Italian

Pre Covid, the weekend buffet brunch here used to be our fav, mainly because of the extreme diversity of dishes and types of Italian cooking on display. They are doing their best to provide this diversity, but if it’s only a fraction of what it used to be. Quality of ingredients also seems to have gone down a little. Most importantly, the experience is less satisfying, mainly because the (otherwise excellent) staff are overworked with all the serving they now have to do. Requests are sometimes forgotten. There also seems to be an intended delay to serve the free flow wine in a cost-control effort? It remains very good quality, and decent value, however. During the week, many à la carte offerings are outstanding, like for instance an amazing carbonara.

I attended a wedding dinner here not too long ago. The food and service were good, but nothing to scream about. Recently returned for lunch, when I had the festive menu. The main pasta dish was very good, but the Caesar salad or the dishes ordered by my lunch mates were quite meh. Prices are not exorbitant, but there are LOTS of restaurants in Singapore that serve better Italian food. Convenient for guests of the Shangri-La, but definitely not a gastronomic destination.

We were lured here by the very favourable TripAd reviews. The best thing about our lunch was the outstanding waitress Son - extraordinarily friendly, full of energy, and exceptionally efficient. The other nice thing about Lucca’s is that it’s also a mini retail shop, and you can buy their wine at 20% discount for immediate consumption. We only ordered signature dishes. The most important thing in Italian cuisine is quality of the ingredients. Yet, the mussels were not fresh, and that was masked by the mediocre sauce. Pasta is supposed to be cooked al dente, but the squid ink was overcooked (too soft) while the pappardelle was undercooked (too hard)! Sauces were good. All reviewers rave about the calzone. They must not have had calzone before, because this one is quite meh! Ultimately, with Italian food, you get what you pay for. So, either pay up and go to Garibaldi, Basilico, Braci, Art, or Bistecca Tuscan Steakhouse for steaks, or just go to Pizza Express lah! Even with the Entertainer offer and in spite of the charming Son, we won’t go back anytime soon.

We were lured here by the very favourable TripAd reviews. The best thing about our lunch was the outstanding waitress Son - extraordinarily friendly, full of energy, and exceptionally efficient. The other nice thing about Lucca’s is that it’s also a mini retail shop, and you can buy their wine at 20% discount for immediate consumption. We only ordered signature dishes. The most important thing in Italian cuisine is quality of the ingredients. Yet, the mussels were not fresh, and that was masked by the mediocre sauce. Pasta is supposed to be cooked al dente, but the squid ink was overcooked (too soft) while the pappardelle was undercooked (too hard)! Sauces were good. All reviewers rave about the calzone. They must not have had calzone before, because this one is quite meh! Ultimately, with Italian food, you get what you pay for. So, either pay up and go to Garibaldi, Basilico, Braci, Art, or Bistecca Tuscan Steakhouse for steaks, or just go to Pizza Express lah! Even with the Entertainer offer and in spite of the charming Son, we won’t go back anytime soon.

We were lured here by the very favourable TripAd reviews. The best thing about our lunch was the outstanding waitress Son - extraordinarily friendly, full of energy, and exceptionally efficient. The other nice thing about Lucca’s is that it’s also a mini retail shop, and you can buy their wine at 20% discount for immediate consumption. We only ordered signature dishes. The most important thing in Italian cuisine is quality of the ingredients. Yet, the mussels were not fresh, and that was masked by the mediocre sauce. Pasta is supposed to be cooked al dente, but the squid ink was overcooked (too soft) while the pappardelle was undercooked (too hard)! Sauces were good. All reviewers rave about the calzone. They must not have had calzone before, because this one is quite meh! Ultimately, with Italian food, you get what you pay for. So, either pay up and go to Garibaldi, Basilico, Braci, Art, or Bistecca Tuscan Steakhouse for steaks, or just go to Pizza Express lah! Even with the Entertainer offer and in spite of the charming Son, we won’t go back anytime soon.

We were lured here by the very favourable TripAd reviews. The best thing about our lunch was the outstanding waitress Son - extraordinarily friendly, full of energy, and exceptionally efficient. The other nice thing about Lucca’s is that it’s also a mini retail shop, and you can buy their wine at 20% discount for immediate consumption. We only ordered signature dishes. The most important thing in Italian cuisine is quality of the ingredients. Yet, the mussels were not fresh, and that was masked by the mediocre sauce. Pasta is supposed to be cooked al dente, but the squid ink was overcooked (too soft) while the pappardelle was undercooked (too hard)! Sauces were good. All reviewers rave about the calzone. They must not have had calzone before, because this one is quite meh! Ultimately, with Italian food, you get what you pay for. So, either pay up and go to Garibaldi, Basilico, Braci, Art, or Bistecca Tuscan Steakhouse for steaks, or just go to Pizza Express lah! Even with the Entertainer offer and in spite of the charming Son, we won’t go back anytime soon.

A victim of Covid is the sumptuous Basilico buffet, except on weekends although you no longer have the pleasure of looking at the display before choosing. The carbonara I had on a recent visit is one of the yummiest I’ve had. For those not keen on Italian, they also serve Asian delicacies, like sliced fish noodle soup.

Our group had dinner in the homely private dining room upstairs. The best things about the evening were the superb friendly and proactive service, and the focaccia! The mains - be it asparagus risotto or chicken milanesa - were decent, but nothing to write home about. There are many better Italian restaurants around, including in the CBD.

Our group had dinner in the homely private dining room upstairs. The best things about the evening were the superb friendly and proactive service, and the focaccia! The mains - be it asparagus risotto or chicken milanesa - were decent, but nothing to write home about. There are many better Italian restaurants around, including in the CBD.

Da décor at Da Paolo is kind of gaudy - cow skins on wall and ceiling in a hot weather! But da pizzas are delish, and da service is very good - helpful and friendly. Located in da most remote corner of Holland Village, it must rely on its brand to attract customers, as there are more than half a dozen places selling pizzas and Italian food in de area (Original Sin, Madrinaa, La Nonna, Pizza Xpress, Crust, Otti’s Deli, plus Harry’s also serves pastas). No wonder they all offer Entertainer 1-for-1 mains!

Da décor at Da Paolo is kind of gaudy - cow skins on wall and ceiling in a hot weather! But da pizzas are delish, and da service is very good - helpful and friendly. Located in da most remote corner of Holland Village, it must rely on its brand to attract customers, as there are more than half a dozen places selling pizzas and Italian food in de area (Original Sin, Madrinaa, La Nonna, Pizza Xpress, Crust, Otti’s Deli, plus Harry’s also serves pastas). No wonder they all offer Entertainer 1-for-1 mains!

Don’t estimate this place because of its appellation (‘deli’) or appearance - a doorless eatery on top of an escalator. Not only it’s a proper restaurant with several chefs in the kitchen, but it’s the junior branch of the famous Otto Ristorante by Maxwell’s Chambers. The revamped menu now is more ‘adult’ than before. Pastas are good, perhaps a bit under salted but maybe that’s in line with being in the Raffles Health building. Reasonably-priced wines, although not many wines by the glass on offer. Charming service staff - could be a bit more pro-active though. No need to win the lotto to eat at Otto’s.