This stylish restaurant is always bustling, especially on Friday evenings when the weekend beckons. Dishes like handmade arancini—mini cheese and risotto croquettes—and chunky-cut fries with salted egg sauce with fried curry leaves, make excellent snacks to nibble over drinks. The mixed bruschetta with smoked salmon, saucisson and parma ham also make for moreish appetisers to kick start a languorous meal.

Pastas on offer range from classics like carbonara and alfredo to more creative options like arrabiata with minced pork and chorizo in a spicy tomato-garlic sauce. For something novel, try the spicy sambal marinara, aka seafood marinated in sambal and served in a tomato-based sauce; or the maiale orientale, a play on Singaporean bak chor mee, with minced pork, bacon, mushrooms and a splash of white wine vinegar, topped with rucola leaves.

Thin crust pizza lovers should try The Morning After that comes topped with mozzarella, bacon and mushrooms, and crowned with a soft egg set in the centre. As befits any Italian restaurant worth its olive oil, the tiramisu is a good choice at dessert. It is layered with fluffy Frenchcream, mascaporne cheese, and sponge fingers soaked in just the right balance of espresso and a special mix of two types of liqueur.