Cafe Deco Group have made their mark with two restaurants at ELEMENTS. Compared to the group’s minimalist, bubblegum-pink Vietnamese eatery pho.dle.bar, the redesign of Cafe Deco Pizzeria, which has moved from a much smaller space one floor below to become the cinema’s neighbour, is bright and modern, serving up a comfort-driven Italian menu accented with international touches. The restaurant has been a hit with families and filmgoers since opening late last month.
For starters, the roasted octopus ($125) and steak tartare ($138) are safe bets, perfect for sharing.
You can skip the crostini plate ($92), which consists of slices of soft baguette, not particularly thin or crunchy, slathered with a thin film of mashed avocado alternating with crab and smoked salmon.
Pastas and pizzas came as part of our mains. The prawn linguine with lobster cream ($172) is a must-order with its creamy tomato base and perfectly cooked al-dente pasta.
The meat in the pork cheek cavatelli ($165) is simmered for eight hours and minced into cubes, yet this dish had an overriding sweetness, with the addition of sun-dried tomato providing a necessary sharp and sour bite.
The pizzas include classic margherita, pepperoni and Hawaiian, but I recommend opting for the creative pies, including Korean bulgogi! We had the Japanese free-range egg with smoked tuna belly pizza ($168), which was filled with umami goodness with a subtle smokiness.
The pizza with M6 Wagyu beef and prawn ($185) was a little too busy and missed the flavour edge, but I like how vegetable forward it is, using lots of asparagus and peppers.
Our last savoury dish was the USDA Prime strip loin ($298), cooked medium rare. It seemed pretty standard and would be a safe choice for a main – a nice alternative to a carby meal before a movie.
Desserts were hit-and-miss, especially when it came to the original and matcha soufflé pancakes ($98 each), which were both a bit overcooked.
I recommend trying the The Best of Both Worlds ($72) – Oreo cheesecake wrapped in tight jelly sheets, served with nuts and praline gelato.
Verdict
Fun, creative Cafe Deco Pizzeria does a decent job incorporating Asian and global ingredients to attract the local masses, and overall, Cafe Deco Group have done well in adding an Italian restaurant right next to the cinema at ELEMENTS.
Shop 2133, 2/F, ELEMENTS, 1 Austin Road West, TST, 2196 8099
This write-up is based on a complimentary media tasting provided in exchange for an honest review and no monetary compensation. The opinions expressed here represent the author’s.
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