Let’s face it, Italian food in Singapore isn’t exactly the most affordable. So, what if I told you that there’s a new Italian restaurant located right in the heart of City Hall serving authentic Italian fare at affordable prices?
Casa Vostra is located on the first floor of Raffles City and trust me you definitely will not miss it. It occupies the space that was formerly occupied by McDonalds. The restaurant is helmed by Chef Antonio of La Bottega Enoteca in Joo Chiat — yes, Singapore’s best pizzeria based on a global ranking.
If you find the name slightly familiar, that’s because they had a short pop-up back in end 2023, and they finally decided to open their first brick-and-mortar shop — hooray!
Step inside the restaurant and you’ll find that the vibes here are very warm and inviting, almost like you’re entering a friend’s home — which is kinda what true Italian dining is all about.
Unfortunately for all thin-crust pizza lovers out there, Casa Vostra only serves thick-crust pizzas. But, as someone who prefers thin-crust, I have to admit that Chef Antonio’s “Newpolitan” pizza dough is soft, airy, and chewy without being dry — making for quite an enjoyable bite.
The classic Diavola (S$20) comprises spicy salame that is cured in-house, adorned with a variety of cheeses like parmigiano reggiano and fior di latte, and San Marzano tomatoes. I really loved how well the spicy salame complemented the tangy red sauce, with the tomatoes adding a burst of sourness into the mix to help cut the richness of the pizza.
While I thoroughly enjoyed the Diavola, my favourite pizza was the Tartufo e Funghi (S$28). It comprises fresh black truffle, mushrooms, fior di latte and taleggio cheeses, drizzled with the ever-so aromatic truffle oil.
As a truffle lover, you’ll definitely be drawn to this one for sure — because I was. The aroma of the pizza fresh out of the oven had me mesmerised. One bite into it and I felt like I was transported to truffle heaven. It was creamy with a subtle sweetness and super cheesy. Thankfully, the thick crust helped to balance everything out making it less jelak.
One of Chef Antonio’s signatures is the Doublecrunch, which also means that you can only find it here.
The Mortadella Doublecrunch (S$22) is one of their signatures and having tried it, I can totally see why. It is essentially a pizza-sandwich hybrid and comprises mortadella, burrata, pistachio, lemon zest, and basil, along with parmigiano reggiano cheese.
I love that each piece comes with a generous amount of creamy burrata which adds a nice contrast to the crunch and savoury components. The lemon zest also adds a delightful and refreshing zing into the mix — definitely not what you would expect from a pizza.
Apart from the pizzas, the other star of the show here is the Frittatina Lasagne (S$8) which is essentially a fried lasagne of sorts.
This was mind-blowing. The contrast of textures and flavours is truly out of this world. It has all the quintessential components of a traditional lasagne, except it is fried and coated with Italian cornflakes to give that oh so satisfying crunch. You definitely cannot miss out on this.
Casa Vostra also has a series of fresh pasta, and at pretty affordable prices too. Like the Crab Tagliatelle (S$26) which comes with generous chunks of crab meat. Seafood lovers, you’ll definitely enjoy this one because of its strong seafood flavour.
Where are my fellow ravioli lovers at? It’s hard to find a place with good and affordable ravioli. But, Casa Vostra might have something that is kinda like ravioli — the Agnolotti del Plin (S$23).
It comprises freshly made pasta filled with pork stew coated in a chicken jus and butter sauce. The flavours are definitely much richer as compared to the crab tagliatelle, but I personally found it pretty comforting — kinda like a dumpling of sorts if you will.
Of course, no meal is complete without some desserts and on the menu are classic Italian desserts like Tiramisu (S$10), and Panna Cotta (S$8) amongst others, perfect for ending your meal on a sweet note.
I was pleasantly surprised by how affordable the dishes here are but even more by the quality of the food served — for the price point, you’ll really be getting quite a bang for your buck. If you’re craving some hearty Italian fare without breaking the bank, you know where to check out.
Looks like it’s time for a pizza party!
Casa Vostra
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📍 252 North Bridge Road, Raffles City #01-49, Singapore 179103
🕑 11am–10pm (Daily)
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Photo by Marcus Leong
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