A quick tour through Jamie’s Italian, Singapore
One of the restaurants that people keep asking me if I’ve tried is Jamie’s Italian. Ever since Jamie Oliver opened his eponymous casual Italian eatery here in Singapore, there’s been an almost non-stop buzz surrounding it. The fact that most customers have to wait in line (for often over an hour) — only a tiny fraction of tables are available for reservations (online) and I’ve been told that the next available table is in 3 months — has obviously helped to build the hype. Well, last week (and thanks to a buddy who was able to score me a table), my wife S and I, plus two friends, were finally able to try this much-talked about restaurant.
The space itself is really nice. It’s big and boisterous, with a lot of character and charm. The small bar area at the front of the room is great if you don’t want to wait for a table or you need to wait for friends. The drinks are also excellent. I had an aperol spritz (one of my favorite Venetian cocktails made with aperol, soda water, and prosecco) which was very well made and very refreshing. It was so nice in fact that I had two before dinner.
The menu is simple and has ample choice. The dishes range from the classic to the slightly inventive. Nothing too fancy, just good stuff that reflects Jamie’s own philosophy for fresh, home-cooked flavors.
We tried a bunch of things, the best of which were the pastas. To be honest, the food ranged from the “not bad” to the “very good”. Nothing really blew our socks off but there was also nothing that we didn’t want to finish. All in all, Jamie’s serves up good, affordable Italian food for people looking for a fun night out with friends. And while it may not be a restaurant that will make its way onto local foodies’ top ten lists anytime soon, it will be very much a place that people think of when planning a great night out.
Jamie’s Italian
1 HarbourFront Walk,
VivoCity, #1 165-167
Singapore 098585
T:+65 6733 5500
11.30am-11pm daily
www.jamieoliver.com
About Aun Koh
Aun has always loved food and travel, passions passed down to him from his parents. This foundation, plus a background in media, pushed him to start Chubby Hubby in 2005. He loves that this site allows him to write about the things he adores--food, style, travel, his wife and his three kids!
