The Place Located in Telok Ayer, the newly opened Capasso is an Italian restaurant and whisky lounge concept by Chef Fernando Arevalo (of Bacata) and a group of partners. The first thing I noticed as I entered the 80-seater is the sleek looking lounge and bar where you can grab pre or post-dinner drinks in a cosy lounge setting.

The interior of Capasso is elegant, where the main dining hall with chandeliers and plush velvet cushioned seats looks over the open kitchen. There is also a private room which is partitioned by dark blue velvet curtains and is good for 10-12 pax. 

The Food The cuisine at Capasso is contemporary Italian food with bold flavours and is inspired by memories of Chef Fernando’s grandfather. You get to choose from small plates, pastas, meats and desserts, along with a good range of wines and whiskies. 

For a start, I had the Anchovies del Nono (S$18) where Serrats Anchovies from Spain are paired with thinly sliced fresh figs and topped with a blend of Champagne vinegar, extra virgin olive oil and vanilla paste. In addition, another good to share item is the freshly baked Pane della casa (S$8/House bread) is made with Koji flour and served with smoked butter. 

The Burrata Tradizionale (S$32) features 200g burrata topped with fresh san marzano tomatoes tossed with sea salt, extra virgin olive oil and basil. The portion is quite huge and good to share for 2-3 pax where you can expect a fresh burrata flavour. 

I like the Polpettone (S$20) where the crisp homemade pork meatball made with iberico pork, parmesan cheese, paprika, garlic and onion powder is delicious. The meatball is stuffed with buffalo mozzarella cheese, and you get that nice cheesy stretch as well. 

Moving to pastas, the Zucca Salvia (S$26) is a pretty safe choice where homemade tortellini is stuffed with a mixture of butternut squash, greek honey and parmesan. Topped with parmesan sauce, hazelnut snow and ground almond along with 25-years old aged balsamic vinegar, it is a combination which could not go very wrong. 

Alternatively, I also enjoyed the Anatara e Rosmarino (S$32) where the homemade ravioli is stuffed with homemade pulled duck confit and drizzled with delicious agrodolce (made with reduced vinegar and a blend of spices). The best part though is the crisp pork crackling bits! 

For a more adventurous option, try the Coniglio Del Nonno (S$34) where the homemade pappardelle is served with shredded rabbit Ragú. I was a little skeptical of rabbit meat initially, but this turned out pretty good, which has no gamy taste at all. The pappardelle is cooked in braising liquid so you get that nice generous sauce over the pasta and is finished with redehydrated-dehydrated parmesan pasta crackers. 

On to meats, the Maiale Caffe E Ciliege (S$38) showcases tender Iberico Pork Chop grilled in Josper oven and finished with homemade mash potato. 

Something good to share would be the Costata di Manzo (S$198/1.1Kg), a huge Australian Angus bone-in ribeye steak with a marbling score 4-5 which is grilled in Josper oven. Tender beef with a good balance of meat and fats, this is good for 4-5 pax where the beef is finished off with sea salt and extra virgin olive oil. 

Some sides to go with the steak include the likes of Insalata di Pomodoro (S$16) which features fresh San Marzano tomatoes tossed with sea salt, extra virgin olive oil and basil; Broccolini A la Griglia (S$16) where chargrilled broccolini is drizzled with sherry vinegar and finished with sea salt and toasted almond flakes; and the Patate Gratinate (S$16), thinly sliced layered potatoes baked in the oven before they are deep-fried for a crisp exterior and topped with homemade aioli and grated parmesan cheese. 

For desserts, I had the Burrata Ice Cream (S$12) where the homemade burrata gelato which consist of stracciatella cheese is served atop a bed of mixed of berries compote (blueberries, raspberries, blackberries) and finished with a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil and sea salt. 

Rants Nothing in particular.

Will I Return Again? Overall, I had a good meal at Capasso where you can expect good Italian dishes in a relatively “casual”, lounge vibes setting. The setting and design of the menu make it more ideal to head here with a small group of diners for a good variety of options to try. 

This was an invited tasting, though all opinions expressed are our own.

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

Capasso 
92 Telok Ayer Street 
Singapore 048472 
Tel: +65 8819 3306

Opening Hours
Tuesday to Saturday 
Dining: 12:00 to 3:00pm; 6:00 to 11:00pm 
Lounge: 12:00 to 1:00am 
Closed on Mondays & Sundays  

Ranted by The Ranter