Italian Restaurant Bangsar Shopping Centre – BSC

Italian Restaurant Bangsar Shopping Centre – Roberto’s

Words: Monica Tindall
Photos: Han Sen Hau

Opening in late 2020, mid-way through the pandemic, Roberto’s shot off to a brilliant start. Customers were eager to get out and about, and the beautiful covered, open-walled setting surrounded by lush greenery was an attractive location. It was perfect for those looking for a pretty place to dine and wanting more of an alfresco feel to escape the monotony of their homes. We’re eager to return today to see the evolution of the Italian restaurant in Bangsar Shopping Centre, and just as grateful for the stylish yet casual ambience to pass a few hours over lunch.

The setting has to be one of the most appealing in the city. The covered outdoor deck is bordered by healthy plants, cooled by serious ceiling fans and livened with orange tables and chairs. Indoors, the bar is a handsome spot for an aperitif and offers an air-conditioned dining room.

Drinks Menu

Speaking of quenching thirsts, there’s a full range of beverages, from fresh juices and smoothies, tea and coffee, to spirits, cocktails and a well-curated wine list. We like to kick off with cocktails, and it’s hard to go past a namesake. So, Roberto’s (RM 48) is our top pick. We’re happy to report that the mix of Aperol, gin, ginger puree, lemon, tonic water and mint leaves is fab! It’s fresh, citrusy, garnished with an orange slice, and wonderful on a hot afternoon.

Another standout is Roberto’s list of premium Gin Tonics, made with boutique spirits, premium tonics and garnishes designed to complement the unique botanicals in each gin. Sorgin Small Batch Sauvignon (RM 48) is poured over ice, topped up with Acqua Brillante Tonic Italiana and adorned with a grapefruit slice. This is quite a unique gin, as it incorporates sauvignon blanc grapes along with juniper and botanicals. It’s aromatic, fruity and floral with herbaceous undertones. We’d be happy with a repeat order.

Daily Cocktail Special

If you always have your eye out for a deal, this Italian restaurant in Bangsar Shopping Centre has a value-for-money “Flight of 3” cocktails available daily between 3 pm and 7 pm for RM 88++. The house-curated cocktails start from light and move to more intense, encouraging takers to sign up for all three. The collection begins with Bay Breeze (Smirnoff, cranberry & pineapple). In the middle, there’s Sunrise Gin (Bombay Sapphire & Angostura Aromatic Bitters), and the flight ends with Roberto’s Martini (Bombay Sapphire, grapefruit, simple syrup and fresh basil). For my mature palate, they’re all a little on the sweet side (I’d be more likely to lean towards their Aperol Spritz & Focaccia deal RM44++), but my tablemates find their fruity sweetness quite enjoyable. 

Roberto’s Wine List

Roberto’s wine list is unashamedly Italian, with a few French and even fewer new world wines thrown in for diversity. There are eight wines available by the glass. The choice is much appreciated and impressive to find outside a hotel setting. Having stayed with the Castello di Querceto team for several days in Tuscany, Italy, I have a bias and fond memories of their wines, so I order both their red and white. The first, Vernaccia di San Gimignano DOCG (RM 36), is a great mate to our seafood and salad. It’s the region’s only DOCG white wine (this region also makes reds, roses and the iconic vin santo). It fills the whole mouth with flavour, has great acidity and ends with a persistent, crisp finish. 

Also by the same producer and what the region is best known for, Chianti DOCG, Castello di Querceto (RM 38), is our pick of the red wines by the glass. This primarily Sangiovese wine is a typical expression of the area with red fruit and floral aromas, followed by a medium-body, balanced tannins, earth, spice and a lingering finish. It’s fantastic with our cheese platter and perfectly matches our lamb. However, it’s also versatile enough to shine with the red sauces in our pizza and pasta. 

Salads

Greens are always a good start, lining the tummy with something healthy and justifying any less nutritious choices later on. As such, the Spinach Salad (RM 36) is our first food order and fits the wellness bill with baby spinach, confit cherry tomatoes, feta cheese, walnuts and beetroot in an olive-oil-rich basil pesto. 

I Nostri Formaggi, Cheese Platter (RM 58), is an excellent starter or companion to wine with friends. Asiago, Parmigiano, grilled smoked scamorza, brie, and gorgonzola cheeses are served at just the right temperature. The brie is melty, and the cheeses help spread the flavours of our wine all around the mouth (note: the red wine is great with this platter). Margarita, who is on reel’s duty today, teaches us a new word – turophile to describe cheese lovers. She would well know being a self-confessed cheese connoisseur herself. Pear, strawberry, blueberry, dried fruits and honey act as accompaniments, and we’re all ready to jump on the “philia” bandwagon with this selection. Yum!

