The Rundown
Nestled in Serangoon Gardens, this cosy joint is run by ex corporate warrior turned chef Fulvio Manini and his Singaporean wife Fiona. Expect home-style Italian plates inspired by Manini’s family recipes. The couple also has plans to channel part of the restaurant’s profits towards charitable initiatives, but are currently still looking for the right fit.
The Vibe
With a Vespa parked in the front and vibrant murals of the Italian countryside on the walls, this neighbourhood restaurant evokes idyllic vibes, and is perfect for languid dining. The quaint, sometimes mismatched crockery gives it a homey charm, and since it’s a family business, the service was personal and the staff are extra friendly — they readily and cheekily posed as we turned to snap a picture. Feel free to waltz in dressed in shorts and sandals, or anything you’ll wear to visit a good friend’s home.
 What’s Good
For starters, order the Burrata ($25) off the blackboard of specials if it’s available. A classic appetiser that depends a lot on the quality of its ingredients, this one sees a fresh ball of buffalo mozzarella coupled with prosciutto and baby spinach leaves — two thumbs up! For mains, the Risotto Al Porcini ($20) nailed a moist, al dente doneness and was redolent of the porcini mushroom stock base. Its deep flavours make it great to go with a glass of their House Red Wine ($10), a smooth Umbria Sangiovese (served in a pretty bohemian glass!).
We also ordered a portion of their bestselling Pollo Alla Milanese ($20), which came highly recommended by the staff. The spot-on breaded boneless chicken thigh sports a crisp-thin, golden brown crust and the meat was succulent and juicy. The chicken comes with mash that we wish was just a tad more seasoned, and grilled vegetables on the side — these were tasty, but we found to be on the oilier side. As much as we wanted to, we didn’t have the stomach space for their other recommended main, Lasagna Classica ($19), which sees rich beef and pork bolognese paired with creamy bechamel. Let us know if you’ve tried it! The food here is hearty so, like us, you may be tempted to cop out on sweets and simply nurse a black coffee. But if you can, we hear that the Lava Cake ($10) is a popular dessert, and comes with a scoop of pistachio ice cream.
Read what the Burpple community says about Casa Manini here!
