Don Antonio Pizza Bar, Italian Restaurant, Kampong Glam, Singapore

Don Antonio, Italian Restaurant, Kampong Glam, Singapore
Don Antonio Pizza Bar, Italian Restaurant, Kampong Glam, Singapore

Don Antonio Pizza Bar
“simple authentic Italian flavours”

A feeling of comfort and good humour encompasses us as we
enter Don Antonio Pizza Bar. Faces are friendly. Smiles are wide. Service is
prompt. The interior is unpretentious and the food wholesome. Although far from
Europe, we get the impression that we could be in the very hospitable south of
Italy.
Don Antonio, Italian Restaurant, Kampong Glam, Singapore
Don Antonio Pizza Bar
White walls are dotted with framed photographs of Chef
Antonio Cocozza’s home village, Torraca, four hours from Naples. Others pictures
are taken by the chef’s sister-in-law, showcasing some of the core ingredients
of Italian cooking. A simple cement floor holds seating for about 30 and modern
Latin themed tunes hum softly from the speakers.
It’s a family affair, just as many reputable Italian
restaurants often are. Chef Antonio helms the kitchen, and wife Germaine charms
guests on the floor. Only a few months old, this friendly Italian establishment
is already esteemed for remembering guests’ names, knowing favourite dishes,
and recognizing individual preferences. A spirit of community and kinship
impregnates the air.
Chef Antonio has a worldly 25 years of experience in some
very well reputed restaurants around the globe. His philosophy here though, is
of “home cooking,” “food from the heart.” It’s honest, wholesome cuisine, no
fuss.
Wine by the glass is refreshingly well priced for Singapore.
Hubby orders the Lazio Seiano Bianco ($10), which has the crispness of a
typical sauvignon blanc and a light fruity aroma. The Chianti Classico ($15) is
a comforting favourite from Toscana. Brandishing floral aromas, dry in the
mouth and soft tannins, it’s my drop of the day.
Don Antonio, Italian Restaurant, Kampong Glam, Singapore
Lazio Seiano Blanco
Don Antonio, Italian Restaurant, Kampong Glam, Singapore
Chianti Classico
Insalata di Spinaci ($14) has us off to a healthy start with
baby spinach, walnuts, shaved Parmesan, halved cherry tomatoes and a basil oil
dressing. It seems as though each individual leaf has been checked for flaws
and only the exemplary make it on the plate. It’s a prime model of what makes
Italian cuisine so likeable – use of high quality ingredients, simply combined,
allowing each item to contribute its unique flavour and texture to the dish.
The Italian white goes well with this salad, the light bitterness of the nuts
matching the acidity of the wine.
Don Antonio, Italian Restaurant, Kampong Glam, Singapore
Insalata di Spinaci
Silky layers of aubergine are alternated with a tomato
sauce, mozzarella and fresh basil in the Eggplant Parmigiana ($16). A ceramic
pot holds the piping hot dish and as I lift my fork the stringy cheese resists,
forming a bridge from plate to cutlery. It’s rich and seems to work Italian
magic in filling both the mouth and the soul. The sides are lightly caramelized
and worth scraping up to relish the crisper edges. My Chianti is a great match.
Don Antonio, Italian Restaurant, Kampong Glam, Singapore
Eggplant Parmigiana
One of chef Antonio’s specialties is white cream based
pizza. It’s not just the sauce, but the crust too that is something not so
common. Using a combination of three Napolitan flours, and a reduced amount of
yeast, the dough is let develop for 24 hours before use. The result is
something to bite into with more texture than the usual crispy base. It’s
lighter on the stomach too. We don’t get the heavy feel that is oft felt after
consuming pizza.
Pizza Porchetta ($24) sounds gloriously decadent with roasted
pork, cream, Provola cheese and salsa verde. The pork has been slow roasted and
gives a special oomph to the flavour profile. Cream leaves a lovely smoothness
in the mouth and the green sauce a little taste of garden. All in all, it’s an
intensely satisfying choice.
Don Antonio, Italian Restaurant, Kampong Glam, Singapore
Pizza Porchetta 
Potato dumplings with Porcini cream, white truffle oil,
rocket and shaved Parmesan compose the Truffle Gnocchi ($24). Exceptionally
well cooked, these little balls are of model delightful texture. Dense and
cushiony, they’re evenly baked all the way through. The sauce is creamy but the
rocket slices through it with a mild bitterness.
Don Antonio, Italian Restaurant, Kampong Glam, Singapore
Truffle Gnocchi 
Rigatoni Salsiccia ($24) gives prominence to spicy Italian
pork sausages, with cream, thyme and Parmesan cheese lubricating and seasoning
the dish. The thyme imparts a wonderful fragrance, and the minced meat leaves
its distinctive porkiness with a hint of liquorice imparted from fennel seeds
in the mouth. There’s just enough sauce, to leave a dribble on the plate, but
not wasted preventing the tubes from swimming around in excess. The spice is
mild and only imparts a gentle zip, so if you’re not able to take a lot of
kick, don’t be disturbed by the description of “spicy.”
Don Antonio, Italian Restaurant, Kampong Glam, Singapore
Rigatoni Salsiccia
The portions are generous. A meal here will leave your
hunger happily assuaged.
Even with tummies full from the mighty servings, a pocket of
space should be saved for Chef’s Tiramisu. It’s a signature dish he has carried
with him over the years and now comes to prime place on the dessert menu at Don
Antonio’s Pizza Bar. Again allotments are large, and this rich, moist
indulgence can easily be shared. Kahlua soaked savoiardi biscuits (and yes the
alcohol is much more than a drop), mascarpone whipped with cream, shavings of
dark chocolate, and a drizzling of yellow zabaione sauce, has hubby with
eyebrows raised and declaring, “Tremendo
finale
! Very good.”
Don Antonio, Italian Restaurant, Kampong Glam, Singapore
Tiramisu
As if we didn’t already have reason enough to return, Chef
teases us with the news that in the next few weeks he will launch a Limoncello
Tiramisu! Don Antonio’s has a firm place in our little black book of ‘must eats’
in Singapore and we think you should visit too.
Don Antonio, Italian Restaurant, Kampong Glam, Singapore
Illy Coffee 
Reasons to visit:
hearty Italian fare; reasonable prices and generous portions; everything we
tried we’d order again; don’t miss Chef Antonio’s Tiramisu!
Don Antonio Pizza Bar
2 Jalan Klapa
Singapore 199314
+65 6293 6548
+65 9227 1890
Open Tuesday – Sunday
12pm – 2:30pm
6:30pm – 10:30pm
View Don Antonio in a larger map

7 Comments

  1. The decor is definitely attractive, and your descriptions are simply amazing! The salad looks absolutely delicious and your description of the pizza makes me want to have some! Seriously, when I do eat pizza I prefer the vegetarian, as I don't digest pepperoni very well, and I prefer the thin crust. This pizza in your photos looks so good!

  2. this looks great. x

  3. That plate of salad looks very fresh and well-dressed 😀

  4. the roasted pork pizza looks splendid! i want a slice! 😀

  5. I could almost reach out and gobble up your picture of the tiramisu! Gorgeous.

  6. Mmm… Do they have deep-fried courgette flowers?
    One of my favourite Italian food 🙂

  7. Last year when i visited Singapore i had lunch in this Restaurant, Its food really amazing. If you ever visit Frankfort, IL then visit our Frankfort IL Restaurant, Palermo's of 63rd.

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