What makes Wessex Estate famous is that it has quite a few black-and-white houses which used to housed the British during the colonial times. These black-and-white houses have now been rented out for commercial uses, but there is a row of old terraces which have been turned into a F&B hub with various food and drinks outlets.
I did not know about Pietrasanta until a few weeks ago when I happened to spot it on HungryGoWhere website. The reviews there were generally positive, with some reviews crowning Pietrasanta as one of the best rustic Italian restaurant in Singapore.
There are 3 areas of dining here: Indoor with air-con, outdoor by the road and another smaller outdoor dining area which is within the shared central garden.
White wine (S$18 per glass) - We ordered white wine, which was a good choice to go with the hearty Italian dishes.
Warm focaccia bread with cold pressed extra virgin olive oil. The olive oil was amazingly flavourful and light. We were also given a small glass of tomato juice which perked up our appetite.
Buffalo Mozarella with Parma Ham ($34.90) - This got to be the best Mozarella cheese I have tasted in Singapore. The cheese has a light taste, very fresh and not too creamy. People who don't like cheese should give this a try! Parma Ham was also of good quality. Highly Recommended! And note that this is not on the menu, you have to ask if this is available.
There is a small ham and cheese + wine room behind the restaurant, where diners can see how the parma ham and cheese are sliced and served.
Another highly recommended appetizer from the staff - Zuppa di Farro (S$10.90) - Emmer Wheat Soup with Beans, Potatoes, Carrots, Celerie and Onions. This is a really starchy soup where you can still eat and taste the wheat in the soup. For diners who aren't too hungry, I suggest you skip the soup.
Zuppa di Cipolle (S$8.90) - Tuscan style Onion soup with Bread croutons. How are the French and Italian versions different? The Italian style is not as intense as the French versions, probably because less red wine is used to cook the soup. So for those who find the French version too rich, you may like the Italian version here.
At this price, the Tagliatelle con Salsiccia e Tartufo (S$24.90) - Homemade Tagliatelle with Sausages and Truffle, is worth the price. Every mouthful of the pasta is coated with the wonderful taste of truffle. Truffle lovers should not miss this.
Squid-ink Pasta with Crabmeat Sauce (S$22.90), is not something you will find on their menu. Depending on the supply of squid ink for that day, you may need to enquire the staff and ask whether it is available. And Pietrasanta's version of the squid ink pasta can be considered one of the best versions in Singapore. You can taste the sweet flavours of the sea in this dish, minus the fishy smell and taste which plagues most squid-ink pasta.
We did order dessert (chocolate cake), but was reminded by the service staff not to take anymore photos. He told me the owner of the shop was not happy with me taking photos. So fellow food bloggers may want to avoid taking photos at this place the next time.
Pietrasanta
5B Portsdown Road
#01-03
Wessex Estate