Al Fresco Italian Dining at its Best with Rosso Vino

An alfresco Italian delight by the river

I was equal part surprised and delighted to be invited to dine at legendary Italian restaurant Rosso Vino – whilst I had heard of this long standing establishment nestled along a quiet corner of the river, I had never actually had the pleasure of experiencing it first hand.

On first impressions, the location was already a hit – tucked away in its own little oasis just across from the Singapore Repertory Theatre with an enclave of cosy outdoor tables on the riverside, it exudes a serene and balmy tropical vibe. Subtly reminding one of a warm summer’s night in the Italian riviera.

Our mood is further enhanced by the warmest of Italian welcomes by the effervescent Salvatore – a delight of a man, with a true passion for his restaurant and a stellar background in luxury hotels, he knows what he is doing and he does it very well.

Every guest is treated with warmth and exemplary service, a homage to the owners for whom this is clearly a labour of love.

The focus here is on authentic, home cooked Italian cuisine -it’s all about quality ingredients, Nonna’s homely creations and genuinely delicious, hearty Italian fare.    

Our meal commenced with fabulously fresh focaccia bread, Carpaccio di Monzo (thinly sliced raw beef tenderloin with parmesan cheese and olive oil) and Burrata fresca di Andria (soft burrata cheese with mixed salad and ruby red cherry tomatoes). All three of these appetisers were true to their Italian heritage and used the freshest locally sourced ingredients.

For the mains we opted for one of the specials of the day – a contemporary chicken breast stuffed with mushrooms and lathered with a rich creamy gorgonzola sauce. Salvatore recommended we try their homemade pasta so it was the Capellini al Granchio bisque di Aragosta which caught our eye – delicate angel hair pasta in a lobster bisque and crab meat sauce. A mouth-watering and heartily satisfying delight.

To end on something sweet we opted for the French hubby’s favourite dessert, Tiramisu – and he was quick to proclaim that this was one of his best ever. The delicate coffee flavour, perfectly creamy texture and exemplary presentation all wrapped up in a perfect dessert experience. With fond memories of our tour of Sicily, we also indulged in the Torta agli Agrumi di Sicilia – a traditional Italian cream pie from the region topped with homemade citrus jam – a divine ending to our Italian feast.

Rosso Vino manages to marry together all the qualities of an exceptional alfresco dining experience with a great location topped with delicious food and the warmest service – as an added bonus all of this is provided at very reasonable prices. It’s a restaurant which can equally suit a casual catch up with friends, an intimate date night or a celebratory occasion.