Tipo Pasta Bar, Singapore
Do you fantasize about being a world famous chef like Gordon Ramsey (sans the screaming and cursing) and regaling the world with your culinary creations? Did you “make” fanciful Playdoh “cuisine” when you were younger and try to force your little bro/ sis/ dog to eat them?
Well, now you can dip your toes into creating your own cuisine at Tipo Pasta Bar. No, you don’t have to do the actual cooking. You just tick your preferred ingredients on a list and the chef will prepare your own customized bowl of pasta.
Tipo Pasta Bar gets its name from Tipo 00, which is also known as “doppio zero” or “granero tero”. It is a type of wheat flour which originates from Italy and it is smooth and almost silky to the touch.
Tipo Pasta Bar is an artisanal pasta bar. That means that the pasta there are all handmade. If you don’t believe it, well, you can see all the freshly made pasta on metal trays in the restaurant, ready to be cooked. What’s more, the pasta has got really imaginative flavours. When I was there, they have Beetroot and Garlic Spaghetti, Black Pepper Gemilli and Dill & Lemon Mafalde.
Artisanal Cold Brew Tea $5.90
Simple, refreshing cold brew earl grey tea infused with lemon and rosemary leaves
A most refreshing drink! I love the delicate flavours. The flavours are very delicate and “Japanese”. Nothing vulgar or over the top. Imagine light, delicate Earl Grey with the faintest whiff of lemon and floral.
Fried
Calamari $8.90
Crispy
Calamari served with pomodoro dip
The calamari was not very greasy. It was also firm, fresh and free from any seafood stench. Thankfully, they are not stingy about things. Did you notice that big lemon wedge they provided? Also, I liked the Japanese bowl this starter came in. It was quite beautiful.
Truffle Tramezzini $10.90
Melted mozzarella on tender beef bacon in brioche bread with black truffle pate
This sandwich is heavenly! The savoury bacon (with the right amount of fat) contrasts nicely with the sweet brioche bread. The cheese adds umami and is the glue that cleverly melds the sweet of the brioche and the savoury of the bacon. The truffle shoots the sandwich into the stratosphere.
Seafood Slam $19.90
Pomodoro, pasta, prawns, mussels, calamari
Besides building your own customized plate of plate, Tipo Pasta Bar also has a range of House Special pasta (the sauces and ingredients are fixed) for you to choose from. Seafood Slam is one of the House Specials pasta. Certainly this is a competent plate of pasta and is the best plate of pasta among mid-range restaurants thanks to the freshness of the seafood.
Nevertheless, this plate gives no idea of the heights of gastronomy Tipo is capable of. I highly suggest your build your own plate of pasta. The following combinations are all of my own, or simply put, DIY-ed by myself.
Pink sauce (a mixture of Pomodoro and Carbonara), Grated Parmesan, Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Arugula, Sous Vide Egg, Calamari, Black Lump Fish Caviar, Black Truffle Pate, Prawns
Did you notice they have arranged the arugula neatly around the bowl? I am so impressed. Most other restaurants wouldn’t bother about such details.
Sauteed Prawns, Salmon Caviar, Black Lump Fish Caviar, Blue Mussels, Calamari, Truffle Oil, Tom Yum Sauce
The Tom Yum sauce was amazing. I thought it would be heavy and “cheap”, just like all the other Tom Yum pasta found all over Singapore, but this one was really light. It doesn’t overshadow or detracts from other ingredients. Instead, it quietly, humbly supports the rest of the flavours while adding a mild, unique Tom Yum zing.
Smoked Duck, Rosemary Meatballs, Beef Bacon Bits, Black Truffle Pate, Salt Cured Egg Yolk, Truffle Oil, Roasted Red Pepper Sauce.
The roasted red pepper sauce is absolutely delicious. It feels very freshly made. It certainly tastes like red pepper and the roasting made the flavor more intense.
Beef Ragu Sauce, Rosemary Meatballs, Beef Bacon Bits, Ricotta Cheese, Black Truffle Pate, Sous Vide Egg
This plate is just umami paradise! Meatballs – umami! Bacon – savoury + umami! Cheese – umami! Egg yolk – umami! Truffle – definitely umami!
Pistachio & Yuzu Feuilletine Cake $8.90
A springtime delight; light and zesty cake that refreshes the palate
I really like this cake. This is probably the best cake I have had this year and possibly ever too! The yuzu has a brightness and a certain, light Japanese quality to it. That contrasts very well with the chocolate on top. The pistachio adds crunch and nuttiness. Did you notice the presentation? They did not neglect the details. I appreciate the drizzled chocolate lines and particularly the dried petals, which add a very mild floral scent to the cake.
Tiramisu $8.90
A rich treat blending the bold flavours of cocoa and espresso with mascarpone cheese and ladyfinger biscuits
Black Coffee $5.99
Classic Tiramisu. I like this tiramisu because they used a lot of cocoa powder and the cocoa powder has a slight bitterness to it. The slight bitterness perfectly balances the sweetness of the rest of the tiramisu. Low quality tiramisu are all sweet.
I am very impressed with the DIY plates of pasta, the Yuzu Feuilletine cake, the cold brew tea, the truffle tramezzini. The handmade pasta of the DIY plates are indeed very light and fresh. I just can’t go back to regular dried pasta now. Yes, it is that addictive and life-changing.
The roasted red sauce and Tom Yum sauce are amazing. They are light and provide a gentle base flavour on which you build your other flavours.
With the lightness of the pasta and the gentleness of the sauces, overall, I would use “refined” to describe Tipo Pasta Bar. You may have noticed that all of the DIY plates have some kind of truffle— black truffle pate or truffle oil. Truffle simply lifts the whole plate with its inimitable flavor and aroma. Truffle also lends a sense of luxury to the pasta, albeit at a very affordable price.
With the luxurious yet refined cuisine, Tipo Pasta Bar is the best restaurant I have encountered in 2019.
Tipo Pasta Bar
785 North Bridge Road Singapore 198753
Monday to Sunday 12pm to 10pm
Tel: +65 8768 0785
