Trattoria Milano, tucked away in a residential area at Upper Bukit Timah (near Hillview Avenue) is one of those small family-run restaurants that is homey, cosy and welcoming. The two-month-old eatery is helmed by veteran Italian Chef Domenico Truglia formerly of Al Borgo. He runs the restaurant with his wife and daughter and makes most things from scratch including the breads and pastas. The chef insists on using the freshest ingredients for his homespun creations such as the bresaola Contadina. Thin slices of Australian beef are marinated with herbs and black pepper, then draped over a mound of crisp salad and finished with parmesan cheese shavings. An unbelievably simple yet memorable dish.

The chef’s signatures draw on authentic, robust and boldly flavoured recipes from Milan, his hometown. His squid ink ravioli served with an orangey-red capsicum sauce is an explosion of arresting flavours and textures. Trapped inside each ink-coloured parcel is a mixture of fresh crayfish, carrots, celery and onions. One of the star dishes is the fettuccine alla Piedmontese – al dente pasta is tossed with strips of beef tenderloin and earthy mushrooms in a delicious cream sauce, perfumed with aromatic truffle oil. Ideal for sharing is the hearty baked cannelloni stuffed with minced veal, ricotta cheese and spinach, topped with tomato sauce and parmesan cheese. Another one of the chef’s specialties is the burgundy coloured beetroot risotto. The rice is cooked with fresh beetroot and onions and finished with parmesan cheese and black pepper.  Wholesome, natural and highly satisfying.

There is also a good range of main courses to be had, including grilled lamb chop with fresh herbs; grilled tenderloin steak in mushroom and gorgonzola cheese sauce as well as a range of pizzas. Pair these with Italian wines reasonably priced from $48 to $100. Although the dessert list is small, you will adore the smooth and creamy panna cotta topped with strawberries. Trattoria Milano is off the beaten track, but worth all the effort as the family recipes are clearly prepared from the heart. No. 3 Chu Lin Road (Off Jalan Remaja), Tel: 6760 3534