Bar Cicheti Review: Popular Fresh Pasta And Wine Bar With Smoked Cacio E Pepe And More

Bar Cicheti is a popular pasta restaurant and bar in Chinatown

If you love pasta and wine, you’ve come to the right place. Bar Cicheti, a fresh pasta restaurant and wine bar in Chinatown, has reopened its doors after a month-long renovation!

In case you didn’t know, the popular restaurant bar has been around since 2017. They’re now back with a refreshed look—think rustic trattoria with a moody, sexy vibe—handmade pastas, classic Italian desserts, and a fab wine list to boot.

Food at Bar Cicheti

We started our meal on a light and bright note with the Insalata Della Casa ($20++): endive leaves and candied pecans tossed in a tangy combination of raspberry vinaigrette, raspberry reduction, and pistachio oil. A sprinkle of shio kombu powder added just enough umami to make me go back for seconds. The salad was sweet and refreshing, making it a great respite from the afternoon heat.

Next up was Burratina ($28++), served with a side of sourdough that’s sourced from popular homegrown bakery Chu & Co. Here, creamy burratina—a petite version of burrata—was matched with a side of watercress and lightly fermented cherries.

I utterly enjoyed the combination of the sweet and tangy cherries with the rich cheese, offset by the bright and peppery flavour of the watercress salad. Mop every last bit up with the sourdough toast, and you have the perfect starter for sharing—or for yourself, I wouldn’t judge either way.

For something more unconventional, order a side of Zuppa Di Cozze Vongole ($28++), which gets you Manila clams and blue mussels from New Zealand cooked in a scallion-spiked pesto, chilli, and basil mix. If you have any leftover bread, now’s the time to dunk it into the spicy and flavourful sauce.

On to the mains: Bar Cicheti’s updated menu stars eight dishes featuring pastas that are made fresh in-house.

Those in the mood for something classic can go for the Calamarata Arrabiata ($30++), where a simple yet flavour-packed arrabbiata sauce is created by roasting tomatoes with garlic and chilli, then mixed with tomato juice and basil oil.

I loved the addition of the rich and creamy stracciatella cheese, which helped to balance out some of the spice and acidity. While the flavour was faultless, I wished there was some type of protein in this dish to justify its price tag.

Next up was the Tagliatelle Al Ragu ($30++), where hand-cut spinach pasta met fork-tender Australian beef cheek, finished with freshly grated Parmigiano Reggiano.

While I enjoyed the unctuous beef shreds, cooked in Merlot and braised with caramelised onions for extra richness, I felt that the tagliatelle strands were a tad overcooked.

Thankfully, the Bucatini Con Gamberi ($32++) fared better. Featuring roasted piquillo pepper, lobster bisque, and Argentinian red prawns, the sauce was packed with seafoody goodness in each bite.

Bucatini, a spaghetti-like pasta with a hole in the centre, is used here. The intention is for each strand to soak and fill up with the sauce, though I felt it didn’t make much of a difference here.

The highlight of my lunch was the Smoked Rigatoni Cacio e Pepe ($28++)—the restaurant’s rendition of the famous Roman pasta dish.

Rigatoni is fired up on the grill for smokiness and char, then added to a pan with butter and Sarawak black pepper, before it’s served with Pecorino Romano and aged Parmigiana Reggiano. A squeeze of lemon juice lifts the rich and full-bodied dish. This is a must-order at Bar Cicheti.

Some restaurant bars place the focus on their mains and neglect their desserts, but that’s not the case here. The Tiramisu ($18++) was well-executed; amaretto- and espresso-soaked ladyfinger biscuits were topped with eggnog-infused mascarpone cream and finished with cocoa powder, each layer perfectly balanced with the ideal amount of booze, caffeine, and sugar.

I was equally impressed with the Crostata ($20++).

This pistachio-loaded tart stars Sicilian pistachio cream, a crunchy pistachio praline, and a pistachio chantilly cream. If you love nuts in your desserts, you’ll enjoy this one.

 

The cherry on top was the sea salt flakes that balanced out the rich and buttery tart, though I thought the inclusion of the house-made vanilla ice cream wasn’t necessary.

Ambience at Bar Cicheti

Bar Cicheti isn’t a huge space so it might get a little squeezy during peak hours; reservations are highly recommended if you’re visiting for dinner.

The revamped space is cosy yet upscale and chic, with dark wood panels and rattan-backed chairs contrasting against the bold, red-painted walls.

During our lunch, we were seated at the tables behind the bar, which was decked in antique posters and knick-knacks, reminding me of a stylish living room. I can imagine the space having a different vibe at night, perhaps buzzier and sexier.

The restaurant is a five-minute walk from Maxwell MRT Station.

The verdict

While our experience at Bar Cicheti had more hits than misses, prices were on the higher side and portions were not exactly that generous. Nonetheless, I think the refreshed interiors and signature pastas make this spot splurge-worthy for date nights or special occasions!

For the full scoop on Bar Cicheti, check out our TikTok video below.

For more related content, check out our L’antica Pizzeria da Michele review, where we try famous pizza from Naples. Else, read our guide to the best restaurants in Singapore.

Address: 10 Jiak Chuan Road, Singapore 089264
Opening hours: Daily 12pm to 2:30pm, 6pm to 11pm
Tel: 67899801
Website
Bar Cicheti is not a halal-certified eatery.

Photos taken by Casandra Nicholas.
This was a media tasting at Bar Cicheti.