Address

5B Portsdown Road
#01-03 Wessex Estate

Tel: +65 6479 9521

Opening hours

Lunch
12noon – 2.30pm
Dinner
6.00pm – 10.30pm
(Closed on Tue)
6.2
 
Ambience/Setting
7
Food & Beverage
6.8
Value
5.6
Service
5.5

Based on 47 reviews

Would you return to this place?
    Definitely 45%     Probably 17%
    Not Sure 11%     Probably not 9%
    Definitely not 19%
Based on 47 reviews

Specialities

No reviewer input yet.

Featured Reviews

from 47 reviews
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  1. His Food Blog

    First reviewed by  His Food Blog

  1. Total Arrogance!!

    Feb 27, 2009
    I had made dinner reservations for last week Sat (Feb 21) at 7:30pm. Reservations was confirmed for an indoor table for 2 by Giusseppe. Being a 'foodie', I was quite looking forward to experiencing this new outlet.....But it wasn't meant to be....

    I'd missed a couple of calls that Sat afternoon from the restaurant, having been in a meeting. When I returned call at around 5pm, I was told by a Tania that my table had been released. Reason - I didn't pick up my phone when they called. I was left speechless!? My table was released before 5pm when my reservations was made for 7:30pm!! Even the finest restaurants are obliged to hold a table for typically 15min....But Pietrasanta releases a client's booking hours before the reserved time!!

    Although Tania called an hour or so later to reinstate my reservation, I called the restaurant at 7:20pm to cancel my reservation with Giusseppe as I'd already secured a reservation at another restaurant. When I gave him the feedback with the intention of perhaps improving restaurant service to other guests, I was told indignantly that he cannot hold a reservation if any guest doesn't pick up the phone when called for re-confirmation because his restaurant is "very busy". He was simply arrogant to a point of being repulsive!

    We have ample food options in Singapore. I'd rather my patronage be appreciated, rather than taken for granted....And in the case of Pietrasanta, I was even verbally abused by the manager!

    And if you should still choose to dine at Pietrasanta, please don't promise your dinner party the venue, because your table reservation may not be confirmed afterall.....You'll never be sure of a confirmed reservation at Pietrasanta!
      0.1
      Ambience
      na
      Food & Bev.
      na
      Value
      na
      Service
      0.1
      Would You Return?
      Definitely Not
      Helpful Review?

      8
      1. See More Comments
      2. Chicken Rice Man said on 27 Feb 2009 15:21

        Verbally abused? That is very strong wording. I've been to the restaurant a couple times and they are pretty busy. The chef and his brother, not sure what their names are, have always been very friendly to their staff.
      3. blargh said on 27 Feb 2009 16:26

        i agree. that is quite the strong allegation youre making and based on your review im not sure if i see any basis for that.
      4. John Smith2_837 said on 27 Feb 2009 16:52

      5. John Smith2_837 said on 27 Feb 2009 16:52

        5.00 pm: You call up and are told that your table has been released. You complain.

        6.00 pm: Tania calls you back to reinstate your table, and you accepted (I presume).

        7.20 pm: You call them as you have secured a reservation at another restaurant.

        And you are the one complaining! Did I miss something? You didn't tell Tania at 6 that you weren't visiting because you were so angry that they released your table before 5pm (as you maybe should have done)? Yet you went ahead and secured a reservation at another restaurant between 6 and 7.20 even after you re-confirmed your table?

        Look, I used to believe the customer was always right, but this is a clear exception to the rule.
      6. John Smith2_837 said on 27 Feb 2009 16:52

      7. Julie said on 28 Feb 2009 10:12

        We are clearly only hearing one side of the story and are missing details like tone and actual words exchanged.

        But I am actually not comfortable with the restaurant cancelling a reservation if they cannot get you. Does this mean that on the day of my reservation, I am supposed to be vigilantly watching my phone in case horrors of horrors, I miss Pietrasanta's call? What if I am taking an afternoon nap or in the gym or the movies? Do I then say goodbye to my dinner reservation?

      8. John Smith2_837 said on 1 Mar 2009 13:49

        This is a very common practice overseas; in Europe, some restaurants even ask YOU to confirm on the afternoon.

