Address: 8 Raffles Avenue #01-13 Esplanade Mall Singapore
Tel: +65 6341 9188 | Email
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Daily: 11.30am – 3pm, 6pm – 11pm
Specialties
Spaghetti Arragosta, Beef Carpaccio, Tiramisu
Reviews
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5 
1 Aug 9, 2010Returned within a week after my first visit.
Going alfresco on the rooftop is compulsory for a wonder experience. All the seats are arranged in such a way whereby you either face East (Singapore Flyer and Marina Bay Sands) or West (CBD skyline). Watching the backdrop turns orange to blue in the evening while waiting dinner to be served can be described as breath-taking (or the closest you can get in this island).
Food-wise I have to admit the only Italian food I have from an authentic Italian restaurant is Modesto. But even so, the food served satisfy my taste buds so much that I would actually miss the food! And it's not a few of the items but all that was ordered.
Their kind of service reminds me of Bintan Resort, whereby the crews bow, make a lot of eye contact and smile. Saw one girl spilling drinks and immediately 3 servers attended to it. One was attending the little girl, one was switching away the wet chair and drying the wet chair while the manager watch to ensure everything was done right. Even after my bf got back his credit card, the waitress waited for me to look at her before beaming me a very bright good-bye smile. Walked off feeling like a rich couple!
Must tries: Prosciutto di parma E melone, capallini al funghi, foccacia di prosciuttoI also recommend this place for:Type of Meal : Dinner Occasion : Romance/First Dates, Fine Dining, After Work, Private Dining, Chillout Atmosphere : Quiet/Peaceful, View/Scenery, Alfresco/Outdoor Dining, Hidden Find, Waterfront Others : Wine Lists
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17
0 Jun 24, 2010We were in the mood for something decent and relatively cheap, so looking at Al Dente Trattoria's "daily wood-fired pizzas from 10$", we decided to give it a shot. Turns out "daily" is defined by them as Monday to Thursday only, so the wood-fired pizzas would be about 20$ each. I wasn't bummed about paying that much for a pizza, but about the fact that such information is so deceptively communicated on the wall outside the restaurant.
While & after ordering the pizzas, we asked for ice water atleast 4-5 times. It was served after the pizzas arrived.
The pizzas looked unappetizing. The margarita pizza was a chunk of cheese & a big slice of tomato put atop pizza bread and half-baked. It looked so bad that I couldn't even get myself to try it. The mushroom & vegetarian pizzas were slightly more edible, but just about. The cheese was rubbery, the vegetables short of fresh, and the overall taste, bad.
I'll never go there again and wouldn't recommend anyone to go either.
Must tries: plain water, if it gets served!
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22
1 Jun 10, 2010I had previously dined at Al Dente Trattoria a couple of years ago. Back then, the colours of the bay was still a new concept. In fact, the Esplanade was still rather new. I recall Al Dente having some executive lunch set which included free flow of anti pasti. I loved this for how else was I going to get all my buffalo mozzarella cheese from the usually expensive caprese dish. The set was pretty cheap I recall, although the pasta and pizza were not exactly outstanding.
Well here I was again, and here’s what I ordered:
Insalata Caprese
I always have to order this at any Italian restaurant. It was alright. Not the best I have had but not the worst either. Again, I think the key thing is, it wasn’t outstanding. Valentino’s serves caprese like no other and I will always remember them and their caprese. This, for me, was just ordinary.
Mushroom Soup
I didn’t try this but I heard from my folks that it was not bad and definitely didn’t taste like it was served out of a can.
Ravioli with Spinach served with Salami
I am not too sure what the name of my dish was but what attracted me to it was the mention of truffle oil. I lurve the taste of truffles hence my repeated patronage of HOUSE at Dempsey for their Truffle Fries as the truffle taste is distinct and it lingers in the fries. The Ravioli in this case failed in that there wasn’t an ounce of truffle taste. The pasta it self wasn’t bad. Served with wild rockets and (extremely salty) salami, it was pretty good except that I was really disappointed at the lack of truffle presence. The portion served was also adequate for a single person.
Hawaiian Pizza?
Honestly, I ain’t too sure what pizza Dad ordered but it had ham, cheese and pineapples so I am assuming something near to Hawaiian. This was actually quite nice. The crust was thin and the base was very palatable. Not too crispy and not too bread-like. Just the right amount of flour I think. The cheese was also nice and melted and the ham slices all went very well together. There wasn’t too much tomato ketchup like some hawaiian pizzas and the pieces of ham and pineapple were in suitable amounts.
All in all, I would say the meal was satisfying. I walked out feeling full and there wasn’t any displeasure except that with OCBC credit cards you were entitled to a discount which they didn’t give us even though we paid via OCBC. It was only when we spotted it that they void the bill and re-billed us. This left me wondering if they were banking on us not to check the bill so as to forgo the discount. As a rule of thumb, I think it is important and a form of goodwill that staff remind customers of discounts and promotions. The onus may be on the customer to find out, but it would be a gesture of good faith if staff actually pointed such out to customers. Just a thought…
Will I be back again? Perhaps…nothing spectacular no doubt, but nothing so awful that I won’t step back in again.
foodgossip.wordpress.com
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17
0 Apr 20, 2010Al Dente Trattoria is the only Italian offering at performing arts venue Esplanade for now. It boasts of a romantic dining experience with its scenic rooftop area that overlooks the Singapore river.
