Tucked away in a quiet residential area of Bukit Batok, Cacio e Pepe is a casual and cosy Italian Restaurant. Its name mean “cheese and pepper” but it doesn’t only serve cheese and pepper lah! Before CNY, we gave Celes a birthday surprise at Cacio e Pepe.

Celes is a special friend of mine. We seldom talk and we seldom meet. But when we do, we always have endless topics. We met each other in a photography group and would spend Wednesday evening and Sunday morning together going to different places to take photographs. Then, I asked her to start her own food blog to share her bakes. If anyone of us has problems, she will definitely be there as a listening ear or to help.

So anyway, Cacio e Pepe used to be in Upper Paya Lebar but decided to close it due to power outrage issues. This feels like a neighbourhood trattoria, like in Italy, where people can pop by and not worry about having to dress up. The chefs are trained by one of the owners’ Italian mother-in-law.

We are first served with complimentary bread and olive oil. The bread is thinly sliced and very crispy. It comes with additional helpings if you so require.

Antipasto Italiano ($50 big platter for four or more, $35 small platter for two) is a mixed hot and cold appetizer platter. Items include parma ham with rock melon, fresh Portobello mushrooms, baffalo’s mozzarella with tomatoes, Italian cold cuts and calamari.

The pasta menu isn’t just confined to the just the usual spaghetti Bolognese. There is an array of linguine, penne and spaghetti cooked in various ways to appeal to both cream-sauce lovers and those who prefer something lighter on the palate.

Linguine al Cartoccio ($24) has generous servings of crayfish, mussel, clams, calamari, prawns and homemade marinara sauce, capturing the rich flavours of the sea.

Tagliatelle al Tartufo ($24) is my favourite. The homemade egg pasta is tossed with scallops and prawns in truffle cream sauce. Ok I am biased because of the truffle cream sauce. But the tasty sauce is really aromatic and not overpowering. The egg pasta is equally good and because it is homemade, you need to give them some time to prepare.

But there are plenty more dishes that I will gladly eat again, such as Risotto al Nero de Seppia ($20). The Italian Arborio rice was cooked to perfection, tossed with QQ prawns, calamari, clams and mussels with squid ink sauce. It is a good indicator of quality and is well balanced and very tasty.

Cacio e Pepe loves to give surprises so they have special dishes not found in the menu. That night, we had baked sea bass which was absolutely delightful.

The decor is homey, the atmosphere is warm and the service is friendly. The boss is very friendly and it makes us feel like we are having dinner at a friend’s house. More importantly, the food is up to scratch as well. Pasta is done al dante, sauces are tasty and prices are really reasonable!

Cacio e Pepe

Address: 3 Chu Lin Road (off Jalan Remaja)
Tel: 6760 3534
Opening hours: 11.30am – 2.30pm, 6.00pm – 10.30pm. Closed on Mondays

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