        The problem is many of these restaurants, for whatever reason, are not places that enjoy much walk-in custom (e.g. if they are big occasion restaurants or are out of the way), so rely on reservations. If they need to wait until 10 minutes before the booking time, that table's revenue is effectively lost. This is especially so if it is a very popular restaurant and reservations are needed, and moreso on a Saturday night. But in this case, Pietrasanta reinstated OP's table and she accepted, so that wasn't the problem.

        I kinda knew where OP was heading after she called herself a "foodie."
      9. Christina Chua2_649 said on 2 Mar 2009 08:43

        I believe the point I made was clear -- Simply, having my reservation released hours before I am supposed to be there at the promised time?...Whether the chef & his brother "are always friendly" was not my point, and I suppose I'll never want to find that out. It was a feedback/comment I felt would benefit fellow 'foodies'. I'm perfectly fine with some who'd choose to debate on 'circumstantial' issues, & not the point.
      10. goet tan said on 9 Mar 2009 04:00

        I guess "foodie" is everyone who is willing to pay less than 5 dollars and enjoy 500 dollar service? Please, lah...just for the place is on costly side is not reason to make it look bad. It is very,very good spot fairly speaking.
      11. goet tan said on 9 Mar 2009 04:03

        I guess "foodie" is everyone who is willing to pay less than 5 dollars and enjoy 500 dollar service? Please, lah...just for the place is on costly side is not reason to make it look bad. It is very,very good spot fairly speaking.
      12. See Less Comments
    • Pietrasanta - The Italian Restaurant

      Apr 29, 2008
      A quaint, tranquil neighbourhood nestled in the course of lush greenery off Portsdown Road, Wessex Estate is a colonial-style residential area with charming black-and-white houses.

      As a unique heritage area in one-north, Wessex Estate is slated for development into a creative enclave in the years to come while preserving a haven of old world charm.

      And it is at the converted ex-Judo Federation Clubhouse at Wessex Village Square that you will find Pietrasanta, The Italian Restaurant – named after a town on the coast of northern Tuscany in Italy.

      Opened by Jennifer Tan and her husband, Loris Massimini, an experience Italian chef who honed his skills in Italy and Singapore, this restaurant will be officially opened on Saturday, 12th April. One of the things I like about this place is the simplicity of the décor and furnishing. Diners have a choice of sitting in the spacious dinning area inside or dine al fresco outside the courtyard.

      For a start, we were given Home-made Breads and Olive Oil & Balsamic Vinaigrette to dip with. The bread was well flavoured with herbs though I preferred them to come hot instead of served cold.

      For appetisers, we started off with the Carpaccio Di Manzo Con Grana Padano E Ruccola, or Thinly Sliced Beer Tenderloin with Rocket Salad and Shaved Parmesan with Lemon and Extra Virgin Olive Oil Dressing. This is one of the best rendition I have ever tried. The beef was very fresh and the lemon and olive oil dressing harmonise with a refreshing sensation to this dish. Serving was also generous at $15.90.

      The other appetiser we had that evening was the Saute Di Cozzae Al Pomodoro Fresco, or Black Mussels in White Wine and Fresh Tomatoes ($18.00). This is another dish I find it irresistible – in fact I preferred this version much better to the tomatoes-based Chilli Mussels one finds in Perth. The mussels were fully infused with the wine, thus enhancing the sweetness of the meat, and the tomatoes add a lovely sourness touch to it. However either due to overcooking or me taking my time to capture the perfect shot, some meat from the mussels actually shrunk to a pathetic size – nevertheless, the serving was still ample for the both of us.

      Risotto Ai Porcini, or Italian Risotto with Porcini Mushrooms ($19.90) was my choice for main and was it excellent! The risotto was satisfactorily done al dente and the grains came fully flavoured of the mushrooms that produce a pleasant nutty taste with a smooth and not too overbearing aftertaste. Somehow, I also like the texture of the onions in the dish, which produces a delightful crunch with every bite.

      My friend picked the Gnocchi Di Patate Con Salsa Al Gorgonzola, or Home-made Potato Gnocchi tossed with Blue Cheese Sauce ($18.90). I am not a big fan of gnocchi to be honest, what’s more one mixed with potato, as I often find them too filling for consumption but I have to comment that the sauce is pungently brilliant! One would either love it or hate it – and as for me, I simply love it.

