Royal Square @ Novena is a mixed development that houses Courtyard by Marriott Singapore Novena, Royal Square Medical Centre and a few retail shops. This is hardly the place I would expect to find an Italian restaurant.
PocoLoco stands proudly on the second level of Royal Square @ Novena. The front of the restaurant doesn’t really give me an Italian feel, unlike iO Italian Osteria which is oozing with Italian charm.
PocoLoco’s dining area is decorated in a clean modern-French style. The minimalist look makes the place a little cold but the two modern chandeliers adds a little elegance.
Let’s start off with appetizers.
I remember having my first taste of burrata cheese at Ash & Elm. I am not sure if it was because I was there with my former colleagues and there was a lot of conversation going on but I wasn’t very impressed with the burrata then.
This time, I have the whole Burrata [S$18.10] to myself and I really enjoyed it.
Burrata is an Italian cow milk cheese made from mozzarella and cream. The outer shell is solid mozzarella while the inside contains semi-soft straciatella and cream.
Rocket salad with balsamic vinegar dressing, half cherry tomatoes and thin slices of parma ham balances out the heaviness of the cream and cheese.
I have had my fair share of carbonara but I have never had Cold Carbonara [S$19.30].
The angel hair pasta could be a little softer. I am amazed that the cream sauce does not clump together even though it is served cold. The fresh uni (sea urchin) gives the pasta a delicate sweetness.
PocoLoco’s Manzo [S$14.40] is on a whole new level, right beside iO Italian Osteria’s Homemade Tagliolini, Prawn, Lemon, Aromatic Breadcrumbs. Flat tagliatelle pasta is cooked with truffle cream sauce and strips of beef. The thick sauce evenly coats every strand of pasta, you can taste the truffle in each bite.
Risotto is a northern Italian rice dish cooked with broth until it reaches a creamy consistency.
Risotto is not as popular as pasta and pizza in Singapore. Poco Loco is one of the few restaurants in Singapore that serves this rice dish.
Porcini [S$15.90] is rice cooked with vegetable stock and porcini mushrooms. It is creamy with a nutty taste from the porcini mushroom but I find the rice a little undercooked.
Panna cotta is my go-to Italian dessert and it never fails to disappoint.
PocoLoco’s Panna Cotta [S$6.30] is perfectly creamy and smooth, almost like a block of silky tofu. The strawberry sauce served together with the panna cotta is slightly sour, which perfectly balances out the richness of the cream flan.
PocoLoco’s Tiramisu [S$8.50] is not served in cake form, it comes in a glass cup. The whitish layer on top is a mixture of eggs, sugar and mascarpone cheese, topped with a dash of cocoa powder. There is just a little bit of coffee-infused ladyfingers which is a little too watery.
Despite its understated appearance and location, PocoLoco is a hidden gem of an Italian restaurant in Royal Square @ Novena. It’s a little pricey compared with other restaurants in the vicinity but the food is so good that you won’t mind.
PocoLoco (Novena)
Address: 103 Irrawaddy Road, Royal Square @ Novena #02-08, Singapore 329566
Telephone: +65 8699 6664
Opening Hours: Monday – Friday 12pm – 3pm, 6pm – 10pm; Saturday – Sunday 12pm – 10pm
PocoLoco (Upper Thomson)
Address: 215F Upper Thomson Road, Singapore 574349
Telephone: +65 8436 3363
Opening Hours: Monday – Friday 12pm – 3pm, 6pm – 10pm; Saturday – Sunday 12pm – 10pm
PocoLoco (Jurong)
Address: 21 Jurong Town Hall Road, Snow City Level 2, Singapore 609433
Telephone: +65 8866 4646
Opening Hours: Monday – Friday 12pm – 3pm, 6pm – 10pm; Saturday – Sunday 12pm – 10pm
Website: https://pocoloco.com.sg