Solo Ristorante in Telok Ayer is an authentic Italian casual restaurant helmed by Chef Simone Fraternali. For diners curious about their offerings, their new Pasta Mancini Free Flow Brunch is the perfect time to visit. It happens every Saturday and lasts 90 minutes from the time of reservation. The restaurant is known for using artisanal pasta from Mancini, which has been crafted from their own wheat since 1938. The brunch menu rotates seasonally.
The ambience at Solo Ristorante is warm, cosy, and homely. It has an intimate main dining area and a private dining room suitable for different gatherings. We thoroughly appreciated the attentiveness of the staff throughout our meal here.
Bread Basket
We started with a Bread Basket filled with fresh, warm, fluffy bread.
Beverages
From mocktails to cocktails and a specially curated wine list, you will be able to find a beverage of your choice from their extensive selection. At the brunch, exclusive promotions are also available, including 1-for-1 selected house pours of white/red by glass, 10% off all house pour bottles, and $15 on selected Italian classic cocktails.
Spaghetti 4.2/5
Each diner is limited to ordering one pasta at a time to ensure the best freshness and quality. There are five pastas on the menu, including one Chef’s Surprise Pasta, which changes each week. The first pasta we dug into was the classic Spaghetti in a sweet sea urchin sauce topped with crab meat. The brightness of the added lemon zest stands out prominently, a little more than I originally expected. What I loved most was the al dente texture of the pasta.
Rigatoni 4/5
Next, we had the Rigatoni, which was done in the authentic carbonara style with pecorino romano, guanciale, and black pepper. It would have been perfect if it was just a touch less salty, but again we loved the texture of the pasta. Bits of guanciale were fried super crispy.
Paccheri 4.5/5
The Paccheri was my absolute favourite. The tube-shaped pasta was paired with slow braised pork ragout and nutty grana padano cheese. While it looked simple, the balance of flavours was spot on. The pork ragout was tender and so flavourful without being overwhelming. I would have ordered another plate if I could!
Fusili 4.2/5
As the Chef Surprise Pasta during our visit had beef, which we couldn’t try, our last pasta was the Fusili. The spiral pasta was tossed in a bright and herby basil pistachio pesto, topped with a pleasant drizzle of sweet tomato sauce and grana padano.
Burratina, Melon, Cherry Tomatoes 4/5
In addition to the free-flow pasta options, diners can opt to add additional starters and desserts. Our server recommended the Burratina, Melon, and Cherry Tomatoes ($15) for the starters. It was a classic combination of soft burrata, sweet cherry tomatoes, rocket, and olive oil. However, I wished the bits of sweet melon were given in a more generous portion.
Garlic Chilli Prawns, Soft Potato 4.5/5
My favourite starter was the Garlic Chilli Prawns, Soft Potato ($20). The grilled prawns were served in a trio, sitting on a bed of soft potato mash. Even though the prawns were fleshy and meaty, I was sold by the smooth mash elevated by fragrant prawn oil.
Beetroot Carpaccio, Orange, Yoghurt 3/5
The Beetroot Carpaccio, Orange, Yoghurt ($18) is a vegetarian starter option. The yoghurt added a fresh touch, but we found it rather ordinary overall for its price.
Shaved Ham Pickled Wine Pears 3/5
Originally, the Shaved Ham Pickled Wine Pears ($18) was meant to be served with mortadella, but it was unavailable at our time of visit. We enjoyed the freshly shaved thin slices of ham substitute, but we were less of a fan of the portion of the pickled wine pears.
Seasonal Tart 3.8/5
We moved to desserts, the first of which was their Seasonal Tart ($12). On the day we visited, the Apricot Tart was available. While thin-crusted, I would prefer for it to have a bit more of a crunch. Flavour-wise, it was tart and bright.
Gelato 3.8/5
While the Vanilla ($6) Gelato was ordinary, the Pistachio ($6) scoop was rich and nutty, albeit leaning toward being more sweet.
Tiramisu 4.2/5
Among Solo Ristorante’s desserts, we enjoyed the Tiramisu ($12) the most. It had just the right moisture ratio, crumbles scattered on top for additional crunch, and a touch of saltiness for contrast.
Do make a reservation before heading down. It can be done via their website: https://soloristorante.com/.
Photos and words by Jo. A girl who loves her Mala (麻辣) at Da La (大辣), discovering hidden food gems and a good cup of matcha latte. Note: This is an invited tasting.
Solo Ristorante
45 Amoy Street
Singapore 069871
Tel: +65 6260 0762
Nearest MRT: Tanjong Pagar (EW Line), Telok Ayer (DT Line)
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Nearest MRT:
Opening Hours:
Daily: 12pm – 230pm, 6pm – 1030pm
(Closed on Sun)
Direction:
1) Alight at Telok Ayer MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk to Amoy Street. Turn left onto Amoy Street. Walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]
2) Alight at Tanjong Pagar MRT station. Take Exit G. Walk down Telok Ayer Street. Turn left onto Amoy Street. Walk to destination. Journey time about 8 minutes. [Map]