      For desserts, we felt we have to order the Tiramisu ($8.90), since no restaurant will dare to proclaim themselves as an Italiano Ristorante if their tiramisu isn’t any good. The classic dessert was good, though not the best I have tried, with the cream well whipped and the biscuit soaked in just the right amount of liquor.

      The Semifreddo Cioccolato Bianco e Muscato, or White Chocolate and Muscato Wine Parfait ($8.90) though was disappointing. The only blemish of the night – the frozen custard was icy and difficult to scoop – my guess is that it was over-chilled. We also couldn’t make known of the wine in this dessert and the almonds sprinkled over was too overbearing for this light dessert. The only thing I like about this is that it wasn’t too sweet.

      Overall this meal was truly satisfying and I will definitely be back for their Home-made Ravioli and their meat dishes. Also know it from here that given time, I foresee this place to be a hit in town – so make your way down before it gets too crowded.

      You can view the all photos and other reviews @ His Food Blog.
      Must Tries

      Thinly Sliced Beer Tenderloin with Rocket Salad and Shaved Parmesan with Lemon and Extra Virgin Olive Oil Dressing, Black Mussels in White Wine and Fresh Tomatoes, Italian Risotto with Porcini Mushrooms

      1 Review Photos
      •  Black Mussels in White Wine and Fresh Tomatoes
      8.5
      Ambience
      8
      Food & Bev.
      8.5
      Value
      8.5
      Service
      8.8
      Spent about
      S$65 / pax
      Would You Return?
      Definitely
      Helpful Review?

      0
      1. Weighty Man said on 19 May 2008 23:35

        I don't follow hyperlinks, put your photos here.
    • Worst pasta ever had

      Dec 13, 2008
      Here I am, once again on my quest for the best Italian food in Singapore. Wearing my Italian hat, I grabbed my courage to try another Italian restaurant which might hopefully be a wonderful new discovery.
      For a full review with pictures, you can visit my blog: http://foodieah.blogspot.com/2008/12/pietrasanta.html

      Pietrasanta is located in what I consider one of the best locations in Singapore. Portsdown road is a long, dark and isolated road with some new interesting establishments (Klee and Laurent Bernard), and Pietrasanta is one of them. Housed within a colonial property, the restaurant has a large hall with high ceilings, a long terrace and a wonderfully relaxing courtyard. All three are dining areas and they offer a slightly different ambiance.
      The restaurant claims to serve Tuscan food (Tuscany is a beautiful region in Italy, notorious for its culinary specialities). Will it deliver its promise?

      We were given the menu and a long vocal selection of "specials" by the waitress. Shortly after, the order was professionally taken by one of the owners. He was knowledgeable and very helpful with the food selection and recommendations.

      The Grilled Scamorza with Parma ham ($18.90) was incredibly gnummy. This is a real classic. I love scamorza and I was delighted to be able to have this in Singapore! This was a special and it might not be available on a regular basis, depending on availability of the cheese. For those who don't know, Scamorza is a typically Italian medium matured smoked cheese. Particularly nice when grilled and accompanied with ham.

      The Acciughe fritte (deep fried anchovies, $22.90) is a typical home cooked dish. My mother used to make it often, and I was beaten by the temptation of having home food. I would rate it ok, although not the best. The anchovies were tasty, but slightly soggy and not as crispy as I would have hoped for. Overall I was quite pleased with the starters, enthusiastic about the fact that they had some typical Italian products, not always available at your average Italian restaurant. I was eager to get to the pastas!

      The Squid-ink tagliolini with tomato sauce and crab meat ($24.90) were quite amateurish. This was a deep disappointment, after the nice starters. The tagliolini were not very professionally made, and they were totally overcooked. Soft and soggy, they were served with a tomato sauce that I would only expect from a beginner trying to cook Italian food! The sauce was messy, with an excess of garlic and tasteless, runny tomato. It hurts when you are paying $22.40 for pasta you could have at any average cafe'.

