Tavola Aperta: Vibey and affordable new Italian spot with everything under S$30 at Plaza Singapura

Plaza Singapura is usually not one of the first places you will think of going for a nice dinner. Sure, it has a diverse curation of casual dining concepts, but none really scream “vibey date-night spot”.

However, if you are someone who values the convenience of a mall, the new Tavola Aperta might prove to be a wonderful new addition to Plaza Singapura.

Tavola Aperta is a casual Italian restaurant that just opened in July, and it not only looks vibey, but also keeps the prices reasonable.

It is the newest concept by Salt & Soul, a popular casual restaurant in Telok Ayer that has become a cult-favourite for its fuss-free and affordable offerings!

Unlike generic chain restaurants that are a dime a dozen these days, the chicly minimalist Tavola Aperta is decked out in wooden furnishings and elegant neutral tones.

The lighting is soft and calming, with sconce lights lining the walls and stylish globe lamps suspended from the ceiling.

This will definitely make a great date spot — it has both vibes and convenience.

If you’ve heard about the upcoming renovations that will be hitting Plaza Singapura, don’t worry, Tavola Aperta will be unaffected and business will be as usual.

Affordable Italian food in Plaza Singapura

On top of vibes and convenience, everything on the menu is reasonably priced.

And, despite the pricing, the man running the kitchen is Mark Tan, a Singaporean who had spent three years at Felix Trattoria, a Los Angeles restaurant owned by chef Evan Funke.

Evan Funke is a winner of the prestigious James Beard award, and has built a legendary reputation for his handmade pasta and Italian cuisine expertise.

Starters start from S$7.50, with the priciest option being the burrata with roasted grapes at S$18.90, whereas the mains — which includes pizza, handmade pasta, and risotto — are all under S$30.

Those who are more fond of classic flavours will be able to find many tried-and-tested creations, including the mortadella e pistacchio (S$24.90).

If you are a fan of pistachio, like we are, this pizza is topped with mozzarella, mortadella, and toasted pistachios.

Its overall flavour profile is hearty with a good touch of nuttiness, and Tavola Aperta’s pizza dough is airy with an enjoyable chewiness.

Those who like seafood pasta can also try the gamberi (S$19.90) — the sauce is made from a prawn stock that’s infused with kombu. 

As far as prawn flavour goes, this one has a good dose of that rich prawny umami and sweetness, without going too overboard.

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We also like the thin and slender pasta that Tavola Aperta chose to pair with the sauce.

At the same time, Tavola Aperta’s menu is also quite eclectic, with a few curveball ideas such as the beef ragu arancini (S$9.90), which riffs on the classic arancini by adding in beef ragu.

Arancini are a traditional Italian dish where leftover risotto is moulded into balls, battered, and deep-fried.

The inclusion of beef ragu adds some oomph, but we did find the tomato acidity a bit too pronounced and covered up the beefy flavours.

Speaking of ragu, Tavola Aperta also has a white ragu bolognese (S$19.90) on the menu, which features a less-seen northern Italian-style ragu, which doesn’t use tomatoes.

The white ragu sauce is much lighter, with more sweetness from the meats and vegetables used in the sauce — but it is still rich and comforting.

This pasta uses pappardelle as the base pasta, and the wide and flat shape helps with sauce retention.

Alas, we thought it was a tad overcooked — past al dente — and would have liked a bit more snappiness, though we understand that Singaporeans generally favour softer pastas.

Ultimately, though, Tavola Aperta does what it’s supposed to do perfectly: It’s a casual, no-frills restaurant that has both great vibes and reasonable prices.

Don’t go expecting mind-blowing fare, and you’ll find yourself leaving more than satisfied.

This was a hosted tasting.

For more ideas on what to eat, read our stories on the Punggol hidden gem serving S$38 sushi omakase and the viral McDonald’s x Old Chang Kee National Day collab!