Bruno’s Pizzeria & Grill – Neighbourhood Italian Restaurant

Vesuvio Pizza

Bruno’s Bistrot / Pizzeria & Grill (‘Bruno’) restaurants begin its operations in 2010. Bruno’s restaurant initial focus is on serving Italian food. The restaurant has been operating under the radar, serving the neighbourhood crowd around their restaurants without much fanfare and publicity. In 2018, Bruno’s took over the corner establishment in Serangoon Road that used to be a popular bistrot and started their French Bistro.

Bruno's Pizzeria & Grill at Tanjong Katong

This review is solely on their establishment in Tanjong Katong.

We came in a group of six, so we decided to share some starter and pizza. Our meal started with a complimentary basket of bread, served with olive oil and balsamic vinaigrette. Nice chewy baguette, dipped in the traditional Italian way.

Complimentary Bread Basket

Burratina Cheese with rocket salad and Parma ham ($22). Smooth and creamy burrata drizzled with balsamic vinaigrette and olive oil. Instead of the usual sliced tomatoes, Bruno serves this dish with sliced cherry tomatoes, rocket salad and sundried tomatoes. I like the additional sun-dried tomatoes that introduce intense tangy flavour to this dish.

Burratina Cheese with rocket salad and Parma ham

Margherita Pizza ($16.90). A simple pizza that will test out the quality of the ingredients in a pizzeria. The crisp and chewy dough, topped with delicious tomato sauce, mozzarella cheese and basil. The version here definitely passes the test, though it can be better if they add an extra sprinkle of the mozzarella.

Margherita Pizza

Diavola Pizza ($19.90). Made for the meat lovers. Generous with salami and cut chillies as it covered most of the top part of the pizza. I find the salami is missing the smoky aroma and it is too tangy for my liking.

Diavola Pizza

Vesuvio Pizza ($19.90) - The toppings include mozzarella cheese, cherry tomatoes, shaved parmesan cheese and rocket salad. This pizza will suit vegetarian nicely.  The combination of mozzarella and shaved parmesan present a rich creamy and umami combo in this dish. The bitterness from the rocket salad cuts through the richness and pungentness from the cheeses, while the cherry tomatoes bursting with sweetness.

Vesuvio Pizza

For the mains, I ordered Spaghetti Bolognese ($19.90). A traditional spaghetti recipe served with beef ragu that is cooked over a long period. The pasta is cooked to al-dente making it easy to twirl and slurp. Meanwhile, the minced beef in the ragu has breakdown nicely and absorbs the flavour of the tomato and wine nicely. All the ingredients are bind nicely with the rustic shaved parmesan. Do take note that the pasta portion is huge and can easily satisfy two people.

Spaghetti Bolognese

LD ordered Seafood Risotto / Risotto Ai Frutti Di Mare ($26). LD’s favourite risotto. The arborio rice is cook till al-dente as it absorbs the stock and tomato sauce. The rice is plump, creamy and bursting with flavour in each bite, enhance further with the intense flavour of sundried tomatoes. The seafood is huge and generous in portion, however unfortunate on that day the mussels are stale. If not for the mussels, it is a great dish indeed.

Seafood Risotto / Risotto Ai Frutti Di Mare

The rest of the group ordered Linguine Aragosta ($25.50), Ragu Tortellini ($28) and Grilled Ribeye ($35). Since I did not try it, I will just show you the photo.

 Linguine Aragosta

Ragu Tortellini

Grilled Ribeye 

The décor of the restaurant reminisces of a traditional Italian restaurant. The traditional wooded chairs and checkers table cloths amplify the experience. Special offerings are written on the blackboard hanging on the walls of the restaurant. In summary, the restaurant is very cosy complemented by friendly service staff. Please note that if you are bringing a cake for a special occasion, there is a service charge for it.

Part of the Dining Area

Wall Decor

Overall, Bruno’s Pizzeria and Grill is like your neighbourhood Italian restaurant. The food is good but not super fantastic, however, the portions are extremely generous. A restaurant that you can return regularly with your family or order takeaway for a big feast. Saluti!! Cheers!!