      The real scandal was the spaghetti with prawns ($24.90), another special of the day. I really don't know where to start... beginning with a positive note, the prawns were succulent and juicy. Besides that, the pasta was what I would consider shameful to any Italian chef. Just looking at the spaghetti lying on a pool of oil (without even tucking into it) I could visibly tell that they were precooked. Precooked! I can accept having precooked pasta at TCC, but not at a "Tuscan restaurant" where I am paying such prices! Not only it was precooked, but badly cooked the second time, as the texture was quite raw and just weird. It has been ages since I had precooked pasta, and it did bring back memories! What a shame... the sad thing is that obviously people can't tell and chefs can get away with such shameful shortcuts.

      Luckily, we only ordered one main dish. The Grilled Swordfish ($28.90) was served with salad and potatoes on the side. One of the potatoes was undercooked, and the fish would have been fresh and tasty if it wasn't so excessively greasy. Perhaps a twist of lemon would have helped, but as it was every mouthful felt oilier and oilier...

      After the bad experience with the pastas and main, we weren't in the mood of investing into desserts and decided to end the meal. The bill was $150.05 in total, including a bottle of water and no wine. I never mind spending for good food, but given the amateurish quality of what we had, I felt totally ripped off.

      Au revoir Pietrasanta, shortcuts might work with some naive customers, but not those who know what Italian food is supposed to taste like!
      Must Tries

      Scamorza with Parma Ham

      I also recommend this place for

      Type of meal:Lunch, Dinner
      Occasion:Romance/First Dates, After Work, Private Dining
      Atmosphere:Quiet/Peaceful, Alfresco/Outdoor Dining
      Others:Wine Lists

      6 Review Photos
      •  Restaurant View
      •  Scamorza with Parma Ham
      •  Deep fried anchovies
      •  Squid-ink tagliolini with tomato and crabmeat
      •  Spaghetti with prawns
      •  Grilled swordfish
      5.8
      Ambience
      8
      Food & Bev.
      4
      Value
      4
      Service
      7
      Spent about
      S$75 / pax
      Would You Return?
      Definitely Not
      Helpful Review?

      2
      1. ladyironchef said on 15 Dec 2008 23:17

        oh, its so bad? i heard of the place and wanted to give it a try.. until i saw yr review now. have to think twice. hmm
      2. Foodie-ah said on 16 Dec 2008 19:32

        I might be picky as I am Italian. Others might not realise the difference and be perfectly happy with what they serve. I ave to give a perspective based on quality/cost ratio. Considering that, I would either go to "Da Paolo" for a cheaper meal (and the pasta will be cheaper and better), or for top pasta I would go to Cugini for the same price as Pietrasanta.
    1. Could be better..

      Mar 9, 2010

      Took my wife to Pietrasanta last saturday (our first visit) without making a reservation.  It was close to 7.15pm when we approach the "head waitress" for a table, was informed that no tables were available indoors and had to sit outdoors, and we had to leave by 8.15 for the reserved customer.  Sure, cos we wanted to have a quick, no-fuss dinner anyway.

      Lead us to an inner courtyard and a sat us at a table for 4 with no fan above us, everyone else in the same row has a fan above, just my luck.  Was informed of the specials when we were running through the menu.  Being our 1st visit, we thought we should give the specials a try.  We had the Clams in white wine (special), Squid ink pasta with crab sauce (special), Breaded pork loin stuffed with cheese (menu item), and a glass of white wine for myself.

      Service was prompt, warm bread was serve together with a cold tomato dip.  Soon the clams arrive in a nice pot, quite a generous portion for 2, before i could ask, waitress offered more bread to go with the dish, which i thought was a good initiative on her part.  The dish was filled with fresh seafood fragrance with hints of garlic, chillies and wine.  Overall, i felt the dish was a tad salty, but that could be due to the freshness of the clams.  The bread helped to even out the flavours and we soaked it up nice and good!

      Next came the mains, Wifey had the pork while i had the pasta.  She felt that the pork was little dry and tough, but the stuffed cheese well accompanied the pork.  I enjoyed the pasta, well balanced flavours of crab meat and tomato sauce. 

      Throughout the dinner, our water glassees were never left dry (i'm impressed to be honest), a bottle of water was always ready on the our table, but i only touched it once, and that was just to check the temperature of the water! hee..

