Following the opening of Italian Fortuna Terrazza Café near Tanjong Pagar Road, Fortuna Group has launched their latest concept bistro, Medusa Osteria Romana.
Located within the elegant JW Marriott Hotel along South Beach Road, Medusa brings something newer than broad Italian cuisine—specifically Roman cuisine. With a retro ambience, you’ll be able to have a feel of Rome’s vintage luxury era from the 1960s.
Starters & Small Plates
Starting with the Focaccetta & Dip (S$16), you’ll receive full-palm sized house-made focaccia served with pecorino, paired with Medusa’s signature dips: Textures of Roma Tomato and Salsa Verde. Between the two dips, Textures of Roma Tomato had a more savoury and subtle flavour than most salsa or focaccetta dips outside.
The Salsa Verde on the other hand, had a punch to it, but might taste a little too strong or bitter to those sensitive to bitterness.
As believers that all good things are meant to be shared, the Suppli al Telefono (S$16 for 2 pieces), is a must-order from us! Similar to cheesesticks, these tomato-based morsels contain rice wrapped around melty cheese, resulting in spectacular cheese pulls.
Following the Suppli al Telefono, the Burrata Fritta (S$26) comes as a close second among our favourite appetisers. Expect another cheesy and creamy bite, as the dish features Burrata cheese cooked in carbonara cream and topped off with pig cheek.
Although flavourful enough on its own, the Burrata Fritta’s has yet to unlock its fullest potential without Medusa’s in-house chilli oil. With a light drizzle of their fragrant chilli oil, it’s as if we’ve ordered a whole different dish!
Pasta & Mains
On to the pastas, we first tried their Caserecce Alla Zozzona (S$35). True to its Roman dialect translation “the dirty one”, referring to its heavy, substantial nature, this pasta was a little too heavy and thick for us.
The Mezze Maniche Amatriciana (S$32) in contrast had a familiar taste, with a typical tomato-based sauce and garnished with pork jowl and parmesan.
What we fancied best out was Medusa’s Roman-style Porchetta (S$42), a heavily seasoned pork roulade commonly found at Roman markets.
Comprising tender pork meat with a crispy coating, drizzled with pesto sauce, and truffle mash potato, we found this meal to be extremely well balanced. The portion does seem a little small for one, so we do recommend either ordering an appetiser to start, or dessert to conclude the meal.
Roman-Style Pizza
A staple food in modern Roman cuisine, Medusa presents their Roman pizzas. In contrast with airy and puffy Neapolitan-style pizzas, Roman pizzas are served with thin-crust dough. Pizzas are available in two portions sizes: Pizza Romana (from $29)—a whole thin-crust pizza made with 180 grams of dough, and Pinsa Romana (from $20 for 2 slices)—two slices of crunchy pizza.
Upon having a bite of their prosciuttella pizza, we found that the dry-cured ham acted as the perfect counterpart to the rocket leaves. A light tasting pizza thanks to its thin crust and addicting flavour, this dish can be finished by a single person!
Desserts
To end off the meal, we had a go at Medusa’s Truffle Tiramisu (S$18). Comprising shaved chocolate truffle, soft mousse, and lady fingers shortbread, we thoroughly enjoyed each tiramisu layer. The lady fingers shortbread in particular were really (like really) juicy, soaked in bitter espresso, which complemented its sweet mascarpone.
It’s safe to say that the Fortuna Group has created yet another headline-worthy café. If you do plan to visit, we recommend ordering mains beyond their pastas to better experience their rare Roman cuisine dishes. Wander the streets of Rome through Medusa’s cooking and vibe, and experience the capital of Italy’s era of vintage luxury.
Medusa Osteria Romana
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📍 26 Beach Road, South Beach Avenue #B1-22, Singapore 189768
🕛 12pm–2.30pm, 6pm–9.45pm (Daily)
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Photos by Nicole Goh and Matilda Lim.
