Pete's Place @ Grand Hyatt: Hidden Gem for Italian Food

Walk down the stairs to the basement level of Grand Hyatt Hotel and one will be greeted by the nostalgic sight of traditional Italian trattoria that makes you feel as though you are coming home. There is much buzz around this enduringly popular family-friendly Italian restaurant as the food is refreshingly simple yet decently priced, especially when every main course ordered include a self-plated salad and free flow of Italian bread. 

Free flow of Homemade Italian Bread and Butter Spread with Every Main Course
Bread lovers like me will find it extremely difficult to resist the wonderful carbs here. The olive and sundried tomato foccacia or the grissini sticks underpin all the necessary aspects of the authentic Italian approach.

The salad bar is such a great idea that it should be introduced in more local restaurants. From alfalfa sprouts, baby asparagus to marinated mushrooms, tuna or sun-dried tomatoes, there is a wide selection of freshly sourced greens that can be pimped up with in-house dressings and the yummy shavings CHEESE. The salad bar may not be free flow but one plate is more than sufficient as the delicious main courses are waiting ahead. 

The Gamberi e Nero de Sepoia ($29) is one exemplary Italian dish which the ingredients speak for themselves. No rich heavy cream but just a clear base of seafood broth that brimmed with the sweetness of seafood, parsley and garlic. The springy and fresh seared prawns and length-sliced chillis at a cheery flavour to the toothsome Italian "mee pok'". 

We were deliberating between the hearty Sustainable Fish Stew with Baguette ($32) and this Pan Seared Cod Fish ($36) but chose the latter in the end. The fatty white fish luxuriates in a shallow pool of Parsnip purée and creamy spinach, flanked with tart radish and yellow Polenta Cubes which resembled mango cubes. 

I wished the cod skin could be crispier but the overall dish was wholesome and satisfying, not overwhelmingly heavy in seasoning that would have robbed away the beauty of the fish. 

We had to bade goodbye without trying the classic dolci like Tiramisu and Amaretti Chocolate Pudding this time round as we were heading to Mezza9 for the divine desserts. But this means a legitimate reason to come back for the wooden fire pizzas and more pastas next time, probably through their value for money set dinner or the Sunday Brunch when I can conquer all dishes with a glass of Prosecco.

Pete's Place

Grand Hyatt Hotel Basement

Lunch: 12:00 pm to 3:00 pm, daily
Dinner: 6:00 pm to 11:00 pm, daily
Sunday Brunch: 11:30 am to 2:30 pm

For menu and current promotion, visit here