Table66 scoffed at us - canceling my reservation after confirming it. Yet another La Carmargue incident to remember. Anyhow, I threw out countless options for the gf to choose and Cugini it was! I have been waiting for a chance to visit Cugini after a couple of foiled attempts that saw me heading next door to L'Angelus instead.
Finally at the door steps of Cugini!
Another shade of blue that I like.
Cugini specialises in Southern Italian cuisine...not that I have been to either...).
Thoughtful gesture of having a woven bag to store the arm candies.
Choosing a table outside has its perks and of course, pokes about it. Perks being..it feels entirely like a street in Italy (Not that I've been there..but it matches the whole imagery that the films all portray...there's just something about Ann Siang Hill and Club Street and their uneven roads that makes it different). We managed to take the most picturesque and picture perfect shots preening and posing with their beautiful blue grills and tiles.
And of course, the weather was perfect for dining out in the porch of the restaurant. Methinks all I really needed was my Eat.Pray.Love book and a poodle in my designer bag to complete the picture.
Cons being...the walking area in between cafes is limited so every now and then you do get random strangers brushing their bottoms against your chair. And the smoking corner so strategically located outside means you share the same breathing space, regardless.
Warm water, always.
Complimentary pizza bread platter without olive oil or butter. I really do suspect their way of doing things revolves around fuss free and simplicity. Imagine a rattan bread basket lined with a random sheet of napkin. Chewy and mildly salted pizza bread...I loved the density about this.
Parma ham with melon ($19.90)
It looked haphazardly put together - just slices of ham with honeydew balls. Perhaps I am used to seeing my slices of melon draped in parma ham, seeing a different presentation threw me off guard. I felt slightly shortchanged as the dish was served without the usual arugula leaves or garnish of any sort.
Sardinian style spaghetti with mullet roe, prawn, olive oil, garlic, chilli ($24.90)
I wanted the hidden "seafood pasta" which was apparently not on the menu but the waiter suggested this instead. Handmade pasta tastes so different.Be it the bite or density of noodle...marvellous.
I particularly adore the generous sprinkling of mullet roe, fresh prawns and seasoning of the dish. Has to be one of the more awesome pastas around! Now, I have to insist on my seafood pasta the next time round..the one that fellow foodies have been raving the moon and skies about.
Vulcano ($24.90)
Tomato sauce, mozzarella, mushroom, roasted ham, artichoke, salami, egg
I have learnt I prefer my pizzas fit for the carnivore. Artichoke was overshadowed by the mushrooms, salami and roasted ham yet all the flavours made the pizza finger licking delicious. A great pity the pizza base got a tad soggy towards the middle. Albeit inevitable, I cannot help but wish it was not the case.
Cugini dessert selection ($20.90)
I always want my cake and eat it - thankfully for dessert selections, you can to try more than one!
Tiramisu with bitter chocolate sauce
Rich and well soaked, just the way it is supposed to be..or so wiki always says!
Semi-frozen nougat and ricotta cheese with raspberry sauce
Has to be one of the better semi-frozen nougats attempted...was simply icecream if you ask me.
White chocolate panna cotta with raspberry sauce
YES, best panna cotta to date. Gelatin was well under control, rendering this a lovely wobble and jiggle and melt in your mouth pudding. LOOOOOVED it.
Service is decent with spot on recommendations. I figure there is simply too much to love about Club Street, Ann Siang Hill...the cafes that dot them...or perhaps it was the stress at work which made this particular lunch so wonderful.For whatever reasons, Cugini...you won't be seeing the last of me yet! More, more!
Cugini Trattoria Pizzeria
87 Club Street
Finally at the door steps of Cugini!
Another shade of blue that I like.
Cugini specialises in Southern Italian cuisine...not that I have been to either...).
Thoughtful gesture of having a woven bag to store the arm candies.
Choosing a table outside has its perks and of course, pokes about it. Perks being..it feels entirely like a street in Italy (Not that I've been there..but it matches the whole imagery that the films all portray...there's just something about Ann Siang Hill and Club Street and their uneven roads that makes it different). We managed to take the most picturesque and picture perfect shots preening and posing with their beautiful blue grills and tiles.