Food & Drinks: 7.25/10

Value: 8.25/10

Service: 6.75/10

Ambiance: 7.25/10

Budget per Person: $26 - $50

Bruno’s Pizzeria & Grill

344 Tanjong Katong Road

Singapore 437113

T: +65 6440 4525

W: https://brunospizzeria.kitchen/

F: https://www.facebook.com/sgbrunos/

IG: @Brunospizzeria

OH: Daily 12.00 – 14.30; 18.00 – 22.30

Menu is available from their website.

Roots Mediterranean – Lavish Christmas Brunch [MEDIA INVITE]

Wellington Fillet @ Roots Mediterranean

Celebrate this joyous Christmas with lavish brunch at Roots Mediterranean. This Christmas, Roots Mediterranean has prepared a scrumptious brunch for you to satiate your festive appetite and spend a gratifying afternoon with your loved ones.

The Menu

The Christmas Brunch is split into 5 sections – ‘Tapas, Mezze and Antipasti’, ‘From the Slicer’, ‘Craving Station’, ‘Served on the Table’, and ‘The Sweet End’.

Sample of Tapas, Mezze and Antipasti

Sample of Tapas, Mezze and Antipasti

We started our Christmas Brunch tasting with an assorted bread basket. You get different texture and flavours. Our favourite is the crisp layer pastry, I later found the name as Sfogliatella. It is light, crisp and touch of sweetness is just right for a starter instead of desserts. I also like the pineapple Danish pastry.

Assorted Bread Basket

Highlights from the Christmas Menu are:

Oysters Cava served on the table. These plump and brainy oysters can be eaten with a few drops of lemon juice or with cava dressing. They are a delicious companion with a glass of Prosecco or Chianti.

Oysters

Prosecco

Wellington Fillet at Carving Station. The Wellington Fillet is an irresistible dish, as the beef fillet are initially seared, then baked in the blanked of mushrooms and pastry. The result is tender and delicious beef, topped with thick mushroom and red wine sauce.

Wellington Fillet

Wellington Fillet - The Perfectly Cook Beef

Wellington Fillet Sliced

Roasted Lamb at Carving Station. Roasted Lamb is a popular Christmas dish in the Mediterranean, it is also LD’s favourite roast. The charred looking exterior of the lamb helps to seal the natural juice inside the meat. Resulting in tender, succulent meat. For those worried about the gaminess of the lamb, this roast lamb leg is almost free of it. This dish is also served with potato wedges, onion, tomato and olives.

Roasted Lamb

Roasted Lamb

Roasted Wild Range French Yellow Chicken, Truffle Butter and Roasted Potatoes (served on the table). Delightful, truffle filled aromatic dish. The flesh is juicy and succulent, while the skin is paper-thin and crispy. The melted truffle butter is basked on top of the chicken and roast potatoes before serving. Yummy.

Roasted Wild Range French Yellow Chicken, Truffle Butter and Roasted Potatoes

Roasted Wild Range French Yellow Chicken, Truffle Butter and Roasted Potatoes

Roasted Wild Range French Yellow Chicken, Truffle Butter and Roasted Potatoes

Pizza Lobster and Prawns served on the table. The exquisite version of pizza here. The huge tiger prawns and lobster is seated on Roots Signature pizza base. While the prawns and lobster are delicious, we find the innocent-looking burrata is the ingredient that holds everything together.  

Pizza Lobster and Prawns

For the sweet ending, don’t miss out of the traditional Panettone with Tiramisu Cream and the Christmas Dessert Buffet.

Panettone with Tiramisu Cream

Part of Desserts Line Up

Lemon Meringue Pie

Italian and Spanish Cheese Buffet

Lavish Christmas Brunch at Roots Mediterranean

When: Christmas Day, 25 December 2019

Time: 11AM to 4PM

Price:

Adult $98+ with Prosecco and Chianti

Adult $78+ with Soft Drink

Kids from 8 to 12 $35+

Kids below 8 dine for free

For reservation, call 6463 4206

[GIVEAWAY] Mention CHUBBY BOTAK KOALA when booking the Christmas Brunch, you will receive a bottle of Prosecco to bring home after your meal.

