Casa Cicheti Joo Chiat opens at Forma’s old spot — retains some Forma faves
Loyal fans of the Cicheti Group have a new spot to check out: Casa Cicheti at Joo Chiat.
This is Casa Cicheti’s second outlet, with the first one — snuggled in a quiet corner of Tiong Bahru — opened one year ago.
Sharp-eyed fans would notice that the 128 Tembeling Road address is exactly where popular pasta restaurant Forma — another concept by the Cicheti Group — used to be.
You might have heard that Forma is now permanently closed.
However, its successor brings a much more casual and family-friendly atmosphere, with a more varied menu, to boot.
There’s a myriad of dishes including both pasta and thinner Roman-inspired pizza.
The decor hasn’t undergone that much of a metamorphosis, though.
Besides the removal of Forma’s designated pasta-making room, and its verdant upholstery being removed, Casa Cicheti Joo Chiat still exudes that familiar rustic and homely vibe.
Remnants of the Forma menu
Food-wise, what can diners expect at the new Casa Cicheti Joo Chiat?
According to the staff, the menu is quite similar to its OG Tiong Bahru space, but there are a few outliers: They’ve decided to keep a few Forma classics on this menu, which are exclusive to this location.
There aren’t many, but it includes favourites such as the iconic linguine al limone (S$32), polpo con ‘nduja (S$36), and umbricelli (S$32).
As big fans of pasta, we got an order of the Forma classic umbricelli, as well as the rigatoni alla vodka (S$30), a Casa Cicheti signature.
The former was our favourite — it’s built around thick, al dente noodles and a sauce comprising minced pork, nutmeg, and pecorino romano cheese.
That sauce is loaded with sharp cheesy oomph, but nicely accented with the sweetness of pork and alliums — this exclusive is a good reason to head down to Casa Cicheti Joo Chiat!
On the other hand, the rigatoni ala vodka also proved pretty satisfying, and great for those who prefer a tinge of heat in their sauces.
The pink sauce is creamy and full of tomato richness, with a good dose of spice to enliven things. It’s simple but oh-so-well executed, just as it is at the Tiong Bahru outlet.
Our last visit to its maiden Tiong Bahru outlet also left us deeply impressed with the pizza, so we had to see if Casa Cicheti Joo Chiat could meet our expectations.
Thankfully, the diavola (S$29) hit the spot just like we hoped it would, hitting you with a wave of umami from its spicy salami and indulgent red sauce.
More than that, the Roman-style pizza dough remains a delightful departure from other artisan pizzas on the market, which is dominated by the airy Neapolitan style.
It’s thin and crunchy, with a good amount of leopard spotting, while also sporting a gentle chew!
We also got another Casa Cicheti Joo Chiat exclusive to soften the load of all the carbs we were stuffing ourselves with.
As far as octopus goes, the polpo con ‘nduja is cooked splendidly, boasting a tender meatiness and light chewiness.
There’s not much to be said about this, other than the execution is as good as you’ll expect from a casual restaurant such as this.
So, while we were sad to see Forma go, we aren’t too hung up over it — Casa Cicheti Joo Chiat proves to be just as delightful an addition to the hip neighbourhood.
In fact, the more varied menu would be great for families in the area, who are looking for more than just handmade pasta!
If you’re in the Joo Chiat area, grab a cuppa from KopiKhoo, situated just around the corner, or pop by Bingo for lush bakes.
Wed 12pm - 3pm, 6pm - 10.30 pm
Thu 12pm - 3pm, 6pm - 10.30 pm
Fri 12pm - 3pm, 6pm - 11 pm
Sat 12pm - 3pm, 6pm - 11 pm
Sun 12pm - 3pm, 6pm - 11 pm
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Evan started off writing about food on Instagram, before joining outlets such as Buro and Confirm Good to pursue his passion. His best work usually comes after his first whisky shot in the morning.
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