Valentino: Favorite Italian Restaurant

February 9, 2010 | 21 Comments

Right on the heels of a romantic dinner at Forlino, I had another amazing Italian feast – the following day. The original plan was to have a simple lunch somewhere else.

“Why don’t we go to Valentino?” I asked jokingly.

Apparently, my lunch date took it very seriously. To cut the story short, we ended up at Valentino’s after calling to confirm a table. Stepping inside Ristorante Da Valentino, it feels like we are in our charming Italian neighbours’ house for dinner.

Most squid ink pasta, or at least the ones that I’ve tried, had the quirky and murky flavor. This one tasted like squid ink. It tasted like fresh ink extracted on the spot.

Like the one that I’ve at Forlino the night before, the Fettucine al Granchio ($23.9) here was also infused with squid ink. Huge chunks of crab meat with the fettucine, tossed with the creamy tomato sauce – it was absolutely wicked!

Now we have a problem. I want every slurp of the pasta. No, I do not want to share.

Option A: Finish everything and re-order before my partner returns from the washroom.

Option B: Try to convince her that the mushroom risotto is better than the squid ink pasta.

I could see no Option C, even though I was secretly praying that she’d not like the pasta.

Unfortunately not. In case you are wondering, we wiped the plate clean. I’d die for the squid ink pasta, or less dramatically, save up and come here every week – just for this.

I want Risotto. My dear Seafood linguine, it doesn’t mean I don’t like you anymore. It just means right now, I’m craving for risotto more.

Mushroom risotto has a very important place in my heart. I don’t always order it, but when I do – it has to be good. Maybe subconsciously, we wanted more of the squid ink pasta, or maybe we had small appetite that day. Either way, just a word of caution: see the plate of Porcini Mushroom Risotto ($23.9) up there?

It might not look like a lot, but trust me, both of us couldn’t finish it.

Sweetie, it’s desserts, and Perla’s Pastry Boutique is calling!

Right beside the restaurant, there is Perla’s patisserie by Valentino’s sister. There’s no dine-in area for the patisserie, but the desserts are available if you are dining in the restaurant. It was an agonizing choice between the tiramisu, panna cotta, frutti bosco and their signature chantilly cake. But the sight of the gorgeous mixed berries were simply irresistible.

There’s a wise saying that goes like this: never trust a beautiful woman, and if I can add on to it, never trust the beautiful berries to taste sweet. Call me shallow, but I actually fall for it. Oh well, what to do, I’m superficial. Anyway I believe there’s blackberries, raspberries and strawberries in the Frutti Bosco ($8.80).

* * *

A romantic dinner for two is not necessary just about fantastic view or fanciful cuisine. Lovely, lovely place. Valentino is my definition of a romantic restaurant, it is all about us having good food in a cozy ambiance. Here’s a restaurant for Valentine’s day, reservations are definitely a must for dinner.

I’m going to bring all my friends to Ristorante Da Valentino for their homely, authentic Italian food. Rifle range road is directly opposite King’s Albert Park & Bukit Timah Plaza. Pick up your phone, and dial the eight digit numbers. Get on with it.

Restaurant Review
Ristorante Da Valentino
11 Jalan Bingka
Mayfair Park
Tel: +65 6462 0555

Ristorante Da Valentino is listed as one of ladyironchef’s favorite restaurants in Singapore.

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Comments

21 Responses to “Valentino: Favorite Italian Restaurant”

  1. ah bui bui
    February 9th, 2010 @ 12:16 am

    am i the first? looks around..
    up and down.yes i am the first.
    its no good to look at pics at this hours.im hungry.. i want that superfical piece of pastry.. i want..
    ^__^ v

  2. LetsEatOnline
    February 9th, 2010 @ 3:46 am

    I can only imagine the reservations they get on Valentines Day, Beautiful photos as always and the food must be delicious.

  3. Sihan
    February 9th, 2010 @ 6:35 am

    charming review Brad. haha. and I can’t believe not having eaten there before despite the proximity to my home. The linguine looks to die for. Argh.

  4. Life for Beginners
    February 9th, 2010 @ 8:50 am

    That sure looks inky alright. Not quite sure I’ve acquired the taste yet for it though. :P

  5. Miss Glitzy
    February 9th, 2010 @ 9:08 am

    The risotto really looks yummy. Your photo makes me crave for it now.