      Mains were done, and a quick time-check, 8.15pm on my watch.  We did not felt rushed through dinner.  However, when the waitress cleared our plates and asked if we would like desserts, when i mentioned that i'd love to , but don't they need to have the table back? The reply came back,"yes, we're expecting the guest to arrive at 8.30pm" Weird, had i went ahead to order dessert and coffee, would i be chased away, half-munching on my tiramisu?  We'll never know. :)

      Bill came to abt $95.    As mentioned by another reviewer, they did not mention the prices for the specials.  But that's restaurant tactics, all we have to do, is ask. Kudos to their upselling skills. 

      p.s. the indoor seating remained abt 70% filled throughout my dinner, which i could see from where i sat.  Hmmm...

      I also recommend this place for

      Type of meal:Dinner
      Occasion:Romance/First Dates, Chillout
      Atmosphere:Quiet/Peaceful, Alfresco/Outdoor Dining

        6
        Ambience
        7
        Food & Bev.
        7
        Value
        6
        Service
        6
        Spent about
        S$48 / pax
        Would You Return?
        Probably
        Helpful Review?

        0
      • Bitter end to a decent dinner

        Feb 18, 2010
        I wish I had read the reviews before heading to this place.  Friend suggested we have dinner at this place ... it was apparently rather quiet, ambience was good, and food was fantastic.  I was sold.

        Friend arrived early and restaurant was completely empty.  However, she was told that we could either sit outside 'cos all the tables in the restaurant were reserved or we had to vacate the restaurant within 1.5 hours if we wanted to sit inside.  We took the chance and was given a table inside the restaurant.

        While food was rather decent, the sitting arrangements was a completely bad idea.  Firstly we were given a table that was near the aisle.  Throughout the meal, I had different waiters/waitresses bumping into my chair as they were moving around. 

        And, maybe because they were rushing us to finish our dinner, the moment the cutlery hits the plate, a service staff appears to clear the dishes ... all of this at the expense of interrupting our dinner conversation.  From the starter to the soup to the main, we were interrupted at every point.

        To top it up, when the 1.5 hours was up, just after we finished the mains, we were rudely interrupted during the conversation and was told that we had to shift outside 'cos the next set of dinner guests were here.

        Now, I would have gladly moved to seats outside:

        - If I was not so rudely interrupted during my conversation (I was in the middle of a sentence!)
        - We were not even asked if we wanted to place orders for desserts or coffee.
        - To add to the irritation, there were at least 14 empty seats in the restaurant, of which only 10 had "Reserved" labels on them.  There was a table next to ours that was distinctly empty and had NO reserved labels on them, nor any patrons enjoying a meal!

        To cut the long story short, the dinner came to an abrupt end right after the main course.  Such service levels leaves a bitter taste in the mouth.  No good food can make up for it.
          5
          Ambience
          7
          Food & Bev.
          6
          Value
          5
          Service
          3
          Would You Return?
          Probably Not
          Helpful Review?

          0
        • Love the pizzas!

          Jan 13, 2010
          The restaurant is located at a wonderful spot in Portsdown. I recommend going there in the early evenings, grab a table in the balcony to enjoy the ambience. I remembered the clams to be much better, but the pizzas now are to die for. Really really addictive, they're crispy and chewy at the same time. My favourite is the four cheese. Can't wait to go back for more.
          Must Tries

          Pizzas

          I also recommend this place for

          Type of meal:Dinner
          Occasion:Romance/First Dates
          Atmosphere:Quiet/Peaceful, View/Scenery, Alfresco/Outdoor Dining, Hidden Find, People Watching

            7
            Ambience
            8
            Food & Bev.
            8
            Value
            6
            Service
            6
            Spent about
            S$25 / pax
            Would You Return?
            Definitely
            Helpful Review?

            0
          • Atrocious service

            Nov 14, 2009
            I will never recommend this restaurant despite their decent offerings. I consider discriminatory service an absolute dealbreaker. Pietrasantra's service is not only shockingly bad, i.e., absolutely incompetent wait staff, the owner seems content at only providing good service to his non-asian customers.

            I arrived 5 minutes late for my reservation only to find that my table of 6 was given away to a group of Caucasian diners. No one bothered to call me to check if we were on the way. Worst still, neither the owner nor his wait staff could care less and simply shrugged that there were no tables. It was only after 15 minutes of explaining that the head waitress was willing to let us wait outside for a table to open up. During our wait (20 minutes), more walk-in customers (notably Caucasian customers) were seated in parties of four to six.

