Ristorante Pietrasanta brings authentic Tuscan-style Dining Inspired by the Simplicity of the Town of Pietrasanta

Located above One-North MRT station, Pietrasanta in the Connexis building at Fusionopolis One - far more accessible than their previous location at Portsdown Road. 

The first time I heard about Pietrasanta was from an Italian gourmet mum who was part of a mummy lunch group in my condo community. Accustomed to cooking everything from scratch she knew her ingredients and hearty recipes inside out. 

Out of curiosity, I asked her what her favourite Italian restaurant was in Singapore and without hesitation she said “Pietrasanta” I googled and found very good reviews since they opened in 2008. 

With this popularity in hand, I remember many failed attempts in trying to make a reservation especially on weekends when they were always booked out.  And then an opportunity to visit arose earlier this year when I was planning a double date night. An outdoor seating was all I could secure. 

As you can imagine going to the “best Italian in town” the date night turned out to be a great success with lovely alfresco seating, a casual atmosphere, excellent food and amazing service. It was cozy, personal yet not intrusive, reflective and absolutely professional. 

One of the starters I had ordered was not served when our mains arrived. A check-in with the waitor was met with a sincere apology and an offer to make it complimentary while the message was passed to the chef to prepare it pronto. 

Not only was the starter waived, we were offered complimentary desserts as well. A top class restaurant would do that! So rare to see these days especially in busy restaurants that experience a busy flow of customers. Complaints are taken so lightly with the attitude that one customer lost would be a new customer gained in the next minute. 

I fondly remember at Pietrasanta that the waiter apologized again as we left. It was obvious that people who work at this restaurant take their customers’ dining experience as a number one priority. They worked together as a team, almost like family, to promote that superb five star takeaway for their patrons. That really impressed me! So extraordinary on top of the good food we enjoyed. So you can imagine how excited I was when I learnt that I would be reporting on their new menu. 

The day arrived and I was back at Pietrasanta for lunch. The atmosphere was Christmassy with simple festive ornaments and illuminated stars dangling from the ceiling. The decor was absolutely beautiful. It switched me into holiday mood as I walked in. Country style wooden table and chairs were the perfect elements to transport me to Tuscany. 

We were presented with a gigantic Burrata to start with - creamiest and freshest cheese is flown from Italy every 3 days. Served in Chef’s family-produced olive oil not to be found anywhere else in Singapore. Accompanied by a plate of freshest rocket, Parma ham and succulent juicy tomatoes. 

It was as good as it gets – fresh, top quality ingredients. I closed my eyes and imagined dining in Italy with the amazing combination of flavours dancing in my mouth. It was like a celebration. A note to order 3 days in advance as this Burrata cheese is an off the menu item. 

Our second starter was the Porchetta salad. An intense smoky pork flavour, well balanced by sweet Italian tomatoes, shaved parmigiana Reggiano, then a good peppery kick from rocket and a drizzle of 15 year aged Balsamico created a truly amazing melody of notes on my palate. 

With such an amazing start I could only imagine what the Tagliatelle Fresche Gamberi E Pomodori Secchi would offer. The firm prawn texture revealed how fresh the seafood was. This handmade tagliatelle soaked in the fresh prawn broth during the cooking process and married perfectly with the punchy semi-dried tomatoes taking this dish to a superior level. So refreshing and satisfying.

In true Italian style there was another pasta dish to follow. Pietrasanta’s most popular signature dish not to be missed - Fettuccine Con Salsiccio Tartufo. When served, the first thing that hit my senses was the sensational aroma from the black truffle oil. When I put a spoonful of fettuccine in my mouth I could understand its popularity. 

The heavenly creamy sauce and strong bold Italian sausage mince complemented each other so well, with a hint of truffle throughout. Bravo! That’s the moment when I wanted to cheer in Italian saying how good it was but alas I have to be excused for my very limited Italian. 

Through my personal home cooking experience, I feel pastas are one of the most difficult dishes to do well at home. You can follow the recipe but it’s almost impossible to recreate that distinct and exact flavour to match the really good ones in restaurants. 

