(Clockwise from top left) Conchiglie cioppino from Pete's Place, buttermilk pancakes from Puzzle Coffee @ Dempsey Hill and garlic pork rice at Thai Station 42. Pete’s Place Beloved Italian restaurant Pete’s Place is back with a sleek facelift. Gone are the gingham tablecloths and terracotta tiles.
The classic checked pattern has been transferred to sofas that run the length of the space, while new wooden floorboards give the 51-year-old establishment a touch of modern elegance. But some things have not changed. The brick wall still stands, the menu hums with warm Italian classics and a cosy familiarity lingers about the place.
It is a bit like reuniting with an old friend who has returned from a long stint abroad – more fashionable but accent unchanged. Nostalgia may draw the crowds back – when I visit on a rainy Tuesday evening, the restaurant is packed to the rafters – but solid cooking could very well coax them to stay. The newly refurbished Pete’s Place.
PHOTO: GRAND HYATT SINGAPORE One of the highlights is the Conchiglie Cioppino ($58), a hefty plate of tiny pasta shells robed in a lush tomato sauce. All the usual suspects are here: mussels, prawns, scallops and the crown jewel, half a Boston lobster. Newly appointed Pugliese chef Salvatore Giorgio Catania also makes a mean Costoletta alla Milanese ($82), a breaded veal chop served with rocket salad and roasted potatoes.
This version is pan-fried instead of deep-fried, so it is not as crispy as other iteratio.