Buko Nero

Another post with no photo.  This time, it was because we went to Buko Nero, who had a NO PHOTOGRAPHY policy.  Buko Nero is located at Tanjong Pagar road, heard about them some years back, from an Italian excolleague.  But never had the chance to try it, as the place was so small, can take around 20 people, and you would need to book 1 month in advance to secure a seat!!!  Place was also way too small for you to steal a photo with your phone..heehee

Polo and I were out to secure a seats.  So we came out with a brillant plan which I shall not share.  The restaurant was already half full when we were there, and there was 2 ladies working, one younger one, and the other elderly and motherly one.  I figured one should be the wife of the chef, the other the mum.

Deciding what to order was a challenge.  I was usually quick to decide what I wanted to eat, but I was stucked as everything seems so good.  We finally decided a scallop for starter, and the focaccia crusted cod fish recommended by the lady, and a pasta with wagyu beef. 

Bread with sundried tomatoes were served before the starter.  The bread was very very good.  Soft, warm and the sundried tomato gave it the extra flavour.  The scallop was fresh and crunchy.  The Cod was very fresh, and the crispy focaccia gave it the punch.  The pasta was a bit disappointing.  The pasta was good, but with the wagyu beef cut into small piece, you could not really taste the wagyu beef.

We ended the dinner with a warm milk chocolate cake with gelato.  Average, not to my liking as it was too sweet.  Service was efficent and i like the mum, as she was warm and attentive.

Overall:  7.5/10.  Not the best italian restarants in town, I wonder if I would wait 1 month for it.  If the waiting time is shorter, I don't mind a return.

Buko Nero
Address: 126 Tanjong Pagar Road Singapore

Tel: +65 6324 6225

Otto Ristorante

JY and I went to Otto for an "assignment", to show me how to take photo in restaurant! I was complaining to him how difficult it was to take photo in restaurant, so I was requesting him to show me what would be the best way to take, especially without a flash.

I chose Otto, since they were still running the UOB promotion ($128++ for 2) and also an excuse for me to try the food.  We started the dinner with complimentary bread.  They brought a basket of food to us, and let us choose.  I chose the onion bread, and JY chose the Focaccia bread.  The onion bread was really good, and I had 2 servings of them :-) 
This was taken by Canon G11, by JY.  Not too bad for a PNS, and the white balance was correct, but I was not very happy with the result.

Complimentary appertiser.

Wagyu beef carpaccio served with arugula “La Fenice” style 

Smooth and tender beef, went perfect with the sauce.

 Blue swimmer crab meat, avocado and vine tomato timbale with yoghurt dressing.

I couldn't taste the yoghurt dressing, probably overwhelmed by the tomato.  But it was still good, with fresh serving of seafood.  I shouldn't be eating seafood, so i just had some of the soup to taste it.

Sagne pasta with black mussels and oven baked pachino tomato ragout

Very seldom we got to see Sgane Pasta served in restaurant.  It looekd like a big row tie pasta, funny shape.  This was my favourite dish of the night.  The mussels were very fresh, and the sauce was heavenly.  I wished that they sell the sauce by bottle so that I can use them for my own cooking.  Fat hope!  Otto has lived up to its reputation of serving great pasta.

 

Sautéed lamb tenderloin with chiodini mushrooms and semolina medallions

You can either choose the lamb tenderloin or the cod as your main.  Both of us chose thje lamb, and I had my done medium well.  The 2 lines of gravy at the side means medium well, as explained by the chef.

Dessert was a bit disappointing.  It was passable, but I would usually expect a bit more from dessert from an Italian restaurant.

On our way out, we saw a restaurant/cafe in the Red Dot Traffic Building.  Will be back to check it out.

Overall:  8/10 (For the pasta & the bread)  And thumbs up for the service, and MOST importantly, allow me to use flash :-) 

Otto Ristorante

28 Maxwell Road #01-02 Red Dot Traffic Building
Tel: +65 6227 6819

Capricci Italian Food

Girls night out with Polo & ibanker.  Finally get to meet ibanker after she stood us up for few times.  I chose Capricci after my colleague recommended their Tiramisu.  Capricci is located at Tanjong Pagar road, amist the wedding gowns boutique. 

We were the 3rd table to arrive at 5mins to 1900Hr.  Polo asked" No one, would they close shop soon?!?!"
We were shown to a table next to their wine cellar, and were served promptly by the waiter.  The restaurant manager came over to serve us too, and upon seeing my camera, he said he wanted to take photo.  Shortly he disappeared, and came back with the chef- Luca!  He wanted a photo with Luca haha

Me & Luca.  The manager took the photo, and the girls were complaining that I did not trust them to take.  But then again, they were well known for taking blur photo, so i better outsourced to an outsider.

We chose the $39+++ set dinner promotion, that comes with a starter, main course and a dessert..No coffee! :-(  They should throw in the coffee, how much can a coffee cost?!

Complimentary bread basket.  You can taste lump of salt in the bread, too salty for our liking.  The texture of bread was nice and soft though, and still a bit warm (Even after i finished taking photo of it)

I chose the Parma ham and Rock melon as my starter. 

Breaded Scallop.  They mixed the scallop with something, and you could not really taste the whole scallop.

Beef Tenderloin.  Not bad, quite juicy.  Very tiny though haha

Grilled Seafood.  I could only try the fish, the rest are forbidden food.

Lamb Cutlet.  My choice of main.  Tender and no strong taste of lamb.  Portion a bit small, but great tatste.

Molten Lava Cake. Ibanker's choice of dessert.  Much better than Forlino as it was not that sweet.

Here it is:  STAR of the night.  Tiramisu!!!

