Even those ambitious enough to search the streets of Singapore for hidden gems may not come across La Braceria. Located among a row of unassuming stores on a quiet street in the residential neighbourhood of Bukit Timah, La Braceria is an Italian eatery with food so authentic, it will transport you to the Mediterranean Coast.

Although not nearly as understated as its storefront, La Braceria's interior is still modestly decorated, with just a few pieces of artwork on the walls to spruce up the decor. The real focus at La Braceria is the food. The traditional menu includes a variety of antipasti, pastas, meats and pizzas from Naples. Although dishes like Insalata di Rucola, Spaghetti alle Vongole, and Ossobuco alla Milanese may seem standard, La Braceria's food is anything but ordinary, thanks to their fresh ingredients and superior preparation.

Be sure to look in the back for the walk-in wine cellar, where guests can peruse a large selection of wines. After a satisfying meal of high quality, authentic Italian food accompanied by a glass of fine wine, the trip out to La Braceria may seem more than worthwhile. (Oct 2011)

"For an authentic Italian experience at a reasonable price, we heartily recommend La Braceria. And judging by the crowd, this place is definitely one hot gastronomical property." -I-S Asia-City

"Hearty, rustic Italian cooking is the draw at La Braceria. Wonderful, thin-crust pizzas with dense, flavourful toppings emerge from the blackened dome of the oven, but best of all are the home-made sausages – fat tubes stuffed with fresh meat, marinated for days in a secret blend of seasonings and spices." -Time Out Singapore

"Despite its contemporary interior, the cuisine at La Braceria is the most rustic and sumptuous we’ve had in recent memory. A word of caution: once you’ve tasted the Puglia-imported parcels of creamy burrata served with savory slivers of Parma ham, you’ll be begging for your next reservation." -CNNGo.com

We love that we can enjoy a gourmet meal in a flip flop-friendly establishment. We started our meal with the Antipasto Braceria, which comes with a large, fist-sized portion of burrata cheese, an assortment of grilled vegetables and cold cuts, and a drizzle of sweet balsamic glaze. We love pairing bites of the creamy, mildly savoury burrata with the natural flavours of the lightly seasoned vegetables.

For mains, we strongly recommend the Spaghetti with Mixed Seafood, which comes wrapped in parchment paper. We were quite emotional when the paper pouch opened, allowing the warm aroma of incredibly fresh seafood and fragrant tomato sauce to escape in a burst of olfactory bliss. Lightly coated in tomato sauce, this version of seafood pasta allowed the freshness of the clams, scallops, mussels, prawns and squid to take centre stage. We fought over the last strings of pasta and even tried to soak up the trace remnants of the sauce with bread. Infused with the distinct flavour of fresh seafood, the sauce had a slight tangy sweetness, and we just couldn't get enough of it!

We may say this often, but we definitely mean it this time when we advise you to leave room for dessert. The Tiramisu's ladyfingers were so thoroughly soaked in espresso that with every bite, we felt that we were imbibing a mini shot of strong espresso. With a generous dusting of cocoa powder and layers of creamy mascarpone cheese, this tiramisu is possibly too good to share! The Mama Cake is also worth trying. With amaretto-flavoured cream and almonds separating layers of sweet biscuits, this dessert is ideal for those who want to try something less commonly found on an Italian dessert menu. Paired with a cup of aromatic coffee, these desserts are a memorable way to finish off a spectacular meal. (Oct 2011)

"Hearty, rustic Italian cooking is the draw at La Braceria. Wonderful, thin-crust pizzas with dense, flavourful toppings emerge from the blackened dome of the oven, but best of all are the home-made sausages – fat tubes stuffed with fresh meat, marinated for days in a secret blend of seasonings and spices. It’s very popular and can get pretty squashed on weekends." -Time Out Singapore