Pastaria Abate – Below $20 Handmade Italian Pasta Restaurant in Craig Road

Pasta restaurants and cafes serving Italian fare may be a dime a dozen in multicultural Singapore. But where can you find simple, unpretentious dishes that stay true to the traditions of this time-honoured cuisine?

Pastaria Abate, operated by the same owners of The Reading Room, is one such hidden gem, tucked away from Keong Saik Road, and just within walking distance of The Working Capitol. While light-soaked spaces outfitted with hipster fixtures are the two it factors sought after by most eating places, Pastaria Abate needs none of those trimmings to stand out, as we would soon realise.

Homely decor greets you when you first step into Pastaria Abate, an act that is no small feat in itself considering the front door is pretty hidden. On the menu is a curation of handmade pasta ranging from 100% egg-based, to dried and fresh specialty pasta. You can also choose between red, cream, and white and wine sauce-based pasta.

At Pastaria Abate, pasta is a labour of love, and the chefs’ keen attention to detail come to the fore with every bite; pasta cooked perfectly al dente, each component perfectly complimenting the other, what more can you ask for?

For starters, the Italian Meatballs ($13.80) are a perfect marriage of hand-formed, tender mounds of ground meat that is pan-seared and served atop the pasta. Each bite yields an explosion of flavours that are testament to the meatballs’ painstaking marination of four hours, with the red sauce it is based on, a fruition of at least eighteen hours of brewing.

Porcini Ravioli in Burnt Butter ($18.80) really blew us away. Deceptively simple in appearance, yet complex and rich in flavour and texture, this is a dish that will please even the most ardent of carnivores. The earthy flavours of the porcini that is hand stuffed in each ravioli meet the umami notes of burnt butter in its most indulgent, unadulterated form, in a way that completely elevates the pasta eating experience.

It may seem almost sacrilegious to stop by an establishment that is named after pasta and not have at least one dish of it. But in case you remain unconvinced, there are hearty mains of Steak Florentine ($16.80) and Chicken Parmesan ($16.80) to tide you by.

Top up your lovely Italian meal with more quintessentially Italian starters and desserts, such as a simple but satisfying Antipasto, available as a half or full board ($12.80/ $22.80).

For desserts, a homemade Pannacotta with Berry Sauce will set you back about $6.80.

I am thoroughly impressed with what Pastaria Abate, and will definitely be back the next time I get some cravings for hearty, homemade Italian fare!

 

 

Pastaria Abate

43 Craig Road, Singapore 089681

Tel: +65 6909 0672

Daily: 10AM – 10PM

Website:  http://pastariaabate.com/

 

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Words and Images by @chuepachups

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