Visitors to Singapore’s Raffles City since August 2024 may have noticed the seemingly perpetual queue snaking outside Italian restaurant Casa Vostra. With the recent opening of its third outlet at Tampines Mall, east-siders now have a shorter journey—and perhaps a shorter queue—to experience its hype, including the limited-time carbonara recipe by Roman chef Luciano Monosilio, widely regarded as Italy’s “King of Carbonara”.
Casa Vostra at Tampines Mall. Photo © Fen Chia
Casa Vostra at Tampines Mall. Photo © Fen Chia
Even so, there was still a queue outside the walk-in-only, 58-seater Tampines outlet when we arrived. “Casa Vostra” translates to “your home” in Italian, and the restaurant certainly embraces that spirit. The warm, welcoming space is family-friendly and throughout the evening, we spotted parents dining comfortably alongside toddlers. The offerings are artisanal and authentic, yet refreshingly unpretentious, with prices that remain remarkably accessible. Many ingredients—including vegetables and cheeses—are imported from Italy, while much of the preparation is done in-house. Salami is aged on-site, pasta is made fresh daily using Italian durum wheat, and pizza dough is cold-fermented for 36 hours before being fired in the oven.
The interior and seating are family friendly. Photo © Fen Chia
To start, for antipasti we had the Frittatina alla Scamorza (S$11), featuring deep-fried Scamorza cheese fritters drizzled with honey and finished with lemon and thyme. The combination delivered a pleasing balance of sweet, savoury and gently tangy flavours. We noticed many diners opting for burrata as their antipasto, but the Scamorza felt like a more distinctive choice that is still a bit less commonly found in Italian establishments here, reflecting Casa Vostra’s commitment to authentic Italian fare. Fortunately, the portion was restrained enough to whet the appetite without becoming overwhelming.
Frittatina alla Scarmorza. Photo © Fen Chia
Among the Tampines exclusives are the Margherita Affumicata (S$19) and Prosciutto e Nduja (S$24). Just for preview purposes, we were served a half-and-half red and white pizza, allowing us to try both flavours while preserving room for the rest of the menu.
At first glance, the Margherita Affumicata appears to be a classic tomato-and-cheese pizza. One bite, however, reveals its unique twist. Both the provola cheese and small dollops of mayonnaise that dot it are smoked, lending a subtle yet unmistakable depth and richness. Built upon a base of San Marzano Tomato DOP (Protected Designation of Origin), and finished with Parmigiano Reggiano, this deceptively simple pizza demonstrates that not all Margherita pizzas are created equal. The Prosciutto e Nduja takes the same smoked foundation and layers it with cooked ham, spicy Calabrian nduja sausage, pickled onions and fried sage. The result is a more robust and punchy flavour profile, balanced by the tanginess of the onions and aromatic sage.
This was our first encounter with Casa Vostra’s much-talked-about pizza dough—crispy around the edges yet delightfully pillowy and airy within. Between my dining companion and me, we polished off three slices each without difficulty, while still leaving plenty of room for what followed.
A half-and-half sampler of Prosciutto e Nduja, and Margherita Affumicata. Photo © Fen Chia
Despite being one of the restaurant’s signature launch dishes, Luciano’s Spaghetti Alla Carbonara (S$21) surprisingly proved to be the most underwhelming item of the evening. To be fair, this is an uncompromisingly authentic Roman carbonara, with the sauce made only with eggs, Pecorino Romano, Parmigiano Reggiano and black pepper. No cream, no shortcuts—just tradition. Many diners may be surprised to learn that cream sauce has no place in a true Italian carbonara.
Unfortunately, because we prioritised the new flavours first, the spaghetti had cooled and begun to clump together by the time we got down to it. Consider this a lesson learned: eat authentic carbonara the moment it arrives on the table. The accompanying guanciale, however, helped save our situation—it was crispy, salty and deeply flavourful. Think Chinese pork lard cubes, but lighter, meatier and infinitely more refined. Luciano’s Spaghetti Alla Carbonara will soon be rolled out across the JEM and Raffles City outlets, alongside several other launch specials unique to each location.
Luciano’s Spaghetti alla Carbonara. Photo © Fen Chia
The two other pastas we sampled were also Tampines exclusives and proved to be far more memorable. The Raviolone con Ricotta, Spinaci e Tuorlo Morbido (S$23) features a large raviolo stuffed with ricotta cheese, spinach and a dry aged egg yolk, served in a burnt butter and sage sauce and topped with pine nuts. Rich, creamy and indulgent, it is a dish that will appeal to lovers of comforting, luxurious flavours.
Raviolone con Ricotta Spinaci e Tuorio Morbido. Photo © Fen Chia
The standout pasta and dish of the evening, however, was undoubtedly the Agnolotti al Branzino e Gamberi (S$27). These delicate parcels are filled with sea bass and served in a light sauce of tomato, fresh parsley and extra virgin olive oil, generously topped with crunchy prawn pieces. Rather than a conventional tomato sauce, the ingredients come together in a silky emulsion that feels both light and flavourful, enhancing rather than overwhelming the briny seafood. Every element works in harmony, making this our favourite dish of the evening.
Agnolotti al Branzino e Gamberi. Photo © Fen Chia
For dessert, there was never really any doubt about our choice. Whenever tiramisu appears on a menu, it inevitably finds its way onto our table. Casa Vostra’s version delivered exactly what we wanted: layers of decaf coffee-soaked sponge and creamy mascarpone topped with a dusting of cocoa, that provided a fittingly indulgent conclusion to the meal. Our only complaint was that we wished there was more of it.
Tiramisu. Photo © Fen Chia
Casa Vostra’s Tampines arrival is a welcome development for diners in the east. Impressively, no dish on the menu exceeds S$30, with the highest-priced items being a truffle and mushroom pizza and two mains—a seafood stew and a braised beef cheek dish. Considering the quality of ingredients, craftsmanship and adequate portions, the value proposition is difficult to argue against. If the queues continue to be any indication, Casa Vostra’s newest outpost looks set to become a long-term favourite among east-siders. We suspect they will be happily calling Casa Vostra “their home” for a long time to come.
Casa Vostra
4 Tampines Central 5
#01-33A Tampines Mall
Singapore 529510
Opening hours: 11.30pm to 10am daily, only walk-ins
