We ordered every pasta dish available at Scarpetta, and we'll be back for the wallet-friendly pastas and luxe ambience.
Whenever people ask me what my favourite carb is, I struggle to answer because I love them all. But in my heart, I can never deny myself a bowl of pasta. There’s something about perfect al dente noodles in a fragrant sauce that just hits right – even better if I get to try bowls of it from a new restaurant. So when a friend mentioned Scarpetta to me as an option for my birthday lunch, it seemed perfect.
Scarpetta review: Affordable and fancy in equal measure
Because this spot doesn’t take reservations, I dragged my crew along on a blazingly sunny day to Telok Ayer at 11.26am, just minutes before the restaurant opened. You can’t miss this spot as its awning adds a pop of yellow to the already colourful Amoy Street. While the restaurant was still prepping for lunch service, we were invited in to escape the sun and cool down, so we took the opportunity to admire the interior. Behind the bar counter, I watched the bartender juice fruits for drinks, while one of the kitchen team worked tirelessly over the pasta-making machine, and another tended to the stove.
Because we visited just days before Scarpetta’s official opening, we got a behind-the-scenes look at all the final touches that gave the restaurant its personality. The first thing I noticed was the way the tables were set – a full-length bar setting in front of an open kitchen, high tables with two chairs each, and some corner booths. “Perfect for date night,” I thought to myself. But to host a group of four or more? Might be a little tough.
After being seated (two at a high table, and the rest of us along the bar closer to the stove), I chatted with the team to learn more about the concept. Scarpetta’s owner, Aaron, was around the day we visited, and we exchanged a very spirited chat about our love for food and dining.
Through our conversation, I learned that the current menu started with 30 different types of pasta and sauces before being whittled down to six options. They even went through a multitude of burrata suppliers to ensure they were getting the perfect cheese. Talk about commitment.
Scarpetta: The small plates that will blow you away
Despite the slim menu, you have a great variety of cold and warm appetisers to whet your appetite. After tucking into the burrata ($18) with cherry tomatoes, pesto, and basil oil, we could taste the team’s tireless efforts in looking for the perfect supplier. Bouncy and creamy in all the right places, it’s an indulgent start to the meal. The radicchio salad ($14) with truffle vinaigrette, hazelnut, and parmigiano has a delightful crunch with light bitter notes that refresh the palate.
The zucchini frites ($12) were something I’d never seen before and I was immediately curious. Served with burnt lemon tzatziki, this normally plain vegetable is taken up a notch with a crispy texture.
Scarpetta also has a selection of Tuscan schicciata toasts, which you can consider a thinner and lighter version of focaccia. We had the ones topped with auction-grade uni (price varies) and stracciatella ($14) with truffle honey, hazelnuts, and aged balsamic.
The uni toast was buttery and tasted of the ocean, paired with seaweed butter and ponzu to add a subtle brightness. Meanwhile, the stracciatella toast was sweet with a Nutella-like flavour profile thanks to the hazelnuts. For anyone who enjoys having cheese and fruit at the end of a meal, we’d recommend getting this – it was more dessert-like for our palates.
Be prepared for an explosion of flavours in all the pasta dishes
Yes, we tried all the pasta items so you don’t have to.
We already know everyone will have questions about the cacio e pepe ($20), so let’s get into it. The cheesy and peppery sauce coated every strand of pasta, so each spoonful is full of flavour. Plus, the addition of crispy guanciale is a welcome salty note, creating a more satisfying bite. On our visit, we found the noodles to be a touch undercooked, but that’s easily rectified.
Another highlight on the menu is the all’assassina ($18), which was a pleasant surprise as I had never seen this dish on a menu before. For the uninitiated, it’s sauced pasta finished in a hot pan, intentionally charring the spicy tomato sauce. The texture gives added crisp and adds a unique wok hei flavour to an otherwise very simple dish.
The spicy alla vodka ($21) had all our hearts, and I would drink a bucket of the vodka sauce if I could because it was so flavourful. It felt like eating a bowl of tomato soup but in pasta form. Oh, and the Amalfi alla nerano ($17) is perfect for garlic lovers as the thin noodles are doused in it and topped with lemon and fried zucchini.
The bolognese ravioli ($24) is a steal, as most pasta places price their ravioli above $30. Stuffed with a mixture of beef cheek, bone marrow, and sundried tomatoes, it’s a burst of umami. The filling was a little too smooth for my taste, but the rest of my crew adored it.
We ended our pasta feast with, the al granchio e limone ($26) featuring taglioni, blue swimmer crab, confit garlic, and lemon. The delicate pasta is coated in a simple sauce, which lets the crab’s fresh flavour shine through in every bite.
Scarpetta: Yay or nay?
The overall verdict: we’ll all absolutely be back for more pasta date nights. Scarpetta is elegant, charming, and sure to impress anyone you bring. Plus, its wallet-friendly prices ensure you get both an affordable and high-quality dinner. There may have been some small hiccups in service and the food, but they’re all easily fixable and we believe this spot will only get better with time. Btw, be sure to drop by the bathroom because we’re obsessed with the collection of candles Scarpetta has in there. What a dream.
Opening hours: Monday – Saturday, 11.30am – 2.30pm & 5.30pm – 11.30pm; Walk-ins only
Expect to spend: $30 per person
Scarpetta, 47 Amoy Street, Singapore 069873
