The Place I have been keen to check out Amo, a casual Italian restaurant by the ilLido Group along Hong Kong Street near Clarke Quay station. It finally materialised as one of our year end gathering over casual food, bites and conversations. Upon entering Amo, short for the Italian word Amore (which means love), I was greeted by the bar section, followed by the main dining area which has a semi private dining room. I didn’t manage to venture to the back of the restaurant where there is an al fresco courtyard dining space. The ambience is casual and relaxed, though it is relatively dim as well.

The Food The menu is more extensive than I thought, so it is a good idea to come in a group for a better variety. We started with the Burrata with Eggplant Salad, Walnuts and Bottarga (S$24), a fresh start to the meal. The eggplant salad adds a different dimension to the dish.

There are quite a number of pizza options though the one which easily stood out for all of us is the Bone Marrow, Wild Garlic Pesto and Anchovy Salsa Verde (S$29). We didn’t spit actually bone marrow on the pizza, hence we concluded that the bone marrow oil and flavour is already infused in the crust. Sinfully oily, this was nevertheless very satisfying. I enjoyed the generous spread of pesto on the crust which is a good attempt to balance the overall flavours. The pizza crust is neither too thick nor thin. I was satisfied.

Our girlfriend requested for the Black Cod with Crab Cioppino and Fregola (S$38), which is a decent rendition. The thing about cod fish is that the taste is very light and more often than not, I felt like I haven’t had enough food.

Comparatively, my love is dedicated to the Butter Roasted Golden Chicken with Grilled Corn Custard (S$58/serves 2 pax). The huge portion serves 2, and every part of the chicken including the breast is tasty and moist. It wasn’t too buttery in the face, and it hit the right notes in all aspects. This is the kind of protein diet I can have everyday.

We also order some sides to go along with our mains like the Roasted Mushrooms with Egg Confit and Caramelized Onions (S$15) and Spinach Salad with Lemon-Honey Yogurt and Hazelnuts (S$12).

Rants For a casual dining concept, prices are relatively steep. We spent about S$260 for 4 pax including some drinks and the dishes above. 

Will I Return Again? I like the casual vibe of Amo. The food is generally good though the service could be more polished. Otherwise, it is worth returning in the day or another evening for me to check out the courtyard dining space. Perfect space for the small group catch-up. 

Make your reservation instantly at Amo here.

TheRantingPanda says:
Taste bud: 4/5
Hole in the pocket: 4/5
Ambience: 4/5
Overall Experience: 4/5

Amo
33 Hongkong Street
Singapore 059672
Tel: +65 6723 7733

Opening Hours
Daily: 12 to 3pm; 6pm to 11pm

Ranted by The Ranter