The Cicheti Group is behind some of our favourite Italian concepts, from Cicheti and pasta-haven Forma, to wine-forward Bar Cicheti and Wild Child Pizzette for gourmet slices. Its fifth concept, Casa Cicheti, finds its home in charming Tiong Bahru (read: the recent hotbed for trendy F&B openings).
The restaurant had a rocky start last December, having to close for a short period after opening. But now that the dust has settled, it’s time to dig into its extensive menu of Italian favourites, including a new take on Neapolitan pizza.
Casa Cicheti takes over the quiet spot where PS. Cafe Petit once was, and it has completely refashioned the all-black interiors and marbled floorings into something more rustic and inviting. Light wood furnishings and striped fabric upholstery whisk you away to a home in the Italian countryside, and the space is bathed in swathes of soft light in the day. But it’s at night where the cosy trattoria really comes alive with noisy get-togethers and the like.
In line with the familial theme, family-style sharing menus ($58 per person for lunch, $85 for dinner) are available, though be warned – these are sure to leave you stuffed. If you’re not a big eater, we recommend skipping the extras and zooming in on some of our favourites.
For starters, the gnocco fritto ($18) and carpaccio ($23) are good shouts. The former is generously laced with three slices of coppa each, while the latter has a robust flavour from the tuna-anchovy aioli and added texture from sunchoke chips. Cicheti is known to toss up a decent salad, and the Insalata Verde ($19) is no exception, with bursts of umami from the pine nuts and burnt miso dressing.
The pizzas at Casa are a crossover between Roman and Neapolitan styles, hence ‘Nea-Romana’. Made with a trio of flours – finely milled 00, rye, and a larger amount of semolina, they are then fermented for 60 hours and finished off in a gas oven. The crust and base bear more similarities to the crunchy Roman pizza (sans the square shape), but they come in classic Neapolitan flavours like marinara ($23), margherita ($25), stracciatella ($27) and more.
There are 10 pizzas on the menu, including the more unique Salsiccia ($29) with fennel sausage. But our guilty pleasure is the Cinque Formaggi ($29) – a devastatingly dairy-laden five-cheese pie that you just have to take the plunge for. There’s nothing better than the combination of fior di latte, grana padano, gorgonzola, fontina, and mascarpone, finished off with a drizzle of Greek honey ($5). Unlike many pizzerias charging in near the $40 range these days, Casa keeps its pricing reasonable with most pizzas priced under $30.
The Cicheti Group is pretty much synonymous with its pasta, and Casa has seven on the menu to choose from. For a kick of spice, go for the rigatoni alla vodka ($29) which is baked to achieve a slightly hardened, chewy outer layer. The taste of peperoncino is especially pronounced in the sauce, and bits of ‘nduja layer on the heat. Meanwhile, the cappellacci is a less intense alternative, where light spinach ricotta filling is encased in delicate pasta skin, pairing well with the freshness of the tomato and basil sauce.
Round off the meal with traditional Italian desserts like an especially boozy tiramisu ($16), salted pistachio cream-stuffed profiteroles ($15), or the decadent Budino ($15) which is all about hazelnuts. And like most Cicheti concepts, the beverage list is well-stocked with wines by the glass, quartino, and bottle; not to mention cocktails, ciders, and plenty of zero-proof options. There’s also a fun Blinder Challenge ($109) for the self-professed wine wizz – guess the country, grape, region, or producer of a mystery bottle and enjoy tiered discounts.
Casa might be The Cicheti Group’s most well-rounded outlet to date, bringing the best from its various concepts into an approachable setting for the masses. We see this spot being popular in the neighbourhood for special occasions, hearty reunions, and more – if folks are not flocking to the newly opened Magpie around the corner instead, that is.
Casa Cicheti is open from Tuesdays to Sundays at 01-41, 78 Guan Chuan Street, Singapore 160078.
Find out more and make a reservation here.
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