Tag Archives: Pasta

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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Picnic Singapore – Wisma Atria at Orchard

When a sprawling dining space that resembles an indoor garden opens on Orchard Road, it is bound to attract attention. This garden themed cafe / communal dining spot, Picnic is filled with real potted plants and an AstroTurf covered garden area that will make you feel like you are having a picnic in the park. The outdoor element of a picnic is brought in with the usage of a lighting system that undergoes changes according to the time of the day. In terms of dining, the place has food trucks serving international cuisines, an illuminated bar and a dessert counter. The food ordering will remind you of Marché with the use of buzzers and for checkout, payment is made easy with the use of self-service kiosks.

Picnic Singapore

Picnic Singapore


Picnic dessert counter

Picnic dessert counter

The Orders
Since we scouted for vegetarian options, I am sharing the stalls in which I managed to find them conveniently.

1. Basic Kneads
Basic Kneads is the stall serving soups and sandwiches. We noticed 3 vegetarian soup choices: Tomato, Mushroom, Potato and Leek. Soups act as a nice way to start a meal and we decided to try them instantly. We ordered the ‘Tomato Soup’ which was a rustic rendition of the dish. The bold red color coupled with the pulpy texture created a soup that was delicious and well-seasoned.

Tomato Soup

Tomato Soup at $9


Next we ordered the ‘Mushroom Soup’ which was a visual delight. Once could stare at the contrast of the soup color with the well-drizzled cream pattern and almost feel like not spoiling the appeal. The soup was rich, indulgent and full of earthy flavours. It is a recommended dish if you are a fan of mushrooms.
Mushroom Soup

Mushroom Soup at $9

2. Rosti Haus
The Swiss potato dish, rosti, has an exclusive food truck serving the classic and other versions of the dish. It is an eternal favourite for most and the stall seemed to be quite popular. We ordered the ‘Plain Rosti’ which was the only vegetarian option. The shredded Idaho potato strands were nicely fried and crispy and was a good dish. But there was a clear disconnect in the quantity served to the price for this dish.

Plain Rosti

Plain Rosti at $11

3. Flour and Water
A popular stall that served classic Italian pastas and pizzas. Since we did not want to try the usual Margherita Pizza, we opted to try the pasta. We ordered the ‘Vodka Rigatoni’ which is one of the best pastas that I have eaten in Singapore.It was ridiculously flavorful – rich, spicy and delicious. For those who are apprehensive to try a bit of alcohol in their pasta can be rest assured that you can hardly taste it. It is flambéed in vodka in front of you just for the final touch. Every aspect was good about this pasta – highly recommended.

Vodka Rigatoni

Vodka Rigatoni at $16

4. Tikka Taco
You hear food trucks and you instantly think of Tacos. Tikka Taco is one such attempt at offering unique combinations combining Indian and Mexican flavours in some and Korean flavours in others. We ordered the ‘Spinach Pesto’ taco which was different and tasted good. There were pine nuts in the filling which lent the crunch to the dish.

Spinach Pesto Taco

Spinach Pesto Taco

5. Desserts
Their dessert counter offers everything from cupcakes to cheesecakes to pastries. They also have a crepe station and we tried the ‘Chocolate Crepe’ which made for a luscious dinner dessert.

Chocolate Crepe

Chocolate Crepe


Overall, Picnic is a fun themed addition to the multi-cuisine concept in Orchard. There are around 12-15 stalls, so there might be more vegetarian foods which we plan to check next time. Also to be noted is they have meal sets during lunch time and their dishes are priced lower by around $3-$4 even on an À la carte basis. They also offer sharing platters in which you can combine dishes from different trucks. Its a good place to chill along with a large group of friends. Definitely worth a visit to this picturesque place.

In a Nutshell Deelightful Rating
Cuisine Type: International cuisine (Food trucks) ★★★1/2
Nearest MRT: Orchard
Address: Wisma Atria #03-15, 435 Orchard Road, Singapore 238877
Timings: Mon-Sun: 10am – 10pm
Website: http://www.picnicsg.com/#

Argo Restaurant – Purvis Street [Permanently Closed]

Purvis Street is a favourite haunt of foodies – it is stacked with restaurants offering various cuisines. You will be spoiled for choice once you get here! Hidden under the radar, in the premises of Adonis Hotel is Argo Restaurant. It mainly serves as the breakfast joint for guests who stay in the hotel. A lesser known fact is that it is open to the general public to dine and has an extensive menu offering a variety of options for vegetarians. Tastefully done decor, white walls, paintings and potted plants give the restaurant a home-y feel. If you are looking for a quiet place, Adonis is a very good option in this central location.

The Orders
I was pleasantly surprised by the number of green symbols indicating vegetarian pastas on the menu! To start the meal, I ordered the ‘Soup of the Day’ which was Tomato Soup. This soup offered a zesty and familiar flavour that was ideal to start a great meal. The bread slice was soft and complemented the soup perfectly. Priced at $3, it is a no-brainer to order this excellent soup!

Tomato Soup

Tomato Soup at $3


From the vegetarian pastas, the first one we ordered was the ‘Aglio Olio e Pereroncino’. The pasta is tossed in a spiced olive oil. It was heartening to see generous portions of veggies in the dish – capers, black olives, and red, green and yellow bell peppers. The garlic, capers and dried chili pepper gave the dish a nice spicy twist. Highly recommended.
Vegetariano

Aglio Olio e Peperoncino at $9.90


The second pasta we ordered was the ‘All Arrabbiata’ which was spicy and light with the right punch of garlic in the tomato sauce. Seasoned to perfection, this dish was simple and delicious.
All Arrabbiata

All ‘Arrabbiata at $7.90


Never say no to desserts at a Italian place that offers ‘Homemade Tiramisu’, especially when its priced at $4. The layers of mascarpone cheese goodness lavishly sprinkled with cocoa were moist and spongy. Worth trying for sure.
Homemade tiramisu

Homemade tiramisu at $4


For quality Italian food at such wallet-friendly prices at a central location, for their homely feel and for their affable service, Argo is highly recommended – maybe even for a staycation 🙂

In a Nutshell Deelightful Rating
Cuisine Type: Italian ★★★★
Nearest MRT: Bugis
Address: Adonis Hotel Singapore, 13 Purvis Street, Singapore 188592
Timings: Mon-Sun: 11.30am – 3pm , 6pm – 10.30pm
Website: http://hoteladonis.worldsignaturehotels.com/wp-content/uploads/Argo-Menu-2015.jpg