On an impromptu sibling double-date the other night, we ended up trying this newish “truffle-themed” restaurant.  Cousin S, a “pig” with a talent for sniffing out worthwhile dining, had said that the truffle pastas here were a must try.  Since the four of us all love truffles,  we were eager to sniff up as much as humanly possible in a single meal.  Casa Tartufo compentently integrates truffle into its menu items in a way that does not overpower yet leaves a pleasant after-taste which lingers long after the meal has concluded.  However the dishes themselves were quite average for the prices charged, resulting in a decent but sadly forgettable meal.

We started with the Burrata cheese with truffle heart, San Daniele Ham with melon and crab, and deep fried sardines.   The cheese was nicely done, but too mild in flavor.  I had forgotten there was even truffle in the dish until I looked at the menu again.  Maybe it’s a regional specialty, but the crab just didn’t work with the ham and melon.  The sardines were well cooked on the inside, but not particularly crispy for being deep fried.

Our “mains” were a fettucine carbonara,  mushroom and truffle ravioli, and two orders of sea-urchin and truffle risotto, which was perhaps the biggest disappointment of the evening (not pictured since I’m still sad about this dish).  We ordered two separate dishes, both with issues- one had fishy sea urchin, the other was way too salty.  Even salt-lick loving G thought it was a bit too much for her.  Perhaps had we ordered a third one, it would’ve been just right.  The ravioli and carbonara both came out fine, the carbonara had the more confident truffle flavor.

The desserts were fine though not particularly notable, with the exception of the truffle gelato.  Yes, truffle gelato.  This probably started as a gimmick like garlic or wasabi ice cream, but unlike the other two, truffle actually works well in an ice cream.  The flavor is very rich so the chef wisely pairs it with a scoop each of vanilla and hazelnut gelato to keep you from feeling too jeluk.  We rounded out our desserts with a slightly dry chocolate fondant, a truffle tiramisu that had no truffle flavor, and a decent assortment of cheeses.

While the dishes could use a bit of adjusting, the real standout at Casa Tartufo is the service, absolutely top notch.  Here and Absinthe are my two favorite places that really “get” good service- being observant, knowledgeable, friendly, and not intrusive.  Some examples included our waiter knowing the ins and outs of each menu item to the busing staff efficiently serving, clearing plates and refilling our water.  There wasn’t a single lull in our meal when it came to our order taking, food service, or bill.   The only ding was the absence of a host/ess to greet diners.  Odd.

Overall, our meal was a bit underwhelming for the price paid.  While the heavy use of truffles was a great hook, the underlying elements needed a bit more attention.  The upside though was that after eating an entire meal laced with the fragrant fungi, none of us left feeling sick of it.  While my overall impression was mixed, Casa Tartufo has potential.  Perhaps we’ll revisit someday and be pleasantly surprised.

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Casa Tartufo
Forum Shopping Mall, #01-17
Singapore 23884
68364647