Dinner at Pasta Brava @ Craig Raod

11 Craig Road, Singapore 089671

Tel: 6227 7550

Website: http://www.pastabrava.com.sg

When *Charmaine informed me that she wanted to eat Italian food, I cracked my head for somewhere we both haven't tried before, and chanced upon Pasta Brava, located along the row of conservation shophouses at Tanjong Pagar area.

The dimly romantic interior decor was both tasteful and intimate, yet there was no pretentiousness to it at all. There are Straits Chinese decorations and souveinirs around the restaurant, as well as paintings done by the owner's brother. The restaurant has two stories, and we were sitting on level 2, where we enjoyed the cozier end of the restaurant. The service crew was rather attentive towards the end of the meal.

We looked through the Menu that was created in the like of newspapers, just the way I love it. The cuisine here concentrates on traditional dishes from various Italian regions. There are so many items, we had a tough time trying to decide on what to have.

They started us off with some very soft bread and some olive dip. We welcomed the lightly sweet bread ravenously.

We shared an appetiser of Prosciutto con Melone (SGD$18.00) - thin slices of prosciutto ham draped over thick wedges of sweet, juicy rock melon. I love nibbling on the paper thin slices of prosciutto ham, suitably umami in taste. The contrast between the ham against the sweet and crunchy melon was definitely a palate pleaser.

For mains, *Charmaine had the Linguine Regina del Mare (SGD$23.00) - linguine pasta with scallops, clams, prawns, squid, crayfish in garlic and tomato sauce. The linguine were springy and the gravy was a delicious mixture of sweet-sour flavour.

I chose something under the "Pasta Fatta in Casa" (homemade pasta) section, the Agnolotti Farciti al Salmone (SGD$23.50) -  round shaped pasta filled with fresh and smoked mashed salmon, served with tomato and cream sauce. The pasta had a great chewy texture, and the mashed salmon was smooth, creamy, almost velvety on the tongue. It was utterly tasty.

After dinner, there was a birthday surprise for me, and I got to try the Tiramisu (SGD$12.00) - soft, chiffony and packed with aromatic coffee and liqueur taste. The light mascarpone cream was silky in between the cake layers; we were full but we just had to finish this delicious slab of pasty up, just had to had it melting lusciously in the mouth.

All in all, the dining experience here was fabulous, with quality food at very affordable prices as well as quiet settings so it makes for a perfect casual dining, date dining or corporate dining place.