  6. Angeline
    February 9th, 2010 @ 10:04 am

    very cosy place indeed. Looks very much like the Italian restaurant i patronized in Florence! :)

  7. Anne Soh
    February 9th, 2010 @ 10:26 am

    You’ve gotta try this if you lurve clams! Vongole Casser!!! This was one of their specials (appetitizers) the last time I went. And I lurve their squid ink pasta too!!!!!!!!!

  8. dorothy
    February 9th, 2010 @ 11:20 am

    oh brad are you on a mission to check out every cozy, romantic restaurant here! Very nice as always!

    I’ve never had squid ink pasta do tell me does it stain your teeth/ mouth black! Silly question I know but :D

  9. danghl
    February 9th, 2010 @ 1:37 pm

    nice to have a picture of the place. :) methinks ambience plays a rather important part as well, teehee.

  10. daniel
    February 9th, 2010 @ 2:19 pm

    this place looks fabulous! an italiano week for you ha.

  11. ciki
    February 9th, 2010 @ 3:29 pm

    love that shade of dusky pink;)

  12. Pailine
    February 9th, 2010 @ 11:03 pm

    I’ve been to the Valentino’s about a year ago. It was fantastic!

  13. ladyironchef
    February 9th, 2010 @ 11:28 pm

    ah bui bui: You are superficial like me? haha go satisfy your cravings my dear

    LetsEatOnline: Their dinners are always full, need to make reservations very early

    Sihan: I know right, we live so near but it took me until now to go. Sinny, you MUST go there when u come back next week, okay? Promise me you will go.

    LFB: Oh my god, you are missing out my friend! please do it for me, or yourself, go and try squid ink pasta again

    Miss Glitzy: The pasta is even better than the risotto!

    Angeline: Although i have never been to Italy, but Valentino always has that very special charm

    Anne: I know you been there many many times right? Ok roger, Vongole, here i come

    Dorothy: Because it’s valentine’s ma, so i’m helping everyone by giving some suggestions on romantic places to go. hee oh you haven tried squid ink before? it’s the best! don’t worry abt the stain, just enjoy the pasta!

    Danghl: Oh yeah of cos, ambience always make the food taste a lot better

    Daniel: yep, i’m not going to touch Italian food for a while, need a break.

    Ciki: are you into Italian food? the next time you come Singapore, i must bring you there okay : )

    Pailine: I agree! fantastic place hee

  14. His Food Blog
    February 9th, 2010 @ 11:29 pm

    Great set of photos you have there… you have just convinced me that I should pay them a visit soon

    ;)

  15. J2Kfm
    February 10th, 2010 @ 3:11 pm

    Luscious indeed, esp your descriptive rants about the squid ink pasta. I still have yet to taken a liking to those dark, slithering noodles for they’re neither flavourful nor interesting enough.

  16. chelle
    February 10th, 2010 @ 4:43 pm

    Oooooh love that place for its cosy ambience. I’ve been there at night before and it was awesome. If I didn’t remember wrongly, they push a dessert tray table out for people to select what they want. And the chef there is a pretty friendly guy, he went around tables chatting with the diners. (:

  17. ladyironchef
    February 11th, 2010 @ 1:55 am

    HFB: Thank you for your kind words, have fun when u go!

    J2kfm: Luscious sounds good. Squid ink pasta is really good, you need to be converted. haha

    chelle: yep it’s quite fascinating to watch them pushing out the dessert tray, it makes me excited everytime someone order desserts

  18. Janice
    February 11th, 2010 @ 9:52 am

    the pizzas are great too.. do try it when u go next time.. it’s super thin crust..

  19. mike
    February 12th, 2010 @ 12:32 am

    two questions
    1. is the squid ink pasta here better than the one in the picture on ur webpage?
    2. have u tasted pizza in this place? how was it?

  20. ladyironchef
    February 12th, 2010 @ 8:13 pm

    janice: really? yeah i will, next time!

    mike: well it’s very subjective, but i think i like the one here slightly more. I didn’t try the pizza, that’s for next time : )

  21. jo
    March 11th, 2010 @ 9:45 pm

    Haha, I do agree. Looking at the pictures is just not enough! I’m a sucker for Italian (and so is my other half .. an even bigger sucker).

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