THE FOOD:
Al Dente is the only place for a number of Italian favourites such as wood-fired pizzas, risottos, and homemade ravioli in the Esplanade area. For starters, try the portbello mushroom infused with mozzarella and parmesan cheese, which is excellent and well worth the calories.
Fans of foie gras will also enjoy the foie gras risotto ($22.90). We sure looked forward to it - a combination of two of our favourite foods of creamy rice and luxuriously sweet foie gras. Al Dente's foie gras risotto is a generous helping of smooth creamy rice, which adds to the richness of a medium-sized slab of pan fried foie gras. A bite of the coveted goose liver reveals a tenderness that almost melts in your mouth. The dish was well-executed but sadly leaves our stomachs for almost nothing else, which could well be an excuse why we were greatly disappointed by our wood-fired pizzas ($10 each). Both of which are soft and soggy when served and unworthy of any other descriptions.
For the grand finale, end the night with a cup of cappuccino instead of the Italian Tiramisu, which we found devoid of a good balance between coffee and alcohol. On the other hand, Al Dente does its cappuccino with a strong delightful aroma. A dinner for two costs about S$100 without wine. And for the grape aficionados, Al Dente offers an extensive wine list with mainly Italian and Australian wine.
But contrary to the many awards won by the restaurant, the standards must be have dropped by quite a significant bit - premium ingredients are used but the chef did not do them justice the two times we were there.
THE MOOD:
An al fresco sitting arrangement on the second level of the restaurant offers breathtaking views of Marina Bay and the rest of Esplanade. But it disappoints with dirty chairs that look weathered by rain, bad air ventilation that left us sweating and music nearby at Esplanade that was way too loud, not that it is their fault. Nonetheless, it is still hardly a good place for an intimate evening as promoted to be.
The courteous staff hails from various parts of the world, a practice taken up by many other restaurants on the island as well.
Al Dente Trattoria has two other branches in Holland Village and Boat Quay but if not for the scenic rooftop views offered at Esplanade, we would say check out Glutton's Bay next door.
For photos, go to http://www.freshgrads.sg/index.php/articles/lifestyle/dine/630-al-dente-trattoria.html
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127
25 Mar 13, 2010You know I don’t think much of a restaurant when the post is so short that I take less than 10mins to type it out. Al Dente Trattoria at Esplanade is an example. The food was very so-so (read: Bor-ring), which was why the foodie-girlfriend and I were surprised that the place was quite packed on a weekday night. Maybe it’s the nice rooftop ambience, or it could be that huge banner you see below.
Spinach and ricotta ravioli ($24++): Sauteed in a white wine truffle broth, mixed with garden rucola and topped with parma ham.
This was the only dish I like, mainly cuz I’ve got a weakness for ravioli and anything starting with a T and ending with a E =) Plus, I love how green this looks cuz green = healthy, haha.
The chef’s signature ($24++): Linguine in white wine ragout with tiger prawns, baby clams, mussels, scallops, and tossed with italian herbs.
Disappointing, considering how it’s the chef’s signature. Undercooked pasta, fishy broth.
Red snapper ($30++): Whole fish wrapped in papillote with vegetable in EVOO, served with roasted potato and rucola salad.
Very fresh, and so simple that it’s easily replicable at home. Roasted potato was nowhere in sight though -_-
So average that I can’t imagine why I would go back again. That $10++ pizza sounds like a steal though, considering the location!
For photos/reviews, do drop by www.myfoodsirens.wordpress.com =)
3 Review Photos
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91
34 Jul 19, 2009Attracted by signs that advertised wood fired pizzas at $10, I decided to have dinner here before a weekday 7.30pm performance. Several other tables did the same, trying to start at about 6.30pm to finish quickly in time for the SSO.
Once the waiter heard that I had less than an hour to go, he asked if they could serve the food items whenever any was ready, and I was happy to oblige. Despite a nervous start waiting for the soup, wine and water, the restaurant delivered the food in good time, with all items on the table within 30 minutes. I saw that the tables of concert goers nearby also got their food with time to spare - well done for effort.
The waiter tried his best and perhaps might do better with more experience. Although he did slip up on a few occasions, I was impressed that here's someone who was trained (probably explains the restaurant's Singapore Service Star standard), and also takes pride and effort in his work.
Of the two house pour reds, I chose Mallee Point Cabernet Merlot. For $12++, he poured me a large portion. I didn't try the minestrone ($9++), but was told it was decent.
Seafood linguine ($24++) - the linguine was cooked to a decent texture and flavour, but I thought the quality of the seafood could be better. Next time, I'd order two pizzas instead.
Rucola and cheese pizza ($10++) - this is one of several $10 pizzas (which you see on the table; the menu has the full-priced pizzas instead). I found this to be decent - good texture on the crusts, good toppings, no complaints at all.
