It would be easy to walk past Casa MANINI mistaking it for a herbal shop if you didn't know that a Italian restaurant lay within. Tucked away in one of the quieter lanes of Serangoon Gardens is a charming home-styled restaurant reminiscent of the Trattorias one can pop into for a casual lunch in Italy.
Casa Manini serves up authentic Italian homestyle meals - and the perfect Sorbetto al limone made just right
Serving comforting Northern Italian fare in a charming setting with lush greenery and warm lights, Casa MANINI has a good selection of mouth watering dishes inspired by chef Manini’s family, who used to run a restaurant in the Lombardy region of Northern Italy. Must trys include their classic beef and pork Lasagna, Rigatoni al Brasato di Manzo and the traditional Carbonara with guanciale amongst many others.
We ordered the Calamari e gamberi fritti which was a perfect appetizer. Morsels of fresh shrimps and chewy squids came in a small basket. They are always a must order when we visit the Trattorias in Italy which has the freshest and sweetest seafood catch.
Next up we had the Burrata pizza. Sitting atop the prosciutto and arugula leaves on a thin pizza crust is a blob of fresh Burrata served cold. Cutting through the Burrata and spreading its creamy curds was super satisfying and it adds a nice touch of creaminess to the pizza. Hands down one of the best combinations you can have for a pizza, you can't go wrong with fresh cheese and ham.
Ordered the Risotto ai Fungi and Quadroni ai porcini which was a vegetarian option with porcini and forest mushrooms instead of prosciutto. Loved the velvety cream sauce and intense flavours of the mushrooms infused in both dishes and the lovely touch of Rosemary sprig.
You cannot leave Casa MANINI without trying the Sorbetto al limone - the perfect refreshing end to a wonderful meal. The sorbet comes in a whole frozen Sicilian lemon which was super tangy. You can also smell the fragrance of the lemon peels. How I've missed the fruit sorbets we had in Italy! This dessert made me miss Italy even more where we had sorbets and gelatos at every chance we get. On some good days, we may even have 3 scoops of gelato each.
Chef Manini's wife, Fiona is especially hospitable. She walks around the restaurant chatting up with guests, making sure they feel comfortable and everything is alright.
A convivial atmosphere coupled with warm hospitality, homely decor and timeless Italian recipes handed down by legacy makes for a perfect stay. Have a drink or two curated by Fiona, while indulging in some tasty home-styled Italian fare.
Casa MANINI
Address: 14B Kensington Park Rd, Singapore 557265
Opening hours: Tues-Sun 12:00pm-2:00pm, 6:00pm-9:00pm, closed on Mondays
Website: https://casamanini.com/
Serangoon Gardens, Singapore
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