Restaurant Week: InItaly Bar Ristorante @ Craig Road

The first stop for the fifth edition of Restaurant Week goes to InItaly Bar Ristorante at Tanjong Pagar. Little is known about this place apart from a couple of websites doing reviews and the most telling motivation was that it was fully booked for the rest of the week. I realised that the restaurant was hardly booked for the night, 4 tables at best and maybe 1 walk-in. InItaly replaces Amo at Craig Road. Chef Mario Caramella, who was most recently at the helm of Forlino is now head of kitchen at InItaly.

Cosy posy.

I like the wine cellar!

Beer Bread with Salsa Verde

A combination of baguette and what looked like a pastry with cookie edges – even the waiters did not have a name for it and referred to it as “the one with long edges”. While the salsa verde provided an appetizing start to the meal, the bread was lacklustre. The greasy finish and pastier version of a curry puff pastry was marginally better than the mediocre baguette.

Ask and be given, I say stick with salsa verde dip.

Crudo of Tuna and Tomatoes

Thick cubes of tuna and tomatoes tossed in vinaigrette, as inspiring as it sounds.

Squid Ink Gnocchi with Lobster and Saffron Sauce

No luck with change of pasta and portions for this was remarkably puny. I could count the number of gnocchis if I bothered enough. Looked like cubes of liquorice in all its dark shade and nearly tofu-like in texture. Al dente is how I love my pasta done, this was continents away. Yet, lobster and saffron sauce were appetizing and memories of Curtis Stone’s stellar dish did come flashing back.

Gran Bollito

Traditional Mix Boiled Beef, Veal, Pork, Chicken, Veal Tongue and Vegetables, Parsley sauce, Sweet and Sour Tomato Sauce, Mustards, Horseradish

Made for two in a casserole that was as small as can be. Three bites each and we’re done. Meat that generally was spongey and overcooked. I possibly only liked the potatoes here.

Vanilla Honey Icecream with Moscato Sabayon

The chef tried to marry hot and cold here but failed miserably with the contrasts. Vanilla Honey icecream that was pretty ordinary. The warm foam with meringue bits were alright at best.