– Tasting Invite –

Pepenero, meaning black pepper in Italian, refers to the world’s most popular and commonly used spice. As for Ristorante PepeNero, it is a semi-fine dining Italian restaurant located in the CBD area of Singapore that offers a dining experience that excites the senses. I was invited by one of PepeNero’s co-owner, Amy Sim, to try some of the dishes and went there on a Saturday night. This photo was taken after our dinner, which explains the unoccupied tables but it was surprising that the restaurant was almost full on a weekend despite its location. Amy told us that PepeNero is usually very packed on weekdays, both during lunch and dinner. As for the food, they strive to bring freshness and purity to their menu and almost all their quality ingredients are imported fresh. The ambience is relaxed which makes it a perfect place for business meetings, family gatherings, birthday celebrations or that special date.

We had a bottle of Prosecco to keep us happy throughout our dinner 😛 I’m not sure how many types are there in the market, probably plenty, but this was really smooth and a little sweet which was easy to drink. Chef Donato planned a degustation menu for us, after making a mental note that we do not eat beef. A degustation menu at PepeNero usually costs between $100 -$120 depending on the number of courses and seasonal ingredients incorporated.

We kicked things off by sampling 3 types of Antipasti dishes, which are normally served individually in a larger portion. I will introduce the dishes from left to right because the photos are arranged as such, even though we started with the lightest tasting dish.

I’m a huge fan of parma ham and the Buffalo Mozzarella from Puglia Cheese with “Pachino” Tomatoes and Parma Ham ($29) certainly exceeded my expectations. The thinly sliced parma ham, when paired with the buffalo mozzarella, was excellent. It was seductively savory enough to whet our appetites. We also had the Deep Fried Seafood “Frittura” with Jumbo Prawn, Calamari, Soft Shell Crab, Wasabi Mayonnaise and Tartar ($24) which was thankfully not overwhelmingly hot enough to make our eyes tear. If you would prefer a light tasting starter, I strongly recommend the Tuna and Swordfish Carpaccio with Orange Salad, Marinated in Sicilian Citrus Dressing ($24) which tasted really refreshing and would not fill you up that quickly if you are planning to try more dishes.

I didn’t manage to find the Pumpkin Soup with Pork Cotechino ($19) in the menu but I reckon that it will be well-received. What is a cotechino, you may wonder. It is a type of cured meat, similar to salami. The fresh sausage is made pork and fat, with pig skin that is ground in with the meat. The sausage had also been heavily spiced, so you can imagine a myraid of delicious flavors – sweet, savory and spicy, all in one dish.

Not surprisingly, PepeNero’s pastas are all made in-house. Both misterchewy and I were full of praises for the Pappardelle Pasta with Slow Cooked Pork Ribs Ragù and Pecorino Cheese ($24) as we savored every mouthful. The pasta was cooked al dente and the pork ribs ragù was extremely tender, and not forgetting, flavorful. This dish was truly exemplary.

There’s something sexy about showing off one’s black stained teeth, but that’s only if you are having PepeNero’s Home made Black Squid Ink Risotto with Calamari and Pan-Seared Scallop ($29). This was another dish that we fell in love with. The rice grains are plump and sticky, which managed to absorb the rich flavors from the squid ink and parmesan cheese. The pan-seared scallop was done just right, but then again, the risotto on its own was really good enough.

I used to proudly profess my love for fatty pork belly and that I have absolutely no qualms about eating its fats. However, this Oven Baked Pork Belly with Au Jus, Eggplant Involtini and New Baby Potatoes ($30) made me eat my words. This pork belly had been cooked for many hours and had a huge layer of soft white fats which I slowly found hard to finish. The skin was also akin to that of cuttlefish, which was difficult to chew. On the other hand, the eggplant involtini, layered with tomatoes and cheese, was pretty brilliant.

The Pan Seared Tuna Goulash with Grilled Leeks and Crustacean Reduction ($30) fell short of our expectations as we were deceived into thinking that it would be delicate and succulent since it was pan-seared. It turned out to be quite hard and dry, and the accompanying sauce failed to salvage it.

Here’s a cross-section of the tuna, shot by misterchewy. We are still puzzled as to why the meat was so tough.

After so many courses, it was finally time for some Italian desserts! The Cream Caramel with Almond Biscotti ($11) had a smooth, silky consistency while taste-wise, it was rich and creamy. I also liked the fact that it tasted a little eggy.

I was happy to spot vanilla bean specks on our Cream Pudding “Pannacotta” with Fresh Strawberry and Forest Berry Compote ($12). This was more refreshing than the cream caramel. If I had to pick a favorite out of the two, I would pick both 😛

Not sure where to celebrate Valentine’s Day? Now you do! PepeNero has already planned its Valentine’s Day dinner menu! 😉

Here’s a shot with Amy, Chef Donato and PepeNero’s restaurant manager. Thank you for the invitation and warm hospitality!

Connect with us at www.facebook.com/missuschewy 🙂

Ristorante PepeNero
14 Stanley Street
Singapore 068733
Tel: 6222 5808
Email: info@pepenero.sg

Opening Hours
Mon to Fri
12pm – 2.30pm (Lunch)
Mon to Sat
6.30pm -11pm (Dinner)
Bar Hours: 12pm – 12 midnight
(Closed on Sundays)