And of course, the weather was perfect for dining out in the porch of the restaurant. Methinks all I really needed was my Eat.Pray.Love book and a poodle in my designer bag to complete the picture.
Cons being...the walking area in between cafes is limited so every now and then you do get random strangers brushing their bottoms against your chair. And the smoking corner so strategically located outside means you share the same breathing space, regardless.
Warm water, always.
Complimentary pizza bread platter without olive oil or butter. I really do suspect their way of doing things revolves around fuss free and simplicity. Imagine a rattan bread basket lined with a random sheet of napkin. Chewy and mildly salted pizza bread...I loved the density about this.
Parma ham with melon ($19.90)
It looked haphazardly put together - just slices of ham with honeydew balls. Perhaps I am used to seeing my slices of melon draped in parma ham, seeing a different presentation threw me off guard. I felt slightly shortchanged as the dish was served without the usual arugula leaves or garnish of any sort.
Sardinian style spaghetti with mullet roe, prawn, olive oil, garlic, chilli ($24.90)
I wanted the hidden "seafood pasta" which was apparently not on the menu but the waiter suggested this instead. Handmade pasta tastes so different.Be it the bite or density of noodle...marvellous.
I particularly adore the generous sprinkling of mullet roe, fresh prawns and seasoning of the dish. Has to be one of the more awesome pastas around! Now, I have to insist on my seafood pasta the next time round..the one that fellow foodies have been raving the moon and skies about.
Vulcano ($24.90)
Tomato sauce, mozzarella, mushroom, roasted ham, artichoke, salami, egg
I have learnt I prefer my pizzas fit for the carnivore. Artichoke was overshadowed by the mushrooms, salami and roasted ham yet all the flavours made the pizza finger licking delicious. A great pity the pizza base got a tad soggy towards the middle. Albeit inevitable, I cannot help but wish it was not the case.
Cugini dessert selection ($20.90)
I always want my cake and eat it - thankfully for dessert selections, you can to try more than one!
Tiramisu with bitter chocolate sauce
Rich and well soaked, just the way it is supposed to be..or so wiki always says!
Semi-frozen nougat and ricotta cheese with raspberry sauceHas to be one of the better semi-frozen nougats attempted...was simply icecream if you ask me.
White chocolate panna cotta with raspberry sauce
YES, best panna cotta to date. Gelatin was well under control, rendering this a lovely wobble and jiggle and melt in your mouth pudding. LOOOOOVED it.
Service is decent with spot on recommendations. I figure there is simply too much to love about Club Street, Ann Siang Hill...the cafes that dot them...or perhaps it was the stress at work which made this particular lunch so wonderful.For whatever reasons, Cugini...you won't be seeing the last of me yet! More, more!
Cugini Trattoria Pizzeria
87 Club Street
No seafood pasta?
ReplyDeleteno! :( i asked for that but he reccomended this instead...maybe i shd insist the next time!
ReplyDeleteI tried this pasta before. It's indeed one of the best pastas I've eaten. Haven't tried the seafood pasta too!
ReplyDelete@ ice: *slurrrrrrrrrps*
ReplyDeleteI love their carbonara!
ReplyDelete@dirtystall: *noted*
ReplyDeleteThe service wasn't good. My friend got struck by a flying cork and when we wanted follow up action, the manager accused us that we were trying to cheat a free meal. I thought that was unnecessary remark.
ReplyDeletewhoa...that sounds bad.
ReplyDeleteam looking for a nice place to celebrate my guy's bday.. this place looks cozy enough :) will KIV :P
ReplyDeleteooo lucky bf! :) it's alot more romantic at nite...~
ReplyDeleteBeen a few times, not what used to be. Amateur service, so-so food, overly salty, indifferent attitude by management. So many other Italian places outclass this one. Skip it.
ReplyDeleteoh dear...doesnt sound very promising anymore. :(
ReplyDelete