Authentic Italian @ Trattoria Nonna Lina

Singapore, being a small island offers many different cuisines and it is so hard to keep tab on them. To find a true family run restaurant is like finding a needle in a haystack.

Earlier last month, I was introduced to Trattoria Nonna Lina. The distinct patriotic colors is painted as their outer facade. This gem is situated in a shophouse along Cantonment Road. It is small yet cosy place where Chef Simone and his family runs this place. It serves enchanting Tuscany food with the Chef in the house to prepare the food and his family to entertain the request from the customers. They serve true blue Italian cuisine. Food is a little pricey but worth the penny.

Be it lunch or dinner, they will serve their bruschetta as their antipasto. This starter captures the flavors of the ripen tomatoes, fresh basil, garlic, olive oil and balsamic vinegar topped on toasted slice of baguette.  

Bruschetta

So far I have tried 3 different antipasto - Soute Misto, Insalata Fresca with King Prawns and Zupetta Argentarina. Soute Misto and Insalata Fresca was during lunch. 

Soute Misto

Insalata Fresca with King Prawns

Zupetta Argentarina

From the gardens to the sea, all the ingredients Nonna Lina uses are truly selected with love. My favourite of  antipasto is Zupetta Argentarina ($29). You can said I am a seafood lover more than a vegetable lover. The generous serving of stewed mussells and prawns in the creamy porcini sauce is simply divine. I recommend you to order the antipasto to share as the portion are good for two to three persons.

During lunch hour, I had their Crab Aglio Olio.
Overall it is a decent plate of al dente pasta with a bountiful serving of crab meat. The only downside is the crab meat they served that day was a little fishy. But this does not dampen my desire to come and dine again.

With that said, I brought my cousin, Ms G here for dinner where we ordered an antipasto to share (Zupetta Argentarina, shown above). We ordered 2 main courses - Carbonara di Mare and Tortelli all'Aragosta.

Carbonara di mare

This Carbonara di Mare ($32) is served with seafood (prawn, squid and clams) and bacon in cream sauce.
I have to admit Nonna Lina by far, serves the best carbonara. Each mouth of pasta is infused with the essence of bacon. This is a must to try.

Tortelli all'Aragosta

Next we have Tortelli all'Aragosta ($42). Homemade tortellli filled with marine lobster in seasonal seafood ragù. This delicacy comes with a serving of 6 pieces of tortelli coated with the ragù and topped with the seafood (mussels, squids, prawns and crab meat). You can taste the generous filling of lobster in each tortelli which we can't get enough of. The sauce has a rich taste and velvetly texture. A little sour, sweet, spicy...you can simply taste all of it in this dish. 
I wonder how they manage to cook their pasta to al dente and their sauce are forever so flavourful. Everything is perfetto.

Grazie Chef Simone and his family for sharing their sumptuous dishes.  Ms G and I enjoyed our dinner very much and will definitely come again.

Trattoria Nonna Lina
Website : https://www.facebook.com/TrattoriaNonnaLina
Address : 61 Cantonment Road, Singapore 089757
For Reservation : 6222 0930