Singapore has a very dynamic dining scene, known for its abundant choices. The recent addition of a renowned pizzeria from Naples, Italy, has enriched our plethora of dining selections. L’Antica Pizzeria Da Michele has launched in April its Southeast Asian outpost at the newly opened Mercure ICON Singapore City Centre, touted as the world’s largest Mercure hotel.
This pizzeria was popularised by the 2010 Eat, Pray, Love film, in which Julia Roberts indulged in a slice of pizza at the original Naples location and was quoted as saying, “I’m having a relationship with this Pizza.”
The pizza-making legacy began in 1870 with Salvatore Condurro. His son, Michele Condurro, founded L’antica Pizzeria Da Michele (pronounced as Mee-Kare-Lay), which became synonymous with Neapolitan pizzas. The first outlet in Naples offered only two pizzas – a Marinara with tomato, oregano and garlic and a Margherita with tomato and mozzarella.
Here, the Margherita is S$28, and the Marinara is S$22. If you like to try both but can’t finish two pizzas, order the Marita (S$28), which is a combination of half Marinara and half Margherita.
The same Neapolitan-style pizzas served today have remained the same, whether you’re dining at Da Michele venues in over 19 countries, be it in Spain, UK, USA, Saudia Arabia or Japan. Ingredients are sourced directly from Italian artisans, and traditional techniques are retained to ensure a consistent flavour experience.
Diners can enjoy the legendary “pizza a ruota di carro’ which translates to a wagon wheel pizza. This large 15-inch thin base pizza drapes over the plate beneath it. The stretched-thin crusts are light and airy, with a slight char and a well-balanced amount of fresh ingredients sitting atop. Caputo flour is used and baked in a customised Stefano Ferrara Napoli – a domed brick oven custom-made in Italy. This same brick oven sits in every da Michele outlet around the world.
We had the Diavola and Proscuitto & Funghi pizzas to share. The Diavola (S$34) features a spicy and meaty Spianata Calabra—a salami from Calabria made with pork meat blended with red pepper and local red chillis and aged for at least 45 days. You have the option to add some of the house-made chilli oil, which managed to only tickle my tongue. It wasn’t too spicy.
The Proscuitto & Funghi (S$36) features Agerola fior di latte, pecorino Romano DOP, cooked ham and mushrooms. The pizza is beautifully done and is not to strong flavoured.
For starters, we had Burrata Alla Puttanesca (S$26). Puglia’s finest creamy burrata paired with Leccino olives, sun-dried tomatoes, and Cetara anchovies. These Cetara anchovies are the best I’ve had in a while. They have an intense and refined savoury profile and are prepared and preserved using a traditional and artisanal technique. They are fished from the waters off the Amalfi coast.
We couldn’t resist the pasta, They are handmade with Martimucci semolina flour. We opted for the Ragù Della Portiera (S$36). This dish features a slow-cooked blend of beef chuck, pork ribs, and Italian sausage, combined with a medley of herbs, onions, and tomato sauce, making it ideal for sharing.
We ended the meal with Canoli (S$16). The three Sicilian pastry tubes filled with a sweet, creamy ricotta mixture wasn’t too heavy. Fortunately, we didn’t order the Classic Tiramisu because we couldn’t stomach any more food. But we’ll definitely come back again to try the other dishes. There are 17 pizzas to choose from for dinner and five other pastas we haven’t tried.
Da Michele offers a selection of Italian Vino, popular Italian aperitifs and cocktails including the quintessential Aperol Spritz and Negroni.
Dining at da Michele is best enjoyed with a group of four or more, sharing a variety of dishes. This communal dining experience is reminiscent of a warm, Italian home. Check out the menu here. Reservations are a must. Weekends are definitely packed.
L’antica Pizzeria da Michele Singapore
Address #01-08, Mercure ICON Singapore City Centre, 8 Club Street, Singapore 069472
Whatsapp +65 9823 5724
Web https://www.damichele.sg
Instagram Da Michele Singapore
Operating Hours Monday to Saturday 12pm to 3pm and 6pm to 11pm (last order 9.45pm)
Reservations Sevenrooms
