Pasta Brava in Craig Road, Singapore

When it comes to work-related / business lunches, I really like going Italian. Perhaps it's due to the quiet ambiance in the restaurant that makes it so conducive to being able to discuss important details yet it doesn't feel so dull and stiff either. Not to mention, it gives me the reason to enjoy a good plate of pasta while discussing work too.

Recently, the team visited Pasta Brava which is located just a few blocks away from our new office. I'm really loving our new neighborhood for the never-ending choices of good food available. It was K who suggested this place and I trust her taste when it comes to knowing where are the delicious, slightly "atas-level" but definitely the must-visit restaurants in Singapore(!).

Having said that, Pasta Brava perfectly fits the description that I just mentioned earlier. Located in a two-storey shophouse along quiet Craig Road, the restaurant is dimly-lit and you'll see pretty paintings and decors on the walls. It's interesting that they have covered the tables with plain white paper and they have caniters filled with chalk as the centerpiece. Now, that's something I wouldn't expect from a fine dining Italian restaurant. It's cool to get the diners busy decorating their table as they wait for their food.

We started our meal with a plate of Bruschetta al Pomodoro (S$6 / 2 pieces) - While I personally think it's quite pricey, I was impressed with the big slice of baguette that we each got and each is topped with a generous serving of fresh chopped tomatoes, garlic, oregano, basil and extra virgin olive oil. I sprinkled it with some parmesan cheese too! Yum!



For my main course, I went for the Gnocchi di patate al Burro e Salvia (S$23.50). Hand-made gnocchi cooked in a thick creamy sauce made out of butter, sage and parmesan cheese. It was quite bland and no amount of parmesan cheese could help perk up the flavor. I was a bit disappointed most especially after D shared a slice of her steak with me.

Check out D's Filetto di Manzo al Vino Rosso e Cioccolato (S$31). Tender, pan-fried beef tenderloin cooked with red wine and chocolate. Of course, I was a bit iffy seeing that this had steak and chocolate. Not quite sure how it will turn out, that's why I opted for something safer. Well, I was surely regretting that decision as this was really delicious. The beef was melt-in-your-mouth tender and the chocolate and red wine sauce just made the entire dish truly memorable. I'll be back for this, next time!

It was a good meal with the team at Pasta Brava, sadly it was also our last with K as she left a few weeks after that but I can't wait to see her again... this time, outside of work and as two good friends just hanging out.

Look at K's 10-minute chalk masterpiece and mind you, she drew this upside down. Such a talented friend I got, don't you agree?

Pasta Brava is located at 11 Craig Road, Tanjong Pagar, Singapore. Call them at 6227-7550.