Restaurant Review: Dolce Vita Mandarin Oriental Singapore

Dolce Vita Mandarin Oriental Singapore

5 Raffles Avenue, Marina Square

Singapore 039797

+65 6338 0066

Dolce Vita is an Italian restaurant located at the poolside of the Mandarin Oriental Singapore with a view of Marina Bay Sands and the skyline. Even on weekends the restaurant is rarely booked out, but if you want a more quiet and out of the way table, it might be a good idea to call beforehand. If the weather allows for it, or in the evenings, sitting outside next to the pool is very chilled, especially as the pool itself is not frequented a lot.

While you might want to enjoy the chilled atmosphere outdoors, the indoors area of Dolce Vita is more dignified, with stone floors and wall, a big bar and a cozy/stylish Italian air. The staff is impeccably professional (even though sometimes it might be a little hard to get their attention) and very friendly and accommodating. On our first visit, we were greeted by Jan Immoff, the recently appointed restaurant manager of Dolce Vita. It’s always a nice touch if management takes 5 minutes to say hello at your table, no matter where you go.

The food at Dolce Vita is not cheap, but it’s among the more decent Italian restaurants you will find in Singapore. Some of Dolce Vita’s signature dishes include a wide selection of yummy thin-crust pizzas, penne with osso bucco ragout and beef tenderloin with foie gras. A very nice starter or palate cleanser in between courses is their oven-fresh bread with olives. If you’re wine connoisseur, you will appreciate the wide selection on offer.

Complimentary Gazpacho at Dolce Vita

Complimentary oven-fresh buns at Dolce Vita

Penne Carbonara at Dolce Vita

Tris di Pasta at Dolce Vita

Tris di Pasta at Dolce Vita

At times, Dolce Vita invites guest cooks that stay for a week or so (when we were there two cooks from Norway were visiting and we were invited to try some complimentary smoked salmon). During these times, guests have the opportunity to sample special menus/dishes at very reasonable prices.

4/5 Stars

Read More

Restaurant Review: Ricciotti at China Square

Restaurant Review: Ricciotti at China Square

3, Pickering Street,
#01-36/37 Nankin Row,
China Square Central
Singapore 048660

+65 6438 8040

Due to on-going construction works at China Square at the time of this review, I doubt most people would stumble across Ricciotti Italian restaurant if they hadn’t heard about it beforehand. I understand there also is a second Riciotti at Clarke Quay, which might offer a better atmosphere, at least until the construction work in China Square is concluded. Even so, this place is a hidden gem.

I’ve been at Ricciotti three times in the past couple of weeks, so you already get an inclination of where this review is going. The first time, I had Hawaiian Pizza, the second time I had the Linguetti Pesto (basil pesto, sundried tomatoes and French beans) and recently we ordered Fusilli al Gorgonzola and Linguine al Granchio (crabmeat in creamy tomato sauce). 

Having lived with an Italian from Southern Italy, I have a clear concept of what pasta and pizza should taste like. Unfortunately, in many Italian/Western restaurants in Singapore one gets the distinct impression that the cook never has tasted proper Italian food, or is just incapable of replicating that taste. Luckily, Ricciotti is a laudable exception to that rule. The pasta is al dente, and the sauces are evidently home-made, with fresh, high-quality ingredients. The pizza I had was quite sizeable and again the ham and pineapple toppings were as one would desire them to be, fresh and tasty.

The staff at Ricciotti is friendly and quick, at least at the times when I dropped by, which admittedly were not peak hours. Lunch time is usually busy, but if you go in the afternoon/evening I doubt you need to make reservations, even on a weekend. The atmosphere in the restaurant is rustic, made for casual dining. The only downside to Ricciotti is that it’s not cheap, with pasta and pizza (9”/12”) ranging between S$18 and S$25. At the time of this review, Ricciotti had a dinner special going on, offering the 2^ndpasta for 50%. They also have some lunch specials and promo offers for DBS cardholders, which are decent value for your money as well.

Overall, if you value good Italian food, I would recommend Ricciotti without hesitation, unless you require a particularly fancy setting for your dinner.

4/5 Stars

Edit: Yesterday, I tried one of their lunch specials: grilled chicken breast with herbs, combined with a small salad as well as mashed potatoes and gravy on the side. Apart from the fact that the tomatoes in the salad were not ripe (ripe, flavorful tomatoes are something I have yet to taste in any restaurant in Singapore), this lunch special at S$ 12  is great value for money.

Read More