Partly due to limitation of ingredients sourced - starting from fresh produce as basic as tomatoes, premium olive oil, fresh seafood and good quality meat, to handmade pasta. Since ingredients in most pasta dishes are simple each ingredient plays a huge role in the final flavour hence you can really taste every little difference when premium quality ingredients are used. It evolves a simple dish to much more flavours and depth. 

I would say when you buy the right thing and do the right steps at home you can come up with a good pasta as close as 70-80% of the restaurant  quality but that is as close as it gets. The remaining 20-30% lies in the specialty of premium food resources which either you won’t have access to or even if you do, would cost a fortune. 

In my personal opinion I prefer to let professionals do their magic and simply relax, chill and enjoy myself at a restaurant. It is worth every penny when you taste the bowl of sea flavours in the broth and that al dente handmade texture in every bite. 

The grand king of dishes arrived. A one kg black Angus T-bone grilled in Tuscan style, rosemary and thyme infused with simple salt and pepper. The way it was served showed the top quality meat shining on its own without the need for any sauce neither garnish. Pinto beans and fresh onion salsa was a refreshing side to balance the bold meaty flavour.

Alongside the T-bone, succulent spring chicken from Europe was roasted to perfection with garlic, herbs and lemon zest. It was juicy and tender, served with a generous amount of grilled vegetables. I can easily polish down that whole spring chicken on my own, if it weren’t for all the other goodies that came before. 

Given how light and tasteful that roast chicken was, Founder of Expat Choice, John Gordon, who sat right across me couldn’t let go of the last piece of chicken on his plate which was being cleared away. That says something doesn’t it? So make sure you find a good group of friends to get these new dishes ticked in one go on your next visit to Pietrasanta. 

Finally, when you think that’s enough for a wholesome lunch, wait till you try their signature dessert. My eyes lit up when I saw the Cheese Cake Alle 5 Medaglie placed in front of me. I tried this on my date night so I knew how good it was. 

Contrary to most cheesecakes, it was surprisingly light and not lacking creaminess. It was so satisfying not to mention the highlight of dark drizzles on the cheesecake. Interestingly it was not chocolate sauce but the 20 year old balsamic vinegar which added even more depth in flavour. 

An absolute winner you can be sure this is something you will only get at Pietrasanta. I don’t need to say that I was bursting at the seams? Not surprising as I polished that down in the blink of an eye. 

On top of all the wonderful dishes offered on the menu, I would like to side track a little to their restaurant shelf products. Homemade chilli oil, chilli flakes, chilli cream and Tasco sauce (something similar to Tabasco with a more distinct flavour) were truly amazing and mind blowing. 

I myself am a chilli lover and can’t get over these amazing homemade punchy delights as they go extremely well with food items on the menu. You can simply extend this spicy pleasure and get some for home. From producing chilli sauces, family long-kept recipe olive oil (2,500 olive trees they own in Italy!) and even roast their own coffee beans. These are the finest details you won’t find in other Italian restaurants and I do think they deserve the title “best Italian in town”. 

Pietrasanta offers extensive food selections on their menu, from pasta, pizza, to main courses covering fish, steaks, chicken and lamb. It has something for everyone. With premium quality ingredients used, the price is very reasonable compared to many other fine dining Italian places in town. 

They recently introduced a 4-course festive menu, at $88 per person, serving from 1st-31st December, both for dine-in and takeaway. A special note on the dessert which would be served on the Christmas festive menu is their in-house brand panettone (Italian Christmas Cake). It’s super moist and the flavour is amazing. 

The good news is if you fall in love with their panettone, you can buy them to enjoy at home. Making the perfect gift, there are 3 flavours - classic, chocolate, and special hazelnut. But be quick as they are air flown and stocks are limited. 

A restaurant like Pietrasanta is a rare gem to find in Singapore, from premium quality ingredients used to the impeccable service they provide. They take pride in every process, the outcome not only presenting in its taste and smell but also felt in the love and passion that has gone behind it. 

While we are still in the midst of a pandemic and there are so many uncertainties with travel plans, if you are craving a true Italian hearty meal, Pietrasanta will be the place to go. 

Find authentic Italian home cooking with a cultural touch in their service all in one place, without having to travel the distance. Do note to make a reservation in advance to avoid disappointment. Pietrasanta - the best Italian in town!