A fancy dinner before heading for drinks at Double O next door definitely classifies as a superb idea with Bonta Italian Restaurant & Bar located directly opposite the road. Having just opened its doors in UE Square in April this year, Bonta Italian Restaurant adds another chill-out venue with premium Italian cuisine from the skillful hands of Chef Luca.

• The Vibe
  Spotting a classic chic outlook complete with glass walls, Bonta Italian Restaurant fits right into River Valley's high-end apartments commonly associated with the wealthy and successful. The interior's warm yellow lighting transforms the restaurant into a relaxed and cosy setting complete with an orange plush feature wall. Semi-private rooms located on the second level provide an alternative to a more romantic setting complete with a showcase wine-cellar display. Different dining areas offer different moods to suit each individual, creating a unique dining experience for each guest.

• The Food
  For starters, pamper your taste-buds with exquisite selections of Oven Baked Australian Scallops ($22), Lobster Tartare ($34) or Parma Ham ($18). Soft and inviting, each oyster is doused with rich black olive hollandaise sauce to complement its fresh seafood taste and silky texture. The lobster tartare, though slightly on the pricey side, features semi-cooked tartare with fresh lobster seasoned with various herbs and paired with tomato salsa to give a heavenly spicy-sweet experience to the palate. The delicious blend of salty ham, juicy melon and sweet Marsala wine places this dish a notch above other variances of parma ham served in similar restaurants.

  Fine strands of Angel Hair pasta ($42) relieve nostalgic moments of home-made noodles like those found in Chinese cuisine, with the exception of a delectable sweetness of live lobster served alongside. This, along with the rich flavour of olive oil and teasing spiciness of chilli, renders the dish a hot favourite amidst diners. The hearty main course has Roasted Mediterranean Seabass Fillet ($34) served with crispy pesto risotto rice, which was a slight let-down compared to savoury starters earlier. A good portion of the seabass was charred on its skin, although its fish meat was a little more forgiving. The crispy risotto , bearing a resemblance to rice cake, was unfortunately served with a wrong choice of sautéed garlic spinach. The end result came across too salty to the senses and certainly did not justify its price.

  A saving grace came in the form of a Sicilian treat, a Frozen Sicilian Cassata ($14) with Marsala Zabaglione, a sauce made from whisked egg yolk, Marsala wine and sugar. Like a precious slice of cake, this dessert packages layers of ice-cream delights to the sweet-toothed, with flavours of vanilla, strawberry and chocolate encrusted in a soft delicate layer of buttery cake.

• The Service
  Staff at Bonta Restaurant creates the authentic Italian dining experience with their professional and attentive service. It is their balance of formal yet friendly service that guarantees a satisfying meal at the restaurant.

The SD Food Advisor's take on Bonta Restaurant & Bar
Bonta Restaurant & Bar is an ideal restaurant to visit for an authentic experience of Italian cuisine at its finest. With an established history of culinary experiences behind Chef Luca as well as an enchanting ambience, it is a worthwhile visit to Bonta no matter what the occasion.