            The food was decent enough. Sadly, it was impossible to get any waitstaff to pay attention to my table. Water refills were few and far between. The incompetent waitstaff were incapable of taking accurate orders, not that anything of a higher standard was expected given my experience with the reservation.

            It was such an unpleasant experience. What was shocking was that there was clearly a group of disgruntled diners and the owner simply could not care less. I will never go back and I would never recommend this place to any Singaporean unless they are willing to accept being treated like a second class citizen.
            I also recommend this place for

            Type of meal:Dinner
            Atmosphere:View/Scenery

              3
              Ambience
              5.8
              Food & Bev.
              5.7
              Value
              0.2
              Service
              0.1
              Spent about
              S$40 / pax
              Would You Return?
              Definitely Not
              Helpful Review?

              4
              1. Petite Mummy said on 18 Nov 2009 02:32

                You actually waited? Aiya...should have taken some pics....(just to prove you were there & not a "ghost" writer.) I experienced the "2nd class thiny" sometime back (BUT NOT at this restaurant) and it was a really horrible and traumatic experience! You've my sympathy ; )
              2. schlee said on 24 Nov 2009 10:55

                You know, I think people actually wait because there are no other nearby alternatives? Plus it was a birthday celebration so we really had no choice.

                But yeah, I really hate being treated like a second class citizen in my own country!
            • RIPPED OFF

              Oct 23, 2009
              Be warned of exorbitant prices over "specials" - more like specially priced to rip off the unsuspecting.

              3 of us went for dinner and were debating over menu. The waitress proceeded to tell us about the "specials" - no prices mentioned.
              We ordered an appetizer off the menu and a special. 2 of us chose a main off the menu and 1 asked about the T bone steak ($60), which is supposed to be good. Asked if it was a big portion as he did not want to over eat.Waitress said it was for 2-3 persons, of which we said its too much.But as she highly recommended it, we went ahead.

              Sure the portion was large, but the steak was on the dry side. Definitely had better steak before.
              Imagine our horror to find it cost $150 when the bill came!
              When questioned, the waitress said she gave us the special which was 1kg, even though we had told her our dilemma. All we got was an apology, which was like lip service anyway.
              (The special's appetizer cost $40 - triple the price of the other appetizers and 1 1/2 times more than the entres on the menu)

              Hubby and I did not kick up a fuss as the 3rd person was a guest we were entertaining. We felt really cheated and wrote to the management and never got a reply - showing that they endorsed such a practise and really did not care for customers' feedback.
                2.7
                Ambience
                4.9
                Food & Bev.
                4.9
                Value
                1
                Service
                0.1
                Spent about
                S$124 / pax
                Would You Return?
                Definitely Not
                Helpful Review?

                0
              • You are definitely not paying for the service you get here!

                Sep 1, 2009
                We decided to celebrate spouse's birthday here at Pietrasanta. I have been there three times before. The only reason I decided to go there for this occassion was because it has a gnocci and pizzas that are simply awesome.
                But after this visit I would probably never go back!Even if I had to miss out on the food!

                Despite a reservation made 2 days before (which you need, as saturday evenings are packed!)- we had a mix up in tables allocated to us. Never mind..we then waited 25 minutes to get someone to notice we needed menus to be given to us!! Then they took another half hour to take our orders. Both the wine and the cold cuts took a good 25 mins to come. We had to frequently wave out for attention, as the waiters scurried around looked stressed and pained - note: with no smile on their faces.

                Service was absolutely slow and disappointing. The owner did seemed quite oblivious to it.

                With a bill of over S$50 per head for a reasonable meal and a glass of wine /beer each - I seriously felt this place is not worth the price you pay. Atleast if the service is great - one can endure a price like this.
                So just be prepared for a big bill and no service. Money may be better spent at a 5 star hotel's F&B outlet - which I am sure is the same range.
                  4.4
                  Ambience
                  6
                  Food & Bev.
                  7.5
                  Value
                  3
                  Service
                  1
                  Would You Return?
                  Definitely Not
                  Helpful Review?

