The word ‘osteria’ might conjure images of a cosy, rustic eatery in a small Italian town. Well, the newly opened Medusa is anything but. Think big night out energy. Every wall is splashed in crimson. The walk-in area has LED lights, mirrors and plenty of photo ops for the ‘gram. Not one, but a cluster of shimmering disco balls lines the ceiling. Checkered floors and red settees channel a bit of that American diner aesthetic, though the overall design leans decidedly more towards luxury vintage and 1960s Rome.
Looks aside, there’s another reason why Medusa is one of the hottest dining tickets in town this month. The restaurant is a Fortuna Group concept – yes, the same F&B company that runs Fortuna and its sister brunch spot Fortuna Terrazza along Craig Road. And this bold 76-seater is a tribute to founder Egon Marzaioli’s wife, who happens to be from Rome.
Photograph: Medusa
Naturally, there will be high expectations when it comes to food, given the popularity of Fortuna and Fortuna Terrazza. At Medusa, the menu is largely inspired by Roman cuisine and iconic dishes from that region in Italy, from Supplì al Telefono (traditional deep-fried arborio rice ball) and porchetta, to thin-crust pizzas and pastas like carbonara and cacio e pepe. Here’s everything we tried, and how we’d rate it.
Burrata Fritta: 4/5
An easy sharing starter, the burrata fritta ($26) has a crunchy, breaded shell encasing a generous ball of creamy cheese. The parcel pulls apart delightfully, with black pepper, guanciale and lemon zest cutting through the heaviness of the carbonara cream sauce.
Capelletti: 4/5
Photograph: Medusa
While you can find Roman classics like cacio e pepe with tonnarelli ($28) and spaghetti carbonara ($32) on the menu, we opted for something a little different – the cappelletti ($38). Think of it as the sibling of Fortuna’s King Mazara prawn spaghetti, with a similar heady, buttery prawn bisque. The individual cappelletti morsels are stuffed with ricotta and finished with lemon zest, basil oil, prawn powder, and a dollop of minced, raw prawns on top. Our favourite dish of the day. There’s also the option to top up $10 for a half-and-half version, so you can sample the six other fresh pasta variations on the menu.
Porchetta: 3/5
Photograph: Medusa
The porchetta ($42) at Medusa certainly leans heartier and heavier. The round of pork belly is sufficiently flavourful on its own, with enough crispy crackling to keep everyone happy. While the salsa verde – an occasional accompaniment for porchetta – provides a green, herby contrast to the fatty cut, its refreshing quality quickly becomes dull once you take a bite of that rich, truffle-infused mash. Overall, we’d love it if the dish were kept simpler, with emphasis instead on the quality and cook of the meat.
Pizza Romana Mortazza & Pistacchio: 4/5
Photograph: Medusa
There are a total of eight 180-gram thin-crust pizzas on the menu in flavours like the classic margherita ($29), quattro formaggi ($35) and funghi ($29), to those with meat toppings like prosciutto ($36), spicy salame and nduja ($36). If you’re in two minds about whether to go for a tomato or cream-based pizza, do as we did and order the Mortazza & Pistacchio ($35). The pie comes with generous shavings of mortadella and stringy stracciatella, topped with a subtle pistachio mayo that complements rather than overpowers. Additions of basil and pistachio crumbs provide a final waft of fragrance and extra texture in between bites. A refreshing alternative to your regular pizza order.
Pinsa Romana Broccoli: 3/5
Photograph: Medusa
For something a little different from your round sharing pizzas, look to the Pinsa Romana section on the menu, where you get to sample four different flavour combinations (from $20) over two slices of crunchy, Roman-style bread. These aren’t quite as thin as the thin-crust pizzas. In fact, they’re rather hefty parcels, loaded with toppings of your choice, whether it’s fior di latte, pecorino fondue and guanciale, or tomatoes, onions and tuna. Ours came with broccoli puree, sausage, stracciatella and crispy broccoli florets ($22), and while the flavours gelled well together – you’d have to like broccoli to order this, of course – it wasn’t particularly outstanding or something that we’d readily order again.
Truffle Tiramisù: 3/5
Photograph: Medusa
No Italian feast is complete without tiramisu, and Medusa’s is a cylindrical thing of beauty, layered with the usual coffee-soaked ladyfingers and mascarpone ($18). The highlight here is the tableside shaving of truffle crumbles by the tableside. Biting into the spongy cake, it’s the chocolate crumbs and sweetness that hit you first, with just a faint hit of coffee. Those who prefer a boozier, stronger version of the classic Italian dessert might prefer Fortuna’s version instead.
Medusa cocktail: 3/5
Photograph: Medusa
Also on the sweeter end of the scale, though not without potency, the Medusa cocktail ($30) is the house signature. Date-infused rum forms the base, and the concoction is topped with smooth cream and a few chips of dehydrated banana. Or you can pick from plenty of other cocktails, all inspired by the goddesses in Greek mythology. Diana, the goddess of the moon and protection, is a favourite, with Maraschino, gin, creme di Violette, citrus and Italicus in the mix. Sip on your cocktail of choice at the bar area, which has three small tables perched before the main entrance, or enjoy it with your meal, either in the main dining hall or alfresco area.
Our overall rating of Medusa: 4/5
Photograph: Medusa
While the food isn’t lacking by any means, this is definitely more of a vibes-first spot. Its prime location next to the South Beach office towers makes it ideal for mid-afternoon drinks, post-work revelries and the like, and the interiors, loud as they are, definitely elevate the whole experience. With a few small tweaks or a knowing eye when you order for the table, we can see Medusa becoming a go-to the next time you need a place that knows how to amp up the celebratory atmosphere. Find out more about Medusa here.
Medusa is located at 26 Beach Road, South Beach Avenue, #B1-22, Singapore 189768. Opening hours are noon to 3pm and 6pm to 10pm from Monday to Sunday.
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