Two years on, La Bottega Enoteca continues chef-owner Antonio Miscellaneo’s uncompromising drive to make the best Italian pizza.
If you’re a serious pizza enthusiast, chances are likely that you would have heard of Antonio Miscellaneo, chef-owner of La Bottega Enoteca. Miscellaneo first made his name with Casa Nostra, an Italian-themed private dining experience he ran from his home that became a runaway success. In 2021 he opened La Bottega Enoteca to have a proper space to operate out of, but it still had a long waiting list of people hoping to get a taste of his rustic homestyle Italian cooking.
The reason for his popularity? You guessed it – pizza. Even Michelin-starred chefs raved about his pies. Those who were lucky enough to snag reservations were also effusive about his handmade pastas and other dishes, but it’s his pizzas that skyrocketed him into Singapore’s gastronomic consciousness. So good, in fact, that La Bottega Enoteca was even listed in ’50 Top Pizza Asia Pacific 2023′ by 50 Top Pizza, the Italian authority for pizza ratings across the globe, the only Singapore establishment to do so.
Two years on, Miscellaneo revamped La Bottega Enoteca into a proper full-service restaurant – switching out his private dining chef’s tasting menu for a more regular a la carte one – so that more people can enjoy his food.
It’s a beautiful space, La Bottega Enoteca. What was previously a dingy Joo Chiat Road shophouse front has been totally remodelled for an authentic Italian experience. The front is an alfresco dining space – once you step past the creaky vintage rolling metal shophouse grilles – that looks wholly like the courtyard of a Tuscan vineyard restaurant. Within is a space that’s cosy and intimate, perfect for an anniversary celebration or a serious date. The pizza ovens – electric Moretti Neopolis ovens from Italy, if you’re wondering – take pride of place in the centre of the restaurant.
And rightfully so.
The pizzas here aren’t your garden variety sort. You know, the kind for casual date nights or a family night out. They are for serious aficionados. These are award-winning pies for which you bring someone you really want to impress, especially if they love their pizzas.
Miscellaneo doesn’t pretend to follow the strict guidelines doled out for authentic Neopolitan pizza, but his “Newpolitan” pizza offers everything – charred puffy crusts, and droopy insides – we love about the classic. There’s a range of options to choose from, depending on your preference for toppings. They run from classic to quirky. The Burrata is probably the most traditional, while the Pecorina Sardo e Guanciale – a fun, almost carbonara-like take on pizza – sits on the other end of the spectrum.
To mark its second anniversary La Bottega Enoteca unveiled a slew of new flavours for its pizzas, such as the Mortadella that comes topped with shaved house-cured Mortadella sausage, Bottarga if you like the umami-laden brininess of cured roe, or even Broccolini, obviously targeted at the lacto-vegetarians among us.
Don’t be too tempted to dive directly into pizza. There are some great starters on the menu if you like your charcuterie, but the newly-introduced Calamaretti alla Griglia – simply grilled baby calamari that sits on a lovely bed of pea puree – is our recommendation.
The pastas are also worth trying. Our Pappardelle al Ragu d’ Oca was excellent with its delectable bits of juicy goose playing off flat sheets of toothsome pasta. For mains, you can’t go wrong with the Pluma alla Griglia, which is some of the juiciest grilled Spanish iberico pork feather blade we’ve set tooth to.
Once you’ve had Miscellaneo’s food, it’s hard to imagine that the Belluno native is entirely self-taught. His pizzas are priced on the higher end though – those are some quality ingredients – so you might want to file La Bottega Enoteca under celebratory special occasion or hot date night.
La Bottega Enoteca
Address 346 Joo Chiat Road, Singapore 427596 (Google Maps link)
Opening Hours 5.30pm to 10pm Mondays to Thursdays; 12pm to 2pm and 5.30pm to 11pm on Fridays and Saturdays; 11.30am to 3pm and 5.30pm to 9pm on Sundays
Tel (65) 9071 8400
Web www.labottega.sg
Facebook labottegasg
Instagram @labottegasg
