Pasta Fresca Da Salvatore, a pioneer of authentic Italian fare in Singapore
By Nicole-Marie Ng
Among the rowdy bars and touristy restaurants of Boat Quay lies Pasta Fresca Da Salvatore. A familiar name to most Singaporeans, Pasta Fresca has been around for 28 years.
What started as a small shop selling freshly made pasta has evolved into a Southern Italian restaurant chain with outlets in Bukit Timah and Siglap as well.
To kick start the new year with a bang, all of Pasta Fresca’s outlets have been given a contemporary interior makeover. The oak wood paneling and Lecce stone wall imported from Italy add to a more upmarket feel but the menu still retains its family-friendly prices.
With 336 pasta dishes in total, Pasta Fresca is bent on keeping its reputation as one of the Singapore’s best Italian restaurants.
A taste of Southern Italy
New to the menu is a classic Italian appetizer, the Burrata Contadina ($20.50++). The thin-skinned cheese explodes upon contact to reveal a rich and creamy centre. Have the cheese alone or with the assortment of grilled vegetables and porcini mushrooms on the plate.
For customers looking for a low-carbohydrate alternative should try the new Tagliata Di Manzo Con Rucola Al Rosmarino ($36.90). The sliced Beef Tenderloin served with Mixed Grilled Vegetables comes in at under 500 calories, making if perfect for diners watching their waistline. Even though the dish is low in calories, it is still big in flavour thanks to the charred meat being drizzled with rosemary oil.
The proof is in the pasta
No visit to Pasta Fresca is complete without ordering from their extensive pasta menu. You can choose which pasta to best accompany your choice of sauce.
For tried and true options, here are the combinations I tried and loved. Have the Mare E Monti ($21.70) seafood-based sauce with Conchiglie pasta. Each conch shaped shell scoops up some of fresh crabmeat and mushrooms from the sauce, delivering a medley of flavours with each spoonful.
Another one of my favourites was the Ravioli Di Burrata E Tartufo Nero ($25.90), ravioli stuffed with burrata cheese and black truffle served with a creamy porcini mushroom sauce topped with crispy parma ham and truffle caviar. The heady aroma of truffles perfumes this dish but the saltiness of the parma ham helps to cut through the richness of the sauce.
Panoramic view of Singapore River
The new wine lounge at pasta Fresca’s Boat Quay outlet allows guests to take in a panoramic view of the Singapore River with a glass of wine in hand. The lounge stocks over 70 types of wines and liquors from house pours starting at $9.50 per glass to top-shelf Italian vintages.
So instead of heading down to one of the boisterous bars in the area for after work drinks, head up to the third floor to discover your very own private wine lounge tucked away from view. Great wine and food will easily melt the worries of the day away.
Pasta Fresca Da Salvatore. 30 Boat Quay, Singapore 049819. Tel: 6532 6283.
ADVERTISEMENTS