It was really good, can taste the liquor in the cake.  Now, i need to think if it is better than Ristorante de Parma in Serangoon Garden.  Maybe I should try Ristorante de Parma again..heehee

side view:

They had Sassicaia Wine, but only by bottle..alas..no chance to try Franco's best wine in the world.

The restaurant got really busy, and by 1930Hr, it was packed!! So Polo's fear was unfounded.  Overall i will rate it 8/10 for the Tiramisu, main courses were above average, but no WOW factor.  Ambience wise, a bit small and busy for a romantic dinner, but nice enough for group outing.  Attentive servers and manager, and a cute chef too :-)  I think I will be back for the Tiramisu. 

Capricci

Address: 27 Tanjong Pagar Road Singapore

Tel: +65 6221 6761

Promotion:

In-house promotion

Say "HungryGoWhere" and enjoy a 3-course set dinner at $39++ per pax
1st Course
Choice of starter, soup or salad from our Ala-Carte Menu (additional $10 for Caprese di burrata)
2nd Course
Choice of Pasta or Main Course from our Ala-Carte Menu (additional $10 for Risotto with Black Truffle, Oven baked suckling pig, Pan seared veal chop)
3rd Course
Choice of Dessert from our Dessert Menu (additional $10 for Lava cake)
Valid till 30 Sep 2010

Forlino - One for One promotion

Getting to Forlino is a challenge.  We can see it when we are at the ground level of Fullerton One, next to the mini merlion, but we could not find the stairs or lift to up.  Once you took the lift to 2nd level, you still would not be able to see the entrance.  You followed a walk way, and finally after a few turns, you would see some black and white tiles, and a few overly enthusatics waiters whom none can pronounce my name...dar dar, you found Forlino!

At 1845Hr, there were only 2 tables.  I tried to ask for a table next to the window, but was rejected as they were "reserved" Hmm..i thought i reserved too!?! 
We went for the One for One gourmet menu, at $98+++.  It was a 5 courses dinner, that started with a appertiser, which we had change to scallop instead of Pan Seared Goose Liver with Amaretto and Pumpkin Cream.

Scallop.  Taste like normal scallop.  Not too bad, but nothing great.

Homemade Spaghetti with Black Cod and Peppermint Artichokes.  This was my favourite.  The mint sauce (The green thing around the sapgehtti) gave it a very refreshing taste.

Wagyu Beef Cheek Braised with Marsala Wine and Herb Mashed Potatoes.  Beef cheek was soft and tender.

Halibut Filet with Orange, Green Asparagus and Martini Vermouth Sauce.  Sad to say, this fish filet is very normal.  It had no fishy taste, but nothing special, a bit too plain.  Beef cheek would be a better choice.

Molten Lava Chocolate Cake with Banana Gelato and Rum Sauce.  Very very sweet.  Sugar overload!

The courses ended with Coffee & Petit Fours, which i did not manage to take photo of, as the captain came to hint that my flash was too strong. 

On the whole, food was okay at at one for one rate.  Wine list was extensive, but expensive too. Forlino is more suitable for dates with the nice ambience and dim lights.  Definitely not for family.  Ask for window seats so that you can see dine with the Esplande in front of you.

Rating:  7/10 (If one for one)

Forlino Pte Ltd

#02-06 One Fullerton
One Fullerton Road Singapore 049213
Tel: 6877 6995

Dinner @ Garibaldi (No photo!)

This is one of the few occassions that I wish I have a PNS.  I know that I am going to Garibaldi for dinner, however, I am also out of office the whole day for client meeting, and it looked really stupid to carry my handbag, laptop bag and camera bag.  So in the end, I give up the idea of bringing the camera, and to enjoy my dinner.

The last time I went to Garibaldi was at least 5 years ago.  I organised a gathering with my Uni folks, and we decided on Garibaldi.  I couldn't remember how was the food, all i remembered was that we had a big group of us, including a baby.  My classmate did not know that it was a up market restaurant, and she brought her baby!  The waiters were staring at us for making so much noise, (12 people's laughter + 1 baby's cry) distrubing those people who are trying to enjoy their candlelight dinner!

We started the dinner with some sweet italian wine, which i thought tasted like Sparkling water.  We wanted to order the PROSCIUTTO (Finest "Pio Tosini" Parma Ham with Traditional Romagna Fried Dough) for starter, because V and I liked Parma Ham.  However, the waiter suggested to have the Parma Ham with Mozzarella Cheese instead, so we went with his suggestion.  Parma Ham was tender and frangant, and it went perfectly with the wild rocket, but the Mozzarella Cheese was normal.  The complimentary bread was soft and warm, but the pumpkin mash was too weird for my palatte.

Mains:
I had the CAPELLINI - Angel Hair Pasta with Half Spiny Lobster, Sweet Peas and Tomato Sauce and V had the SPAGHETTI - Spaghetti with Seasonal Seafood & Fresh Tomatoes.

I always like Angel Hair Pasta for its softness, it can absorb all the gravy, for those who love the crunchy feel, it may be a bit too soggy for them.

The speaghetti was very generous with the seafood, but V said that it was a bit too hard.

Desserts:
TIRAMISU’ - Tiramisu with Homemade Lady-Finger Biscuits, Licorice Scented Mascarpone Cream
SEMIFREDDO - Chocolate and Hazelnut Parfait “Piedmont” Style
Tiramisu was ok, just thought that not enough liquor.  The Semifreddo tasted like chocolate biscuits haha..We completed the dinner with coffee..

Overall:  7/10
Garibaldi Italian Restaurant & Bar

36 Purvis Street #01-02
Singapore 188613
Tel: (65) 6837 1468 Fax: (65) 6337 3770