Quote "Chubby Botak Koala" on reservation
and bring home a bottle of prosecco

Thank you very much to Jennifer Yeo Consultancy and Roots Mediterranean team for hosting us.

Food & Drink: 8.5/10

Value: 7.75/10

Service: N/A (Tasting Invitation)

Ambiance: 7.5/10

Budget per Person: $26 - $50,

Roots Mediterranean

2 Greenwood Avenue

Singapore 289189

T: +65 6463 4206

F: https://www.facebook.com/RootsSingapore/

IG: @Rootsmediterranean

OH:

11.00 – 23.00 Daily

Sunday Brunch: 11.00 – 16.00

Roots Mediterranean – Simplicity at Its Best [MEDIA INVITE]

Burrata E "Datterini"

Roots Mediterranean opens its door to the public in August 2019 at Greenwood Avenue. The Roots experience offers an epicurean journey which starts from the origin, the roots of the Mediterranean culinary culture. Roots Mediterranean (“RM”) provides the quality and experience of an Italian “Osteria”, a Greek “Ouzeri” and a Spanish “Tasca”.

Roots Mediterranean

RM tagline belief that simplicity is the ultimate sophistication, the culinary concept is simple and elegant. Using only fresh, premium ingredients and original recipes, delivering a hearty and flavourful dish to the diners.

Roots Mediterranean

Outdoor facing Bar

Dinner at RM normally starts with a basket of bread. Consist of different type of bread including sourdough, grissini, flatbread and others. The bread is served with olive oil dip. Following it, we have a feast on entrée and small bites.

Basket of Bread

Burrata E "Datterini" (S$24) - Imported Burrata with cherry tomatoes, capers and olives. The burrata is firm and creamy, but not the oozing type. The cherry tomatoes provided a sweet and savoury burst of flavour, while the capers and olives add the mini twist to the dish. One of our favourite starters in any Italian restaurants.

Burrata E "Datterini"

Dips are the heart of starters in Mediterranean cuisine. We had Tzatziki ($8) - The most loved Greek dip, Yoghurt, cucumber, garlic and extra virgin olive oil; Tirokafteri ($10) - A spicy and cheesy dip. A spread with yoghurt, feta cheese and chilli; Hummus (S$8) - The most iconic Middle Eastern dip: chickpeas cream with sesame paste; and Melinzano Salata ($8) - Roasted eggplant dip with lemon, extra virgin olive oil and parsley. 

Dips from Top Tirokafteri, Hummus, Tzatziki & Melinzano Salata
Hand Model: The Food Chapter

Tzatziki and Hummus are two of the most common dips found in Mediterranean cuisine. Surprisingly, the roasted eggplant catches my attention here. I normally avoid eggplant because of its sticky and mushy texture, however, the Melinzano Salata was tasty, bursting with flavour and nicely complemented the crispy bread.

Dips from Bottom Tirokafteri, Hummus, Tzatziki & Melinzano Salata

Tortillas de Papas Y Queso Fundido ($8). Spanish Omelette which includes potatoes and melted cheese is just irresistible. Although it can be eaten on its own, I like it as a dip or topping for the bread.

Tortillas de Papas Y Queso Fundido

Spanako Tiropita ($8). Greek Entrée. A crispy phyllo dough pie with spinach and feta cheese. Crisp exterior followed with creamy spinach blend with slightly salty feta cheese.

Spanako Tiropita 

Gambas Ajillo (S$15) - Sauté prawns with smoked paprika, fried garlic and parsley. The version here is on the dry side compared to some that I tried before. The prawn is crunchy, pack with a bit for fiery flavour from the paprika. Missing from the dish is the flavourful olive oil at the bottom to dip the bread with.

Gambas Ajillo 

Croquettas de Jamon Y Queso ($8). Very tasty and delicious croquette. The exterior is crispy, followed with cheesy and salty fillings.

