Valley Road, Merchant’s Court, Clarke Quay, Singapore 179020
Timings: Mon-Sun: 11.30am – 11pm
Website: http://www.motorinopizza.com/singapore/singapore

Sque Rotisserie and Alehouse

Once in a while, one wants to dine by the riverside and that took me to Sque Rotisserie and Alehouse situated in Clarke Quay. They were celebrating their second anniversary and have expanded their seating to two blocks facing the river now. The atmosphere is very casual and lively and it’s ideal for dinner. We were attended to by friendly staff almost immediately.


The Orders
We first ordered ‘Portobello Burger’ and the dish did not disappoint in serving size or taste. The fries we ordered as sides were hot and crunchy and served as a good complement to the mains.

Portobello Burger

Portobello Burger at $12


The pasta order was placed by me and I tried the ‘Penne Alfredo’ which was a little bland and the pasta was slightly under cooked. This was the only dish in our order that did not stand up to the mark compared to the other items.

Penne Alfredo

Penne Alfredo at $16

But what sealed the deal were the desserts. There are quite a few options on their dessert menu and we were confused on what to order. First, we decided to try their specialty ‘Sque Sundae’ which was sheer pleasure for the taste buds. Three large scoops of ice cream perfect to dig into – and we exactly ended up doing that.

Sque Sundae

Sque Sundae at $8


Then we went for the ‘Belgian Chocolate Mousse’ which was a visual delight. The pic below would be self-explanatory. The mousse melted in the mouth and was rich without being cloying. Each of the desserts is a sizable portion (enough for 2 people).

Belgian Chocolate Mousse

Belgian Chocolate Mousse at $8



The usual ‘Tiramisu’ was also delicious.At the end of the dessert, one is definitely left longing for more. The place is also known for its ‘happy hours’ which occur at set times and have 1-on-1 promotions. Casual conversations, lively atmosphere, good service – the restaurant acts as the perfect combination for unwinding with friends.

In a Nutshell Deelightful Rating
Cuisine Type: Western ★★★1/2
Nearest MRT: Clarke Quay
Address:6 Eu Tong Street, The Central #01-70, Singapore 059817
Timings: Mon-Thu; Sun: 11.30 am-12 am; Fri-Sat: 11.30 am-1 am
Website: http://www.sque.com.sg/