Da Paolo il Giardino

A little seclusion goes a long way... The discovery of this place wasn't instant. It took me several trips to Relish & a couple of gelato pickups from Da Paolo Gastronomia before i began to sniff its existence.

Deep down the side alley of Cluny Court was Il Giardino, an upmarket establishment of the Da Paolo group. Being clandestine was fully in their favour. The restaurant charms with receding privacy, complemented by capable staffs who proves to grasp their menu knowledge.

The bread basket came with little delay, housing slices of fresh baguette toasted to the brink. Baguette is baguette. I remain largely unprovoked as long as no delifrancey chewing challenge is involved. Or maybe a foccacia would jazz up better italian colors.

Spaghetti al Nero di Seppia

Black beware. Although veritably tasty of sea tang and aldenteness, the Spaghetti al Nero di Seppia ($26) had a killer black glow. Lips, gums and teeth were all unpardoned from its intense penetrating dye. The Darlie endorsers would avoid it like plague. Giardino insists, strictly a black napkin for this dish.

Tagliolini con Aragosta

I chose a clearly million times more diner-friendly pasta on my end and slurped up every pleasurable strand. Tagliolini con Aragosta ($28) featured their homemade egg pasta paired with generous chunks of lobster meat. The whitewine-sauteed crustacean and cherry tomatoes nicely incorporates with their substantially expanded tagliolini to become very delectable.

Tiramisu

When on to dessert, our boring choice wasn't as rewarding as anticipated. The restaurant's Tiramisu ($10) looked way too undersized to come from the Gastronomia and lacked most full-bodiedness the dessert should withhold.

I resorted to settling my sugar fix with a Passionfruit Gelato over at the Gastronomia. Melted real quick like lightning.

On days of hush business, this is the exemplary place to spend undisturbed with close company and italian pastas. I like this hidden nest i found (:

Da Paolo Il Giardino

501 Bukit Timah Road

#01-05 Cluny Court
6463 9628