Croquettas de Jamon Y Queso 

Next up are the heart of Italian dishes, pasta. Spaghetti Carbonara ($20). Al-dente spaghetti, coated with delicious strong creamy pecorino cheese. The flavour of the bacon-infused well into the dish; you can taste it in each bite of pasta.

Spaghetti Carbonara

Tortelli with Ricotta Spinach ($20) and Tortelli Crab Lobster ($24). The Italian version of dumpling. Both dumplings are bursting with flavour. The ricotta spinach fillings with tomato sauce have a nice balance between creaminess with the tangy tomato sauce.

Tortelli with Ricotta Spinach

Meanwhile, the crab and lobster tortelli are filled with natural sweetness from the crab and bouncy texture from the lobster. The butter and sage sauce accentuates the crab and lobster flavours and we can’t stop scooping it into our mouth.

Tortelli Crab Lobster

Lunette Truffle ($24). Lunette is round shape pasta filled with four types of delicious cheese, topped with black truffle sauce. Kind of reminds me of quattro formaggi pizza, instead, it is in pasta form and topped with the exquisite black truffle. Not for everyone, but a must-have for a cheese lover.

Lunette Truffle 

The intermission between the pasta and pizza is Paidakia ($35). Greek style Lamb Chop. The lamb is tender, succulent lightly marinated with oregano, garlic and lemon. Unlike most lamb chop, the is almost no gaminess in this lamb. It is served with grilled vegetables, mixed salad and tzatziki sauce.

Paidakia

Finally, we meet the star dish of the restaurant. Roots are famed for “pizza in teglia alla romana”, a special pizza which is rectangular and extremely trendy in Italy at the moment. The dough is slightly thicker, but it is extremely light, airy, crispy due to high hydration with a long fermentation time of 48 hours. The pizza comes in different sizes, namely 25cm, 50cm and 1 metre.

Roots' famous “pizza in teglia alla romana”

We tried 4 different flavours in the 1-metre plank pizza: Parma and Burrata, Sausage, Salami and Truffle, and Prawn Arrabbiata. The price for each one is 25cm - $18, 50cm - $26 & 1 metre - $50). I like the Parma and Burrata plus the sausage and for LD, she loved the spicy kick from the prawn arrabbiata. The pizza dough is so light, I still manage to try the four different flavour of the pizza. It tasted like fresh-baked ciabatta bread.

Parma and Burrata

Sausage

Salami and Truffle

Prawn Arrabbiata

Due to no alcohol for me and no coffee for LD, we swap out desserts a bit. I tried Frozen Pistachio Profiteroles, Hot Chocolate and Cherries; Tiramisu; and Crème Catalana. All of them are delicious, however, our taste buds are a bit numb due to the savoury food that we had earlier.

Desserts Platter

Desserts Platter

The décor of the restaurant is simple, almost like dining in the traditional dining room of an Italian home or Spanish home. The atmosphere is very much family orientated and lively. It seems that everyone is enjoying themselves including the kids as well.

Part of the Dining Area

Part of the Dining Area, The Kitchen Pass and Entrance to the Shop

Overall, dining in Roots Mediterranean is like having a gastronomic culinary exhibition in Italy, Greek and Spain. The food is based on fresh and premium ingredients cooked using traditional recipe. My personal pick is their pasta (spaghetti and tortelli), pizza in teglia alla romana, and anything with burrata. For awesome Mediterranean food, visit Roots. Saluti! Salud! Cheers!!

Thank you very much to Jennifer and Roots Mediterranean team for hosting us.

Food & Drink: 8.5/10

Value: 7.75/10

Service: N/A (Tasting Invitation)

Ambiance: 7.5/10

Budget per Person: $26 - $50,

Roots Mediterranean

2 Greenwood Avenue

Singapore 289189

T: +65 6463 4206

F: https://www.facebook.com/RootsSingapore/

IG: @Rootsmediterranean

OH:

11.00 – 23.00 Daily

Sunday Brunch: 11.00 – 16.00