The Great Pasta Hunt is a series out of many. Our quest is to uncover the best pasta places in Singapore and we are prepared to go near or as far as our wallets will take us, just to find it!
Last Saturday, we explored the village of Holland (Holland Village) and our quest brought us to La Nonna. Although this hunt is focused on pasta, we will comment on the non-pasta items we ordered such as the calamari and the complimentary bread basket that we had for appetizers. But, the star will definitely be the pasta!
1. Food
La Nonna, which means “The Grandmother”, serves home-style Italian cuisine. Think of hearty and rustic meals that your grandmother might have prepared if you were in Italy.
Their unique menu is very simple and does not smother you with so many choices.
For starters, we were given a complimentary basket of bread accompanied by olive oil and balsamic vinegar, which is practiced by most Italian restaurants. There were two varieties of bread, round and chewy and the other one was flat and crispy. I love getting bread baskets especially when parmesan cheese is added to the olive oil and balsamic dip! The server was generous with the parmesan cheese and gave us a lot of it.
We also ordered Calamari, which was served with a side of salad greens in a tangy balsamic dressing. I must say that the portion of the calamari was quite generous, as there were three of us and we had trouble finishing up the plate. While the calamari was soft and not overcooked, I felt that the flavour of the batter could be improved. In my opinion, all the ingredients in a good batter or any dish should work together to create a seamless flavour. However, the salt in the calamari was the only flavour that stood out and overpowered the batter.
The Pastas were next. We tried three kinds, the Spaghetti Al Granchio, Ravioli, and the Vongole. The pasta with clams was not in the menu, but the server said that they make it upon request. I thought this was great of them, they are so accommodating! When I tasted the pasta, I was really disappointed because the flavour was lacking! I am not exaggerating, but the Vongole pasta was sooo bland that I was adding salt, pepper and parmesan cheese from the first to the last bite. Despite the lack in flavour, I finished my plate because the pasta was cooked just right, al dente, and any pasta lover would appreciate that. The clams were also fresh and again, the serving was filling for one.
The Spaghetti Al Granchio and Ravioli were very good choices! The Al Granchio had crab meat in cream and paprika sauce. They did not scrimp on the crab meat and it was not processed crab meat either. The Ravioli with truffle-scented had good flavour but the smell was quite overpowering. Both pasta were al dente and the flavours were just right, not like the Vongole. The servings were quite generous too.
2. Service
The staff immediately pours you a glass of water and they are usually alert to refill it. A big plus in my book! I consider the service very good because a server quickly approached us whenever we raised our hand or needed something. Note that we were seated indoors and near most of the wait staff.
There's no hard rule about what wine goes with what dish. Choose wine that will not overpower the taste of your dish.
3. Ambiance
The Holland V branch is a simple place to bring friends or family but not a romantic date. Not sure how the branch in Namly Place looks like.
4. Price
The pasta costs around SG$18-20 per serving. I noticed that the price of pasta in Singapore is around that range, so I think this is worth it.
Don't forget that the prices are exclusive of service charge and tax.
The Verdict
Would I return again? Yes, I would be back for the service and to try the other pasta dishes, the soups and the pizzas but definitely not the Vongole. Do note that the Vongole was not in the menu.
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The Great Pasta Hunt series is written by our pasta-loving author, Cheryl.
PS. If you want to know other great pasta places in Singapore, drop your email here!
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