SENSO RISTORANTE & BAR

21 Club Street, S(069410) TEL: 6224 3534 senso.sg

Upon entering the premises, Senso’s interior decor is a clear winner—think a shophouse façade with an al fresco courtyard area (great for evening dinners) and a cosy yet modern indoor seating area. The restaurant serves traditional Italian cuisine that focuses on fresh meat, seafood and robust flavours; dishes are well-executed and at a level one would expect from a fine dining restaurant. For instance, the crostacei (Italian-style bisque) is robust and has a tinge of umami to it; the shellfish is cooked perfectly—firm yet succulent. Ditto the filetto di merluzzo— the cod is firm yet flaky, as each piece comes off easily with a fork. In this dish, the combination of carrot purée, purple cauliflower, creamy polenta and chianti reduction provides a good counterpoint to the fish, which is slightly stronger in flavour. The wine list is a mix of old and new world wines, but is dominated by Italian labels; it’s served by a friendly sommelier who moves from one table to another, asking how the food and wine pairings are.