SIN: PepeNero {CLOSED}

Mouth-watering red wine risotto with grilled duck breast!

UPDATE (20/01/2020): The restaurant has closed down.

Hidden along the quiet Stanley Street near Telok Ayer MRT station, the eatery which literally means 'black pepper' whips up Italian dishes in a cosy, lovely setting. I finally brought Melon again to dine with me and my BFF. Look at her excited look in front of a dish of panna cotta (lit. cooked cream)!

The atmosphere was truly amazing, for the soothingly dim lighting was harmonised with a medley of Italian songs in the background. I'd also like to express my gratitude for the amicable and professional service rendered. Thumbs up to the manager and the waitress serving us!

Bread

To begin with, we had an assortment of fresh bread with two types of dipping sauce: mild green olives with olive oil and savoury black olives. Upon finishing the bread, the waitress asked if we'd like to have more bread, but I kindly refused the offer.

Burrata con Crudo di Parma S$29.00

Taste: 8/10

To be honest, I don't quite like the smell of parma ham, even though the taste is acceptable for me. Moreover, without initially knowing what burrata (Italian cheese made from mozzarella and cream) was, we decided to give the appetiser a try. Apparently, when eaten together, the buttery cheese managed to hide the smell of the ham, without compromising its taste. The oven-roasted tomatoes, which also appeared in the two main courses below, were addictively sweet.

Petto d'Anatra con Risotto al Cannonau Gabbas S$35.00

Taste: 9/10

The main course I ordered featured an impressive array of colours against a black serving wood. Honestly speaking, that was one of the most intense and aromatic red wine reduction I've ever had in my life, paired with dense, sticky rice. The grilled duck breast was juicy, but could be just slightly more tender.

Fregola con Ricci di Mare e Branzino S$38.00

Taste: 8/10

Initially I was kinda sceptical about couscous pasta, but it was soon put to rest upon finding out that each grain was enjoyably chewy and not too small. While the sea urchin gravy had a nice tang of the sea, it was a pity that the sea bass fillet wasn't succulent enough.

Panna Cotta alla Menta S$10.00

Taste: 8/10

Before the dining curtain came to a close, panna cotta was presented with a dollop of blueberry jam (St. Dalfour's Wild Blueberry, perhaps?), accompanied with fresh blueberries and raspberries. It had a nice consistency with the right degree of sweetness. Alas, the promised scent of mint was entirely missing from the scene.

Melon's Rating

Taste: 8/10

Ambience: 9/10

Service: 9/10

Overall: 8.5/10

While the selection of menu isn't large, I'd really love to come back to try their other dishes. Pika's advice: For those who're interested, the eatery offers Daily Executive Set Lunch starting from S$35.00 per person!

PepeNero

14 Stanley Street

Singapore
(Mon-Sat: 12 noon - 2.30pm, 6.30pm - 11.00pm)

http://pepenero.sg/

*Prices quoted are subject to 10% service charge and 7% GST.

Have a nice meal,

Cliff(y)