CONCETTO by Saveur
Following the success of Saveur at Purvis St. and Far East Plaza, CONCETTO was set up in February this year to supposedly bring the same level of cuisine to everyone. Known for its affordability and good price-to-quality ratio, Saveur was an instant hit amongst the locals. CONCETTO is conveniently located a short stroll away from Dhoby Ghaut MRT station, in a gazetted national monument, The Cathay.
I decided to pop in to CONCETTO for a light meal since I had some time to kill before my movie and was feeling rather peckish. Seeing that it was in between lunch and dinner timing, the restaurant was almost empty and I believe that only four to five tables were filled.
Duck Tortellini S$12.90++
poached egg, new potato & parmesan emulsion
Since CONCETTO prides itself in serving quality Italian cuisine, I decided to go for two pasta dishes - the Duck Tortellini and the Pork Ravioli. Presentation wise, the Duck Tortellini made the mark. Taste wise, it was slightly under-flavoured for my liking and more importantly, the texture of pasta suggests that it may have been frozen and thawed before cooking. The parmesan emulsion was delicious and the poached egg was a nice touch but somehow the collective flavours did not seem to complement individual components of the dish.
Pork Ravioli S$10.90++
borlotti bean ragu and pork broth
Once again, the presentation for the Pork Ravioli may have made the mark but this tasted more like regular Chinese dumplings to me. The borlotti beans tasted like they came from a tin and the pork broth was slightly sweet for my liking. It was not a bad dish but I guess I was just disappointed especially after hearing so much about Saveur from my friends.
I did enjoy the overall vibe of the place though - the natural lighting, herb garden and open concept kitchen. The food was however to me, slightly disappointing and has failed to deliver despite having a rather impressive presentation (especially at this price point). It wasn't a pricey meal but I did not think the food quality made a positive impression on me at all. I might give the restaurant another go with the Chef's Recommendations before reaching one final verdict about this place.