                  2
                • Great meat

                  Jul 19, 2009
                  I was there for a business lunch and the quality of the food was really good. What remained impressed was the tenderloin. Perfectly cooked and seasoned so that my mouth waters right now as I'm writing this!
                  Also great desserts especially the chocolate cake from Pistocchi, a small italian producers specialized in chocolate cakes without flower.
                  Also great wines some of which out of the mainstream boring brands found at every other restaurant.
                  I also recommend this place for

                  Type of meal:Lunch
                  Occasion:Client Meetings/Business Dining
                  Atmosphere:Quiet/Peaceful
                  Others:Wine Lists

                    7.6
                    Ambience
                    7.5
                    Food & Bev.
                    8
                    Value
                    7.5
                    Service
                    7.5
                    Spent about
                    S$80 / pax
                    Would You Return?
                    Definitely
                    Helpful Review?

                    3
                  • Suitably impressed

                    Jun 29, 2009
                    I can't believe it took me so long to try out this place. The previous semi-satisfactory/negative reviews did put me off to a very large extent. It was only when a friend (whose recommendations I trusted) enthused about it that I finally decided to give it a shot. When it opened again last week after taking a couple of weeks off for their "summer holiday", I made a reservation for Saturday night.

                    Reservations are definitely recommended. You wouldn't want to navigate deep into Wessex Estate (Portsdown) only to be told that there are no tables available. I would prefer sitting outdoors (sheltered) only because it is quieter. Indoors, the noise simply echos off the walls. There are a couple of cosy couches outdoors for drinks and light bites too.

                    The starters we tried - (i) Deep-fried battered fresh anchovies, (ii) portobello mushroom stuffed with vegetables and sausage and (iii) mixed salad. Fresh anchovies were a surprise! Contrary to what most would think, fresh anchovies are not salty at all (only the preserved ones are). It looks like a sardine - The flesh is meaty, but as it is fresh, it doesn't have that slightly rubbery texture. The stuffed portobello mushroom was comforting, but nothing outstanding. I wouldn't recommend the mixed salad unless you are really desperate for a fix of fresh greens.

                    The mains were stella. Top dish of the night was the braised baby lamb shank in flavoursome tomato/mixed veggies sauce and creamy mash potatoes. The Altantic cod we tried was a tad over-cooked but good nonetheless, served with a similar (but less heavy - sans meat) tomato/mixed veggies sauce. The home-made pasta with meat sauce came with tender soft pieces of pork ribs, the taste a little more delicate than the lamb shank and atlantic cod. The waitress was unable to tell us what type of pasta was being served, but after googling, I found out that it was "CASARECCI" (two-inch-long thin twists) which surprise (!), means "home-style" in Italian.

                    I am a fan of crispy-thin pizzas and salivating toppings covered in cheese - Pietrasanta's pizzas were average. Then again, pizzas are really subjective.

                    After all of the above, and multiple rounds of the crusty yet feathery soft in the inside bread, we had no space to try their desserts. A pity though, the desserts in the display looked really appetising in the "grandmother-made" way.

                    The bill came up to about S$200, which was very reasonable, considering we had wine. The starters are priced around $S18 while the mains are averaged at S$28. At a "fine-dining" establishment, you would pay about S$45 for the mains, and probably not be as satisfied.
                    Must Tries

                    Baby lamb shank, deep-fried anchovies

                    I also recommend this place for

                    Type of meal:Lunch, Dinner
                    Occasion:Large Groups/Gathering, Children/Family
                    Atmosphere:Alfresco/Outdoor Dining, Hidden Find

                      7.8
                      Ambience
                      7.5
                      Food & Bev.
                      8
                      Value
                      8
                      Service
                      7.5
                      Spent about
                      S$50 / pax
                      Would You Return?
                      Definitely
                      Helpful Review?

                      4
                    • prosciutto

                      Jun 13, 2009
                      I think I've eaten here at least 4 times in the last 6 months. Not counting the many times we stopped by for pizza to go. Definitely my favourite Italian restaurant at the moment.

                      I have to say, the prosciutto pizza is my idea of bliss. Perfect size, perfect taste, perfect price(For less than $20, I've not had any pizza that tasted this good). I love it to bits. Perfect for a saturday night cuddle with a bottle of vino and a DVD.

                      The food is mostly very good. A couple more visits and I should have tried everything on the menu (helps to go with friends to have more variety to taste). I would not recommend their ravioli. The pasta dough was too thick and the filling was tasteless. It was the one flaw to an otherwise wonderful menu.