The open air area upstairs overlooks the bay and the city skyline, giivng it a great ambience in the evening.
I was happy with the $10 pizza and its price, and will keep Al Dente in mind for dinner when I next head to Esplanade.
I also recommend this place for:Atmosphere : View/Scenery, Alfresco/Outdoor Dining, Waterfront
- View all comments (3)
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contrarian Waiter says its 7-inch. I find it's enough for one. Full size pizzas sell for the full price.
Pizza crust is thin and tends towards the crispy instead of chewy. In other words, not totally crisp, but getting in that direction. -
Petite Mummy Orh...it's those personal size pizza then.
Yup, with a starter and dessert, the size is just nice for me.
Thks for describing the crust too ; ) - Please login to leave your comments
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4
0 May 30, 2009Went about 2 months back when there was a 50% promo by citibank.
Service was pretty good but there wasnt much ambience to speak off. I think they should change their chairs as it didnt felt clean as they were stains on them.
Service though was good, the staff were pretty polite.
We ordered the fried calamari, carbonara pasta, seafood pizza and tiramisu.
Fried calamari was quite bad, the skin of the squid wasnt removed which I felt they should considering the price.
Carbonara pasta was Al Dente! Pretty up to expectations, seafood pizza still had a lingering fishy seafood taste to it which I didnt like. Tiramisu was normal but it would have been better with some coffee liquer.
Overall, after the 50% discount, we paid %58 for 2 pax. Without the discount i think it wouldnt be worth it.
Must tries: carbonara pastaI also recommend this place for:Type of Meal : Lunch, Dinner Occasion : After Work, Chillout Atmosphere : Quiet/Peaceful
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13
2 Nov 16, 2008Had a meal here last night with 4 friends -- and I'm glad they were such good company, because it definitely made up for the food, which was just passable but not spectacular..
We shared an antipasti platter which came with melon, parma ham, calamari, mozarella cheese on tomato slices and small portion of portobello mushroom salad wth pine nuts (which was the tastiest
I enjoyed my pan seared Atlantic scallops which came with orzo risotto -- the scallops were tender and juicy, and just slightly charred at the edges, which is how I like them.. My portion was adequate although the portions of my companions' dishes was not as generous.
The desserts were rather disappointing -- had the bitter chocolate torte which was dry and as one of my friend's commented, tasted like it had been made 2 days ago. The cappucino creme brulee was better.
Service was a little slow on the uptake and the decor seemed a little sterile with pale blue/green/white finishes. Food also takes some time to arrive so accord enough time if you plan to have a pre-show meal here. All in all, a rather forgettable experience.
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37
4 Dec 16, 2007I went to this outlet some time back when they had a one-for-one promo for Amex cardholders.
I tried their steak, which was one word - BAD.
Some people say I shouldn't rate them for their steak, since they are supposed to be very good for their pasta. But reading the reviews below, I still don't see how good their pasta is.
Anywayz, putting aside the "Food", among which we were only gratified by the fondue at the end, the ambience, service and value did not make the mark.
The view was nice, not by their efforts. Their furniture were somewhat "dirty" and ugly. I remember the chairs being discoloured. Their rooftop was really plainly decorated. A very raw touch to it, very unlike the entrance, which had fooled me for a while.
The service staff made up of students under 18, who seemed like part-timers who didn't know the menu well. Reminded me of those $4 per hour part-timers who give you really bad service at Pizza Hut. They were of course, inexperienced, unprofessional and made the whole experience even worse.
Even with my one-for-one main course promo. The meal cost me a $100 for two. Value for money? Er hem... Need I say more?
Must tries: fondue maybe
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64
18 Sep 3, 2007You think an Italian establishment calling itself Al Dente would have figured out how to make pasta by now. My carbonara was soggy and tasteless. My partner's sausage pasta was very average. To their credit, I enjoyed the brushetta and the calamari appetisers. The menu selections here are pathetic. Just 2 pages of Italian staples that were as innovative as mashed potatoes. Only 3 choices for mains? Don't bother about the wine. $15 for a tasting portion was a total ripoff.
Plus point was the al fresco setting which spots lovely views of the construction in Marina Bay. Our appetites were piqued by delicious whiffs of the oyster omelettes and char kuay teow from Gluttons while waiting 30 mins for our appetisers to arrive (despite informing the management we were rushing for a concert). The service was so so.
Left for our concert with some lingering questions:
Al Dente or barely cooked?
Why is it so hard to get freshly grinded pepper in an Italian restaurant?
Is there really no decent place to eat at the Esplanade?
I also recommend this place for:Type of Meal : Dinner Atmosphere : Alfresco/Outdoor Dining, Waterfront
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Weighty Man That is exactly my experience, poor quality food with great view on a cool day. - Please login to leave your comments
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Write Review- Overall
- 5.9
- Food/Beverage
- 5.4
- Ambience/Setting
- 7
- Value
- 4.8
- Service
- 6.2
- Based on 18 reviews
- Price/Pax: S$33 – 43
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