Chicco Pasta Bar Review: Popular Handmade Pasta From $18++ At Holland Village

Chicco Pasta Bar has new outlet at Holland Village

Holland Village is known for its wealth of trendy cafes and good dessert spots, such as the newly opened Frankie & Ferns cafe and the Japan-famous Warabimochi Kamakura. Now, pasta connoisseurs will rejoice knowing that Chicco Pasta Bar has opened a second outlet at Holland Village!

Known for its wide array of Italian pasta and pocket-friendly prices, Chicco Pasta Bar aims to be a place for all to enjoy authentic Italian cuisine without breaking the bank. The restaurant also has another outlet at Telok Ayer, but Westies can now try their popular Italian fare without travelling too far. 

Food at Chicco Pasta Bar

We started our meal with the Duck and Parma Ham Toastie ($16++), consisting of duck confit, parma ham and manchego cheese. The melted cheese added a hint of savouriness, which went well with the  rich flavour of the two  meats. We also liked how the black garlic mayo was thick, creamy, and had a pronounced garlic flavour, complementing the toastie well.

For mains, we tried the classic Spaghetti Aglio Olio ($24++). It came with a generous amount of seafood including squid, prawns, and clams, tossed in olive oil and garlic then topped with some parsley for garnish.  

Although aglio olio is one of the simplest dishes to cook, the flavours from this dish were complex. I appreciated how the seafood were succulent and juicy, adding a briny and slightly sweet flavour to the garlic-rich, al dente noodles. Altogether, this dish was simple yet flavourful—you can’t go wrong with this.

Next up is the Gramigna ($20++), served with tender pork ragu and topped with sliced cheese. For the uninformed, gramigna is a short and curly pasta, similar to macaroni. This pasta is typically served with cream sauce as it is known to absorb the sauce well. 

There was a strong aroma of melted cheese as the server set this dish on our table. Upon mixing, the melted cheese resulted in the pasta having a thick consistency. Furthermore, the generous serving of pork ragu, which was slightly spicy, which helped to prevent the pasta from being too jelak while enhancing the flavour of the dish. 

For something less meaty, we tried the Gigli ($18++), which comes with truffle ricotta cheese and field mushrooms. Gigli is typically in a shape of a cone with fluffed edges, most famous in the Tuscany region in Italy. 

The highlight of our meal, this dish had an adequate amount of sauce which evenly coated each piece of pasta, making it quite indulgent. It had a very earthy and umami flavour, perhaps from the mushrooms, making this a full-bodied dish. 

Last but not least, we had the Iberico Pork Chop Parmigiana ($30++), an outlet-exclusive. Served with a side of fries, this dish comprises fried Iberico pork chop coated with tomato sauce and melted cheese. 

While there was nothing to shout about the taste, I appreciated how the skin retained its crispy texture despite the tomato sauce on top of it. The portion was also quite big, relative to its price. 

A must-try dessert at Italian restaurants is tiramisu, and Chicco Pasta Bar’s rendition did not disappoint. Their Pistachio Tiramisu ($12++), served with crushed pistachio and coffee mascarpone,  was rich and decadent, and was not too sweet as well. The coffee-soaked biscuits had a creamy and velvety texture, contrasting the texture of the crunchy pistachio nuts. However, my only feedback about this is that the pistachio flavour could be more prominent. 

Ambience at Chicco Pasta Bar

The restaurant is not very spacious, so it can get a bit packed during peak hours. Nonetheless, Chicco Pasta Bar can host groups of eight to 10 people, though reservations are recommended. Bar seating is also available for those looking for a drink. 

The restaurant is very eye-catching, with black and white tiled floors and orange furnishing. Staff members are also friendly and service is quick, adding to the welcoming atmosphere of the restaurant.  

Chicco Pasta Bar is a five-minute walk from Holland Village MRT Station. 

The verdict

Overall, Chicco Pasta Bar has authentic Italian food which is not only delicious, but also value-for-money. If you’re looking for a place for casual date nights, Chicco Pasta Bar’s the perfect place for you. 

For more pasta-related news, take a look at our Bar Cicheti review. Else, take a look at our One Holland Village guide, with food options including wood-fired steak and NY-famous ice cream. 

Address: 27 Lor Mambong, Singapore 277686
Opening hours: Tue-Thurs 11:30am to 2:30pm, 5pm to 10pm, Fri 11:30am to 2:30pm, 5pm to 11pm, Sat 11:30am to 11pm, Sun 11:30am to 10:30pm
Tel: 8468 8146
Website
Chicco Pasta Bar is not a halal-certified eatery. 

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