Bruno’s Bistrot & Bar serves up authentic Italian cuisine that would make any nonna (Italian for grandmother) beam with pride. The fare here is hearty and doled out in generous portions, making this lovely neighbourhood restaurant in Telok Kurau a great place for family dinners and intimate gatherings.
The place has both indoor and al fresco seating that stretches out onto a wooden deck in front of the shophouse. We took a seat outside and got to enjoy the night breeze while waiting for our food to be served.
First up was the Frutti Di Mare ($22.50). This delightful starter was a full of fried seafood goodness, such as prawns and squid, all of which were coated with a flavourful crispy batter.
The prawns were my favourite, meaty, succulent and cooked just right. This dish also came with a side of tartar sauce and spicy marinara sauce, that helped to balance out the richness with a zesty, tomatoey kick.
It’s not an Italian meal if we don’t have pasta, and the Linguine Crayfish ($26.75) did just that for us. Hitting all the right spots with its delicious sauce and pasta, this dish was very palatable and came as a generous portion.
Great for sharing between two if you are ordering other dishes on the menu as well. What caught me for this pasta dish was the incredible balance of the sauce, which had the right amount of creaminess and tartness, and didn’t leave us feeling too jelak.
The star of the evening was the Bistecca Alla Griglia ($37 – , depending on cut), which is technically a cut of ribeye steak, grilled to a rosy medium rare and served with various side dishes. Ours came with a portion of garlicky potato gratin, roasted vegetables, fresh salad and a Gorgonzola cheese sauce to accompany the beef.
There was a lovely sear on the beef and the fat was rendered down well, giving it an almost melt-in-your-mouth texture. It was a marriage made in heaven when dipped in the gorgeous, albeit slightly sharp, cheese sauce. We voted this dish as our favourite, and I could definitely see myself coming back to Bruno’s just to have this again.
Our final main was the Prosciutto é Funghi Pizza ($20.60), which was generously topped with lots of ham and succulent mushrooms. The crust had great bite, and is a great choice especially if you have a group to share it with.
Any meal isn’t complete without dessert, so we went for the in-house made Tiramisu Classico ($11.50) that would appeal to chocolate and coffee lovers alike.
This particular dessert was more chocolatey than I would have expected it to be and was filled with generous amounts of mascarpone cheese mousse. I would have preferred a stronger coffee liquor taste and the sponge fingers were a little too soggy for my liking, but overall, a great finish to a wonderful meal!
I would have never expected to find a place like Bruno’s, tucked away in a quiet private housing estate. The food is a little on the pricier side, but absolutely stellar for the generous portions and quality.
Definitely a hidden gem for those who live on the east side of Singapore, and a great dinner haunt for the nearby residents. Bruno’s also offers a brunch menu on the weekends, that I’m really looking forward to trying with my family on my next visit too.
Expected Damage: $30 – $45 per pax
