L’antica Pizzeria da Michele Review: Famous Naples Pizzeria Opens Near Telok Ayer MRT

L’antica Pizzeria da Michele from Naples opens in Singapore

The word is in: L’antica Pizzeria da Michele has officially opened its doors along Club Street! The famous brand is one of Naples’ oldest pizzerias, having been around since 1870. This Singapore restaurant also marks the brand’s first outlet in Southeast Asia.

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Food at L’antica Pizzeria da Michele

L’antica Pizzeria da Michele is touted as one of the best pizza spots in Naples, according to the Michelin Guide. Their original Naples eatery also has over 37,000 reviews on Google at the point of writing, so you know they’re really well-known. Fun fact: they’re also known as the Eat Pray Love pizzeria, having been featured in the movie in 2010!

Sitting right smack in the centre of the restaurant is a huge custom-made oven that fires up each pie upon order. I’m told that the gas oven is so hot that each pizza takes just minutes to cook.

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In Italy, the pizzeria offers only two pizzas—Marinara (tomato, oregano, and garlic) and Margherita (tomato and mozzarella). At this Singapore outpost, though, you can expect a whopping total of 17 pizza flavours to choose from.

Start with the classic Margherita ($28++): tomato sauce, Pecorino Romano DOP, Agerola fior di latte (fresh mozzarella), and fresh basil.

The ingredients are all imported directly from Italy, from the same suppliers used in the motherland. I found the toppings extremely fresh; the tomato sauce was sweet with a pleasant tang, holding up well against the smooth mozzarella and sharp pecorino—everything tasted like they were of top quality.

The only gripe I had was with the ultra-thin base, which turned soggy quickly after the pizza arrived at our table. Perhaps it’s Singapore’s humidity, but the crust also appeared flatter than I’d hoped. Nonetheless, there was a decent amount of char and lightness to the dough,  alongside a pleasant flavour that I could expect most to enjoy.

Also, in hindsight, you’re getting a huge, 15-inch pie that’s larger than its serving plate at under $30—rare in this economy. This proprietary pizza is called “wagon wheel pizza”, a classic Neapolitan-style pizza starring a thin and wide base that extends and drapes over the plate under it.

If you want more zing in your pizza, I’d recommend the Cetara ($34++). In addition to the toppings featured in the Margherita, you also get Cetara anchovies, Leccino olives, and capers scattered around.

I loved the brininess of the anchovies, capers, and olives, though the trio, when combined, made things a little too salty after one slice.

Then there’s the Friarielli & Salsiccia ($36++), said to be an Italian classic. The star of this pie is friarielli, a type of broccoli rabe that’s popular in Southern Italy.

The vegetable had a sharpness that went well with the savoury Italian sausage chunks, though I found it a little too bitter and herbal tasting for my liking.

Besides pizza, you’ll find a small selection of pasta dishes, including the dinner-only Orecchiette Alla Positanese ($34++).

Featuring house-made orecchiette (ear-shaped pasta) cooked to al dente, Italian sausage, fresh cherry tomatoes, basil, burrata, and Parmigiano Reggiano, this hearty main was packed with flavour. I’m partial to orecchiette, so I had nothing to complain about this rich and comforting dish.

The pizzeria also offers a range of sides for sharing, of which I’d recommend the Burrata Alla Puttanesca ($26++).

This salad came with sundried tomatoes, anchovies, olives, rocket leaves, and a 125g blob of burrata from Puglia. The cheese was superbly rich and creamy, complemented by the sharp arugula and umami-packed toppings.

I also tried the Gambero Rosso Di Mazara ($38++), starring red wild Mediterranean raw shrimp and extra virgin olive oil from Italy, but found it mediocre for the steep price tag.

To end, you won’t go wrong with their Cannoli ($16++): crispy Sicilian pastry tubes piped with a sweet ricotta cream, served with fresh fruits.

Each cannolo was delightfully crisp, pairing excellently with the smooth ricotta mix. It was the perfect way to conclude our pizza feast!

Ambience at L’antica Pizzeria da Michele

L’antica Pizzeria da Michele sits on the ground floor of Mercure ICON Singapore City Centre, a four-minute walk from Telok Ayer MRT Station. The 70-seater is spacious, with both bar seats for watching the pizza-making action, and longer tables that fit groups of six to eight. Decor-wise, the restaurant sports a modern look with rustic elements such as mismatched wooden chairs and cement flooring.

Reservations are highly recommended; I’m told they’re already booked out for dinner these couple of weeks!

The verdict

L’antica Pizzeria da Michele impresses with its massive, value-for-money pizzas that are made with high-quality ingredients. Despite the dough being thinner and flatter than what I’d like, it still had a good flavour and decent chew. Come in a group so you get to try more flavours!

In related pizza news, famous Japanese pizzeria Beyond the Dough has just opened its doors along Arab Street. They’re known for their Tokyo Neapolitan-style pizza, which features a slightly thinner crust than regular pizzas. Alternatively, check out our Palmer’s Pizzeria review if you’d like Chicago-style deep-dish pizza instead.

Address: 8 Club Street, #01-08, Singapore 069472
Opening hours: Mon-Sat 12pm to 3pm, 6pm to 11pm
Tel: 9823 5724
L’antica Pizzeria da Michele is not a halal-certified eatery.

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Photos taken by Kia Ee Hor.
This was a media tasting at L’antica Pizzeria da Michele.