The Place Italian food is easily one of Singaporean’s favourite cuisines and it is evident from my visit to Casa Cicheti on a weekday evening. Located in the charming estate of Tiong Bahru at the now-defunct PS Cafe Petit’s former home of over a decade, Casa Cicheti is The Cicheti Group’s answer to a traditional Italian trattoria which literally means “Little House” in Italian. The dining ambience reminds me of stepping into someone’s home, and I was greeted by the open kitchen at the entrance and the main dining hall which follows. It feels like a rustic and modern countryside dining at the same time (think terracotta tiles and exposed bricks), where the interior is tastefully done without being too tacky.
A narrow path at the back of the restaurant leads to the private dining room. Side note, do check out the gorgeous bathroom as well.
The Food The ala carte menu is a selection of antipasti, pizza, pasta, secondi and dessert. For a start, I had the Burratina (S$25) which is a combination of Pugliese cheese with a chilli crunch and loaves of seeded country bread.
Another antipasti I had was the Scampi (MP) which is nicely deshelled and dressed in flavourful black garlic butter and lemon.
The pizzas here are coined “Nea-Romana” pizza, which combines the crisp, robust crust of Roman pizzas with the depth of Neapolitan dough. The dough is made with a trio of 00 flour, semolina, and rye flour, and slow-fermented for over 60 hours. I recommend trying the Mortazza Fritta (S$35) where the deep-fried and crisp golden crust is the highlight for me. It is topped with generous servings of mortadella, stracciatella, and crushed pistachios.
For pasta, go for the Rigatoni alla Vodka (S$29) which is a creamy mix of tomato-based pink sauce, basil, chilli-infused vodka, and house-made nduja. The overall flavour is mildly spicy which should resonate well with local palates.
Another pasta I had was the Capellini (S$31) which comes with Argentinian prawns, garlic, chilli, asparagus, and datterini. It is easy to relate to capellini for me as it reminds me of our local Singaporean thin noodles, and this version also has a tinge of spiciness from the chilli.
For secondi, fish lovers will likely enjoy the Branzino (S$36) which I did. This is a huge serving of a whole local seabass which is grilled and deboned nicely. It goes well with the bagna càuda sauce which is quite buttery.
For desserts, I had the Profiterole (S$15) which is crunchy in texture and filled with luscious salted pistachio cream.
Alternaitvely, do not miss out on the Budino (S$15) as well which is a heavenly combination of hazelnut chocolate custard, piedmontese hazelnuts, chocolate crumble and hazelnut gelato.
In terms of beverages, the wine list includes a curated selection of over 80 bottles designed by managing director Ronald Kamiyama. Expect small producers and lesser-known varietals.
Rants If anything, the space is maxed out in terms of seating capacity so you can imagine it is quite tight between tables.
Will I Return Again? A great addition to Tiong Bahru and I like how Casa Cicheti exudes that charming neighbourhood vibe. The dining ambience is relaxed, and this is a great spot for a cosy Italian fare with small group of friends or for date nights.
TheRantingPanda says:
Taste bud: 4/5
Hole in the pocket: 4/5
Ambience: 4/5
Overall Experience: 4/5
Casa Cicheti
78 Guan Chuan Street
#01-41
Singapore 160078
Tel: +65 8479 0060
Opening Hours
Tuesday to Sunday: 11.30am to 2.30pm; 5.30pm to 10.30pm
Ranted by The Ranter