Pasta

Two pages of dry and fresh pasta are on the menu of this Italian restaurant in Bangsar Shopping Centre. When the chef makes pasta by hand, it’s always our go-to option, so we turn straight to the page of Fatta in Casa. The little parcels of hand-made Eggplant Ravioli (RM 44) are perfect capsules of a slightly firm pasta that burst open with soft eggplant when pressed in the mouth. It’s a nice contrast between the firm pasta dough and the soft filling. A rich tomato sauce, buffalo mozzarella and basil pesto ensure the whole mouth is filled with flavour.

Pizza

With the Italian pizza oven taking centre stage on the outdoor patio, it’s wise to order pizza! On our first visit, we enjoyed the eye-catching and very Instagrammable Star Pizza, so turn to the Gamberina (RM 58) for a change today. The thin crust with only a lightly puffy edge was covered almost to the rim with tomato sauce, mozzarella, tiger prawns, green zucchini and mascarpone cheese. The cheese is so soft that it melts to a cream under the heat. We love it with the white wine and happily sit, alternating sips and bites. 

Italian Restaurant Bangsar Shopping Centre – Mains

Seabass in Cartoccio (RM 68) offers a little drama in the presentation as the “paper bag” cooking envelope is opened, releasing steam and wonderful aromas. The seabass fillet is cooked together with black olives, thyme, rosemary, lemon, shallots, olives, potatoes and cherry tomatoes, all imparting subtle flavours into the soft, moist flesh of the fish.

Ossobuco alla Milanese (RM 88) is the highlight of our mains. Ossobuco is the cut of meat with a bone with a hole in the middle of the shank. The braised meat is tender and flavourful, and we highly recommend sucking the marrow from the middle. Three medallions are served on a delicately seasoned saffron risotto bed with Parmigiano cheese. The rice has a light bite, and we can see and appreciate the flavours of the fine threads of the world’s most expensive spice.

Dessert

We’re so satisfied with our meal that one dessert between the three of us is more than enough. When the Semifreddo al Mascarpone (RM 28) arrives, we’re glad we were conservative in our orders as it’s three generous slices with two liberal scoops of whipped cream siding it. The semi-frozen mascarpone cheesecake reminds me of the Spanish nougat, turrón (only soft and cold), dotted with dried fruit and nuts and served in rectangular slabs. The plate is ringed with berries and Amarena cherries, offering mini bites of freshness that break up the richness of the dessert.

Grappa Counter – Italian Restaurant Bangsar Shopping Centre

To complete the meal and if you want to go the whole hog, check out the Grappa counter in the semi-alfresco area. Roberto’s has a range of beautiful bottles! Grappa is actually a very sustainable product as it’s made from the leftovers of wine production – the pomace – the remaining seeds, stalks and stems after pressing. Essentially, your digestive is guilt-free. We try Grappa Arzente Jacopo Poli (RM 38) with a golden hue, thanks to 10 years of ageing in oak barrels. Aromas are reminiscent of a pastry kitchen, with cream, spice and caramel, and it goes down smoothly. It’s much easier to drink than some white, unaged versions we’ve previously indulged in. Served in a stemmed, bulbous-shaped glass, the nose is slowly released while sipping. It’s fantastic to cleanse our palates of the creamy cheesecake and leaves us feeling fully satiated. 

Reasons to visit Roberto’s, an Italian restaurant in Bangsar Shopping Centre: beautiful relaxed location surrounded by greenery and outfit in Italian style; down-to-earth, authentic Italian food and wine. A big thank you to the service team – Hari, Mohammad, Daisy and Jubayel – for ensuring our glasses were never empty and all our requests were fulfilled.

Roberto’s 1020 Osteria
Italian Restaurant Bangsar Shopping Centre
285, Jalan Maarof, Bangsar
59000 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
+6017 3948 050.
Best to reserve to guarantee a seat.
www.instagram.com/robertos.1020
*Pork-free

Roberto’s 1020 Osteria Opening Hours
Daily 9 am–midnight

*Pork-free

Find more Italian restaurants in KL here and stay up-to-date on the latest happenings in KL’s food and beverage scene here and here.