lionel ong's phlog: La Risata Italian Pizza

When I was a child, I thought Pizza Hut serves the best pizza. Maybe that's because it was the only pizza restaurant available in Alor Star back then. Don't get me wrong, I still go to Pizza Hut sometimes for their chicken wings :-) I believe most people will agree that thin crust is the best, crispy at the edges, light, has cheesy toppings and most importantly, wood-fired. We all went to La Risata italian restaurant to tried out their pizza. The dining area boasted raw brick walls which gave it a casual yet cosy ambience especially on a rainy night.

Above: Thin-crusted pizzas - RECOMMENDED

The restaurant has 2 levels, the ground floor which is more casual and the first floor with a more formal table-clothed environment.

Above: Ground floor dining and gorgeous chandelier

As a normal Italian restaurant, we were served with a basket of white bread with a side of home made olive sauce which was made from mashed olives soaked in olive oil. The paste gave a certain bite as well as a nice sour taste to the otherwise plain bread.

Above: Basket of bread with olive paste

The Antipasti Misti was a platter of grilled mushrooms, deep fried calamari rings, beef carpaccio, garlic crostini, gnocchi and chicken liver pate. The pate was smooth and dense, with a very flavourful and velvety finish that was actually pretty addictive. That aside, the beef carpaccio topped with mushroom and cheese was a wonderful combination too. The sauteed mushrooms managed to half-cook the carpaccio and the partially melted cheese on top gave it a nice savoury finish.

Above: Antipasti Misti (RM42)

Below was the Insalata Dea, topped with slices of grilled chicken, croutons and creamy herb dressing.

Above: Insalata Dea / Goddess Salad (RM22)

If you know me, I love minestrone. So, I expect a lot of it, even thought it's just a common appetizer soup. The soup had a generous amount of vegetables but lacked the herb flavour and was overpowered by the tomato base. Too bland for me, I must say.

Above: Minestrone Soup (RM10)

The star of the night was, Pizza Carbonara, with beef bacon, mushrooms, mozarella and parmesan cheese on top. The added beef bacon was simply a bonus to this wonderfully prepared pizza which was light and savoury. The uneven charred edges were tell-tale signs that this was baked in a wood-fired oven, to perfection, no less.

Above: Pizza Carbonara (RM28) - RECOMMENDED

Next was Pizza D’Anatra, which was topped with smoked duck, rocket leaves, anchovy and mozzarella. The smoked duck added a creative touch to the pizza, not to mention the anchovies that gave it a nice crunchy bite. And to top them off, fresh rocket which somehow made the ensemble balanced and right.

Above: Pizza D’Anatra (RM36) - RECOMMENDED

For seafood + tomato lovers, the Zuppa di Pesce is a must try! The portion was huge with countless prawns, squids, mussels, clams and fish in a rich and thick tomato sauce which doubled as a hearty soup. The hint of garlic and parsley was distinct in the savoury and sour soup, with succulent seafood to boot. I can finish this by myself :-)

Above: Zuppa di Pesce (RM62) - RECOMMENDED

Spaghetti Alla Risata came wrapped in an aluminum foil, with piping hot spaghetti mixed with a variety of seafood, tossed with Napoli sauce. The seafood was fresh, the sauce was not overly sour, and the spaghetti al-dente.

Above: Spaghetti Alla Risata (RM35) - RECOMMENDED

The Gnocchi Ai Gamberi looked like plain potato dumplings at first sight, but looks can be deceiving. These mini potato balls had a slightly crispy outer layer with bouncy and fluffy interior. Oh, and don’t forget the buttery coat on the surface – aromatic!

Above: Gnocchi Ai Gamberi (RM22) - RECOMMENDED

Stinco D’Agnello, wood fired oven braised lamb shank was baked to perfection before being smothered with rosemary sauce.

Above: Stinco D’Agnello (RM34)

Desserts were a trio of Creme Brulee, Tiramisu and Panna Cotta. The Crema Catalana Napoletana, a trio of vanilla, chocolate and strawberry creme brulee were served warm with the right amount of caramelized layer on top.

Above: Crema Catalana Napoletana (RM16)

The Tiramisu was decadent and extremely rich with the thick and smooth mascarpone cream cheese filling a sizable glass, however lack of liquor.

Above: Tiramisu (RM16)

A better dessert was actually the Panna Cotta. This smooth cream pudding was topped with caramel sauce but not overly sweet. It was exceptionally smooth and soft texture of the panna cotta. Thumbs up !

La Risata