Restaurant Review: Pastamania

By Nuna Atadja, 2014-08-19 07:35:00

By Nuna Atadja

Widely known as the largest Italian restaurant in Singapore, PastaMania has a reputation for excellence. But don’t let their lofty reputation daunt you. This restaurants coalesces fine Italian dining with the comfortable and casual to create a place that has served almost 20 million plates of pasta worldwide. And it's come to splash a bigger wave in Xujiahui at the Metro City mall.

Quirky decorations, festive themes and colorful lighting complement each other to generate the ambiance of a typical Italian street. Painted with faux brick walls, newsstands, and window displays, PastaMania invites you to experience it all from the moment you step inside.

The restaurant has a wide array of appetizers to choose from. The crowd favorite is garlic bread (RMB25), a quintessential part of Italian dining. But don’t spend too much time on bread. Share it around and carry on to the main attraction: the pasta. 

The affable waiters will provide you with a selection of various pastas like linguine, penne, fusilli and spaghetti. From there you will be asked to choose a sauce  categorized by taste, color and consistency. 

Get stuck into classics such as beef Bolognese (RMB48), chicken alfredo (RMB48) and some unique variations such as the cheesy crumble (RMB38); melted cheddar cheese, mixed with a savory breadcrumb topping draped over penne.  This pasta-world also includes a fair amount of pizzas (RMB38) that boast delicious flavors and toppings.

The classic option for dessert is the crostata (RMB42), topped with jams, honey and various fruits. If you are looking for something even sweeter go for the Oreo panna cotta (RMB35) that has a delicious mix of cookies and cream, with an added crunch. Finally, the buttery waffle (RMB38) topped with one dollop of chocolate, vanilla or strawberry ice cream will have kids captivated.

The Doughworks cooking class, currently headed at the Super Brand Mall location, is a hotspot for children’s birthday parties and school trips. For RMB150 per child, kids can enjoy two-hour cooking lessons with highly trained chefs and teachers. In addition to this culinary expertise, children get the opportunity to learn more about Italian food and culture. 

// 4/F, Metro City, 1111 Zhaojiabang Lu, by Hongqiao Lu
地址    肇嘉浜路1111号美罗城4楼, 近虹桥路(5419 9358, www.pastamania.com.cn)

// Suite 25-26, 3/F, 168 Lujiazui Xi Lu, by Fenghe Lu
 正大广场, 陆家嘴西路168号3楼25-26座, 近丰和路(5019 0081, www.pastamania.com.cn)