Rustic, artisanal pizzas meets one of Singapore’s widest selections of Italian aperitivo-style cocktails at ANTO Pizza E Aperitivi.
In case it wasn’t already obvious enough from its name, ANTO Pizza E Aperitivi intends to make pizza and aperitivo cocktails a thing. Recently opened along Jiak Chuan Road in the Keong Saik dining enclave where sorely-missed Caribbean restaurant Lime House used to stand, cosy 80-seater ANTO brings together and celebrates those two stalwarts of Italian culture in a big way.
It isn’t that you can’t already find both pizzas and aperitivi at Italian restaurants in Singapore. They exist together on menus for sure; just not seared into the subconscious of the Singapore diner like they would in the Italian mind especially during aperitivo hour. ANTO founders Giancarlo Mancino and Antonio Brancato – both Italian natives born in Pignola in the south of the country – intends to change that.
Where Lime House was more tropical colonial chic, ANTO has reimagined the space for casual sophistication. Simple whitewashed interiors, accented by tones of black and green, offer elevated trattoria vibes. What immediately commands attention is the bar tucked in a corner of the venue where an impressive pizza oven also takes pride of place. Here master pizzaiolo Brancato holds court, furiously yet effortlessly kneading, spinning, and baking pies with professional intensity.
And if you’re any way familiar with the cocktail scene, you’ll recognise Giancarlo Mancino. The bartender-entrepreneur is the maestro behind Mancino Vermouth, a line of artisanal vermouths widely used in global cocktail circles.
Which makes perfect sense now with the concept behind ANTO Pizza E Aperitivi.
A bar professional scanning the back bar with a practiced eye will quickly realise that bottles are stored in custom chillers in place of the usual open shelves. But of course; unlike high-proof alcohol, wine-based vermouths are more fragile. Having them stored cold helps to retain the complex flavours of those aromatised wines.
Not to mention they taste better cold.
Mancino has expertly curated a drinks programme that put his renowned range of liqueurs front and centre. You’ll find all the Italian classics here, ranging from the refreshingly bitter-sweet Americano and fruity Bellini to not just one but three different Negronis of which the Rosato – a fun tequila twist – is our favourite. And while you won’t find pineapple-topped Hawaiian pizza here, Mancino takes the piss at pineapple on pizza controversy with Pineapple Pizza Negroni, a playful jibe that’s a twist on the white Negroni.
Oh, and martini aficionados need to order the Dry Martini 2024; this flirty, playful martini is not quite dry and not quite dirty, but altogether sensual and seductive with its delightfully savoury notes.
There are wines too, but it’s really the cocktail section you should stick to.
Then there’s the food. I like that Brancato isn’t quite a pizza nazi; he makes a variety of pizza styles rather than stick to a singular one like most other pizzerias. Of course you can get your classic Neapolitan pies; the much beloved Margherita and the ever-popular 4 Formaggi for the turophiles, for example, while vegans have options in the veggie-loaded Caponata and Marinara Arrostita.
ANTO offers pan-baked teglia pies too, with options like Funghi for the mushroom lovers among us, or the potato-topped Rocco for those who love some carb-on-carb action. There’s even Roman-style pinsa pies (which are hand-rolled and -pulled rather than spun), although these are only available late and come with pre-selected ingredients.
Also available are a spread of appetisers; the Bruschette in particular are lovely, although we don’t recommend you fill up on them.
It’s not an extensive food menu here at ANTO, but it’s not supposed to be. The stars here are Brancato’s blistered, loaded flatbreads, everything else plays second fiddle.
Except Mancino’s drinks, of course.
[Photo credits: ANTO Pizza E Aperitivi]
ANTO Pizza E Aperitivi
Address 2 Jiak Chuan Rd, Singapore 089260 (Google Maps link)
Opening Hours 12pm to 3pm and 6pm to 11pm Mondays to Saturdays; closed on Sundays
Tel (65) 9689 6869
Web www.antopizzeria.com
Instagram @anto.pizzeria
Reservations book here
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