Fratini la Trattoria @ Hillcrest Park - Italian Omakase By 25 Years Old, Chef Chomel Yang

I have heard of Japanese omakase but Italian omakase is totally new to me. A visit to Fratini la Trattoria at Hillcrest Park will be a totally new experience where there is no menu. What you get from young Head Chef Chomel Yang is a menu that uses the freshest seasonal produce available in local and overseas markets, offering a myriad of Italian cuisines from North and South regions.

For the first course, I was presented with four different bite size starters. On the plate, we have the Salmon with Pumpkin Puree, Scallop with Sun Dried Tomato, Duck Rillette with Wild Rice and Stuffed Pork Trotter with Homemade Sausage. I was told that the stuffed pork trotter also known as zampone is a popular dish during New Year in Parma and served with lentils representing good luck and prosperity. What I gathered from the quadruple is like an new age Italian music, giving a new beat to Italian cuisine.

Beef Cheek 4.2/5

My next course is the Beef Cheek that is stewed in veal jus. It is paired with asparagus and potatoes. Using a recipe from Central Italy, the tenderness simply melted the heart

Barramundi 4/5

From the land we moved to the sea with the Barramundi that has been pan fried to golden brown. It was slightly crisp on the exterior, especially the skin while retaining the moist interior. It is paired with crunchy greens for a delightful finishing.

Venison Rack 4.5/5

I have tried lamb rack but Venison Rack is a new to me. Apparently this is a staple dish among Italians in the Ticino area (south of Switerland) during the hunting season. I have to say this turned out pretty impressive. The beautiful piece of venison was grilled to perfection and served with herbs crust.

Slipper Lobster 4/5

If you are a cheese lovers, you will love the Slipper Lobster baked with 3 different cheeses in Milan Style. The cheeses complemented the sweetness of the slipper lobster's flesh excellent, on top of the bouncy texture.

Truffle Pasta 4.5/5

In omakase you usually just eat what the chef serves you. Well at least at Fratini la Trattoria you can to mix and match your own pasta. If you are too lazy to do so, just ask for their popular choices which are beef, seafood and truffle. I had the Truffle Pasta which comprises of summer truffle from Alba blended with mushroom and finished off with sliced black truffles. This is a dish that I would specially return to have it again.

Wrapping up the omakase dinner, we have the Creme Brulee, Chocoalte Salami, Black Sesame Panna Cotta and Tiramisu. I could not really decide which is my favourite but I though the used of black sesame is rather bold for the young chef to incorporate into Italian cuisine.

It is definitely a different experience dining at Fratini la Trattoria with its No-Menu Concept. The omakase menu is priced at $50++ for lunch and $90++ for dinner.

Note: This is an invited tasting.


Fratini la Trattoria
Hillcrest Park
10 Greenwood Avenue
Singapore 289201
Tel: +65 64682868
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Nearest MRT: Tan Kah Kee (DT Line)

Opening Hours:
Tue-Sun: 12pm - 145pm, 6pm - 845pm
(Closed on Mon)

Direction: 
1) Alight at Tan Kah Kee MRT station. Take Exit A. Use the overhead bridge to Exit B. Walk straigh to Hillcrest Road. Turn right onto Hillcrest Road. Walk down Hillcrest Road and make a left into Greenwood Avenue. Journey time about 15 minutes. [Map]

Amara Singapore Chinese New Year 2017

Amara Singapore will be ringing in the Year of the Rooster with an abundant array of Chinese New Year delicacies and reunion meals from 3 January to 12 February 2017. We dropped by Silk Road Restaurant to sample some of the celebratory signatures and traditional festive dishes that will be available on the menu of Silk Road and Thanying Restaurant this Lunar New Year.

Eight Treasure Yu Sheng 3.8/5

It was double happiness at Amara Singapore with the duo Lo Hei from both Silk Road and Thanying Restaurant. From Silk Road, we have the Eight Treasure Yu Sheng that comprises of cured salmon, jellyfish, golden silver fish, crispy fish skin, sliced abalone, ikura roe, tobilo roe and pomelo with chef's special spicy Sichuan garlic sauce. It has a lot of different types, especially coming from the silver fish and fish skin. The spicy sauce is a unique variation from the norm.

Thanying's Salmon Yu Sheng 4.5/5

From Thanying Restaurant, we had the Salmon Yu Sheng that is made up of shredded vegetables, yam strips and green mango. The highlight is the tangy and spicyThai sauce comprising of fish sauce, lime juice and chilli padi. This is surprisingly the favourite among the group. It felt like having the Thai dish, Som Tum.

Double Boiled Chicken Soup with Ginseng and Gastrodia Root 4.2/5

The Double Boiled Chicken Soup with Ginseng and Gastrodia Root is a nourishing goodness which has been boiled over 6 hours to kick start the meal. This is my first time having gastrodia root, which is commonly used in Sichuan cuisine.

Soy Glazed Baked Cod with Bonito Sauce 4.5/5

Making a grand entry is the humongous Soy Glazed Baked Cod with Bonito Sauce. Cod fish is known for its buttery sweetness and this is further enhanced by seasoning with sake and mirin for over 4 hours before being baked to perfection.

Braised Pork Knuckle with Sea Cucumber and Chestnut 4.2/5

The Braised Pork Knuckle with Sea Cucumber and Chestnut may not be the most presentable dish but definitely one that will melt your heart with its succulence and tenderness. It has to be stewed for 6 hours over slow fire to achieve the texture and for the flavours to be absorbed to be locked into the ingredients.

Traditional Beijing Roasted Duck 3.5/5

A classic dish offered at Silk Road is their Traditional Beijing Roasted Duck, seasoned overnight and roasted to perfection. Two ways of enjoying this delicacy - the meat is eaten together with skin in a crepe and pair the crispy skin with sugar.

Phad Kra-Praw-Pla 3.5/5

From the Thai Restaurant - Thanying, we tried the Phad Kra-Praw-Pa which is available as a la carte item during the Chinese New Year period. It is actually stir fried fish maw with dried mushroom and crabmeat. The execution was slight on the salty side. If not for that, I would have rated it highly.

Steamed Fragrant Rice with Salted Fish, Chinese Sausage and Waxed Meat 4.8/5

A must try at Silk Road is the Steamed Fragrant Rice with Salted Fish, Chinese Sausage and Waxed Meat. The rice is cooked in the water that is used to boil the sausages. ensuring each grain absorb the flavour. The salted fish further elevated the overall flavour.

Fried Sesame Dumpling and Nian Gao with Coconut Flakes 3/5

Wrapping up the dinner, we have the Fried Sesame Dumpling and Nian Gao with Coconut Flakes. The fragrant sesame dumpling is quite delightful with its peanut filling. The chewy texture of the nian gao is like having mochi.

For enquiries, please contact
Silk Road - (65) 6227 3848, silkroad@amaraholdings.com
Thanying Restaurant - (65) 6222 4688, thanyingrestaurant@amaraholdings.com

Note: This is an invited tasting.


Amara Singapore
165 Tanjong Pagar Road
Singapore 088539
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Nearest MRT: Tanjong Pagar (EW Line)

Direction: 
1) Alight at Tanjong Pagar MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk towards Gopeng Street and turn into Tras Street. Walk to Amara Hotel. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]