Darn, it’s getting cold! So it’s perfect timing that I found SìPasta and its signature pasta offering of Spaghetti Alle Parmigiano Reggiano that is prepared piping hot and fresh on an actual cheese wheel.
*Not the actual dish – it looks way better in real life
SìPasta has been around for a couple of years, but its discreet location on the first floor of the basement in Liangmaqiao’s Grand Summit makes it almost a well-kept secret. Even though I’ve frequented PokeGo, which is directly opposite of the restaurant, I have somehow missed this until now.
The restaurant is decorated in hues of deep red and fresh white, featuring quaint touches of hand-painted ceramic lamps and colorful crockery. A keyboard on a stand tells us that live entertainment is offered here, most likely in the evenings. High chairs are available for young ones and the restaurant is spacious enough to accommodate strollers.
SìPasta’s menu covers classic Italian offerings – from bruschetta to Neopolitan meatballs (RMB 38 for 3, highly recommended), pizza, and, of course, pasta. While everything we ordered was perfectly satisfactory, what I will be returning for is definitely the restaurant’s signature pasta dish. While it usually comes with truffle paste, I asked to forgo that and have the spaghetti alle Parmigiano Reggiano plain, with just black pepper to taste, and it warmed the cockles of my belly and heart. It was so good that my kid gave up his pappardelle alle Bolognese ragù to share mine instead!
Drinks-wise, you’ll be happy to know they offer wine by the glass and that their spritzes are delightfully delicious. I was personally very grateful for the soothing warmth and comforting flavor of the orange & cinnamon tea (RMB 25 with free refills).
The service at SìPasta is patchy, with the day’s floor manager being prompt, friendly with the kids, and understanding, while the other servers were slow and easily confused by our specific instructions. Any hassle was avoided as the empathetic manager took over our orders and everything went well.
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Images: Vivienne Tseng-Rush
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