                      If you can't decide on what to eat, try the specials. The specials have yet to disappoint. One caveat. The prices of the specials are not listed, so if you are on a budget, ASK before you order.

                      Oh, the waitresses are not the sharpest knife in the drawer. They are nice enough and I can't fault their service, but making a phone reservation was akin to learning to speak in phonetics. They aren't too bright when you show up unannounced and ask for a table either.
                      Must Tries

                      prosciutto pizza

                      I also recommend this place for

                      Type of meal:Dinner, Take away
                      Occasion:Romance/First Dates

                        6.9
                        Ambience
                        7
                        Food & Bev.
                        8.5
                        Value
                        6
                        Service
                        6
                        Spent about
                        S$30 / pax
                        Would You Return?
                        Definitely
                        Helpful Review?

                        3
                      • Unpretentious and wholesome... like a homecooked meal

                        May 18, 2009
                        it took us a while to check this one out, though i've heard many good reviews over the past year.

                        on a Saturday afternoon, i called to make a reservation. at the other end of the line, an accented voice answered the phone. i realised in an instant i shouldn't be surprised. afterall, the italian joint IS operated by the Massimini brothers... ooooooh, i so LURVE these owner-operator setups, they ooze such personality.

                        we arrived the same evening to a packed restaurant and a surprisingly very organised group of people waiting in line to be seated (they ALL had reservations), though there was no waiter, hostess nor owner in sight who appeared to be managing them.

                        ah, they MUST be singaporeans lah, know how to queue up so well.

                        to give the restaurant due credit, EVERY staff seemed to be pre-occupied with something... taking orders, serving plates etc. but even then, as my companion put it, this made for a somewhat disappointing welcoming experience (short of the WELCOME sign on the front door) we would expect of a "family-run" restaurant.

                        evidently, a hostess is much required here (this is not a hint).

                        in any case, we obediently stood in line for the next 10 minutes (yes, we're both singaporeans) without any promise, but filled with plenty of hope, that we would be acknowledged and attended to, someday.

                        finally, a gentleman (one would assume he is one half of the Massimini brothers, otherwise a very well-dressed Italian waiter but i think not) came to greet us and showed us to our table.

                        i had asked for advice as to where to sit when i called earlier to make the reservation, and was instantly assured that (thick Italian accent) "At night, outside is better."

                        But our table outdoors was a pretty sad location behind a refrigerator i assume owned by Laurent Bernard's chocolate factory, adjacent to Pietrasanta. The two share a quaint, but somewhat scruffy backyard which, even in the candle-lit darkness, looked like it needed some manicuring.

                        surprisingly, despite the lukewarm welcome, service, once you're seated, is commendably spiffy and the service staff polite, efficient and knowledgeable. quite impressive.

                        we ordered a simple Rocket Salad to share, though i would definitely opt for something with a little more dimension the next time.

                        for mains, we shared the day's special, a Squid Ink Pasta with Crab Meat, that was delicious, to say the least.

                        the hearty tomato-based sauce was evidently fresh, not overpowering and complemented the Squid Ink and Crab perfectly, delivering a wholesome, homogenous and well-rounded mouthful of flavour at each bite.

                        the second main that we shared was the Beef Tenderloin slices, which we ordered after we were informed the day's special, an Angus Ribeye, was sold out.

                        the Beef Tenderloin, despite being an afterthought, did not disappoint.

                        since everything looked lovely on the menu, we ended up sharing two desserts, one of which, whose name i cannot pronounce nor remember, was a dark chocolate fudge slice imported all the way from Italy. it was quite divine.

                        if you visit (and you must), expect a wholesome Italian meal and commendably reasonable prices.

                        overall, i must say that the cooking was lovely. but mostly, i love that this place is adoringly unpretentious.
                        Must Tries

                        The Specials that day

                        I also recommend this place for

                        Type of meal:Lunch, Dinner
                        Atmosphere:Alfresco/Outdoor Dining, Hidden Find

                          7.6
                          Ambience
                          6.5
                          Food & Bev.
                          8.5
                          Value
                          8.5
                          Service
                          7
                          Spent about
                          S$40 / pax
                          Would You Return?
                          Definitely
                          Helpful Review?

                          2
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