Westies, take note: we’ve found a hidden gem in Jurong that offers delicious pastas and pizzas that are great for sharing! Family-friendly bistro PocoLoco, which has four outlets islandwide, is popular for its selection of affordable Italian food in generous portions, and freshly brewed beers. We pay the casual restaurant a visit and give you our review.
First impressions
PocoLoco may not be centrally located – it’s in Jurong, tucked away on the second floor of Snow City – yet it’s got a great position; plenty of space, with both indoor and alfresco dining on offer. Opt for the latter if the weather is favourable and you’ll be blessed with a picturesque view of the park directly opposite. Inside, the 100-seater is furnished with wooden floors and tables, comfy black chairs and warm lighting, making the ambience cosy and welcoming. If you’re visiting in a group, it’s best to make a reservation beforehand as this spot can get packed, even on a weeknight!
The grub
Beat the heat and whet your appetite with a cold pasta; we utterly enjoyed the cold capellini ($20) – cold angel hair with truffle oil, raw Hokkaido scallops, uni (sea urchin) and kombu (kelp). If you’re not big on raw seafood, there are plenty of shareable alternatives on hand, including burrata ($16.90) for cheese lovers, and oven-baked portobello ($12.90) with burrata and truffle essence.
The star of the show, however, were the pastas, all cooked to a perfect al dente texture. Each mouthful of granchio ($13.90) was loaded with chunks of fresh crabmeat; this dish is a steal for the price you’re paying. The manzo tagliatelle ($13.90) – tagliatelle bathed in a rice truffle cream sauce and beef – is another must-try on the menu. We recommend getting both to share, along with the mentaiko pizza ($14.90), handmade and baked-to-order in the restaurant’s special pizza oven. A minor mishap saw the beef in our filleto di manzo with foie gras ($27.90) served overcooked, but the dish was salvaged by a generous serving of foie gras. It’s not every day you’d stumble upon foie at this price!
As for desserts, while the tiramisu ($7.90) was too creamy for our liking and panna cotta ($5.90) a little gelatinous, the chocolate lava cake ($10.90) saved the day with its well-executed flow.
Wash it down
As PocoLoco’s Snow City outlet is part-microbrewery, you’re missing out if you leave without trying a pint. We highly recommend the dark beer ($8.90), which turned out to be surprisingly refreshing even with its rich caramel notes. Interestingly, the beers are served in a unique glass holder that keeps them cold for a long time. Our drinks remained cool for two whole hours!
Psst…
Planning a birthday party or a company event? Hit up the PocoLoco team for outdoor catering enquiries and restaurant bookings. There are three more outlets islandwide: Ang Mo Kio (408 Ang Mo Kio Avenue 10, #01-779 | 8436 3363), Royal Square@Novena (103 Irrawaddy Rd, #02-08 | 8699 6664) and Wisteria Mall (598 Yishun Ring Rd, #01-37/38 | 8826 1919).
Don’t miss
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PocoLoco Microbrewery
Level 2 Snow City
21 Jurong Town Hall Road
8866 4646 | enquiry@pocoloco.com.sg
pocoloco.com.sg
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