Rare Ingredients and Rare Regional Italian Dishes @ Otto Ristorante, Singapore

Otto Ristorante has been for some time now considered one of the best Italian restaurants in Singapore.  My high-powered friends have all dined there.  They tell me about the excellent cuisine, extensive wine list, impeccable service and classy decor.

The restaurant has an interesting layout.  There are many spaces, including private rooms.  Each space, as you walk through, gives you a different mood.  In the circular main dining room, the lighting is suitably dim.  Most notably, they have sacrificed a table to place wine and water to serve their customers.  That is their commitment to good service.  Their excellent service extends to the number of staff they have on hand.  You will never be wanting of service here. 

Burratina Pugliese con Rucola, Pomodorini Pachino e Prosciutto di Pio Tosini $34

Ripe Italian tomato, Burratina cheese and Pio Tosini Parma ham 

Classic Italian appetiser.  Nothing wrong here.  This is quite a heavy and filling appetiser and it is highly recommended to be paired with sparkling wine.  In fact, all the dishes tested are quite heavy and should be paired with wine.  

Spaghetti ai Ricci di Mare e Bottarga di Cabras $34

Spaghetti with sea urchin and Sardinia grey mullet bottarga

Surprisingly, I rarely see bottarga used in Italian dishes in Singapore.  The spaghetti is rich, savoury and umami.  What I like most is that the spaghetti is harder than most people cook it here in Singapore.  I have only ever tasted this degree of al dente-ness once, and it was in an Italian restaurant overseas.  I wonder why local Italian restaurants don’t do it like that more often.

Ossobuco di Vitello con Risotto allo Zafferano $58

Dutch milk fed veal ossobuco served with Milanese stye saffron risotto

Classic Milanese dish.  Requiring long hours of cooking so that the veal falls easily off the bone, once again, I rarely see this dish in local Italian restaurants.  Indeed, the veal falls easily off the bone and the risotto has that attractive firm al dente-ness as the spaghetti.

Tiramisu’ alla Maniera di OTTO $16

GIamaica coffee Tiramisu’ OTTO

The portion is large and there are chocolate bits inside which should appeal to chocolate lovers.