Review: La D’Oro – Elegant Japanese-Italian Restaurant in Mandarin Gallery

La D’Oro is a new Japanese-Italian restaurant in Mandarin Gallery, an area that has traditionally been occupied by retail. The venue was opened by chef-owner Yohhei Sasaki who was classically trained in Italian cuisine in top restaurants in Japan as well as in Tuscany and Lombardy in Italy. In Singapore, he previously helmed the kitchens at Forlino and Il Cielo – the latter which I absolutely loved. When I heard that he set up his own restaurant, I knew I had to try it out!

La D’Oro offers a number of dining formats, from seasonal omakase sets to dishes that can be ordered at any time of the day. One of my fond memories about Chef Sasaki’s time at Il Cielo was how perfectly executed the pasta dishes always were so for this particular occasion, it was just apt that I check out their all-day dining menu.

The all-day dining menu can be segregated into three parts. The small plates are tapas-sized light bites designed to whet the appetite. Sharing plates consist of Chef Sasaki’s pasta and pizza dishes while desserts are those who would like to end their meal on a sweet note.

 The Burratina Pugliese (S$16) possessed the right amount of firmness and wasn’t runny – just the way I like it. It came wrapped in a thin slice of San Daniele Ham.

The Tohoku Sword Fish and Chips (S$24) which are topped with mayo feel meatier than what you’d normally expect from swordfish and are small enough that it’s not cloying despite being deep-fried. 

When you take your first glance at the Capesante Inpanata (S$32), its charcoal crusted exterior wouldn’t clue you in that it’s actually scallops inside. I loved the contrast between the plump and bouncy shellfish within and the crispy crust. 

For something meatier, the Ossobuco alla Milanese (S$22) is perhaps the most substantial among the small plates. A normal serving consists of 3 pieces.  

As I mentioned previously, I am a fan of Chef Sasaki’s pasta dishes so I was really looking forward to the Tagliatelle Hokkaido Snow Beef A5 Bolognese (S$36). Good for around 2 persons, the highlight here was the extremely al dente noodles. It possessed a chewiness and texture that can only be found in establishments that make their own pasta. The flat noodles came generously topped with minced portions of Hokkaido snow beef and sprinkled Parmigiano Reggiano. 

La d’Oro also offers 3 types of pizzas such as the Pizza DOC (S$26) which come with mozzarella cheese, tomato and basil; Pizza Bismarck (S$32), the house specialty which consist of Japanese poached egg, mushroom, ham and mozzarella cheese as well as the Pizza Diavola (S$30) topped with salami, tomato sauce, chili and mozzarella cheese.

We ended the meal with the Tiramisu alla d’oro (S$18) which came with just the right intensity when it came to the coffee flavor and was well-balanced in composition between the cream and sponge.

The dining format at La D’Oro – one with a relatively affordable ala carte selection as well as more upmarket omakase options, means it’s well worth a try whether you’re here to impress or just looking to have some excellent pasta.

La D’Oro
333A Orchard Road
Mandarin Gallery
#01-16/17
Singapore 239987

+65 83826200