“Italians love good food, especially those shared with family and friends.”
PASTA, pizza, cheese-based and herb-infused dishes, and of course wine. These are all the elements of a hearty Italian meal.
Other than delicious food, Italians usually put a lot of emphasis on big famiglia (family) gatherings.
As its name suggests, the recently launched Fratello Italiano Restorante (Italian brotherhood) is an ideal setting for gatherings with family or friends while enjoying freshly prepared Italian meals.
On the first floor of Kuala Lumpur’s Nexus Bangsar South, it has al fresco dining as well as indoor dining. First, you will see a beautiful mural of a Tuscany street, which is backdrop to the air-conditioned area filled with wooden dining tables and chairs. This area and the bar are separated by a horizontal and vertical wooden rack housing various wine bottles.
Just like how Italians love their meals — fresh, homemade and straight from the oven — the restaurant keeps that tradition alive. It serves colourful handmade pasta, with colours extracted from fresh produce such as beetroot, spinach, carrot, pumpkin, squid ink and herbs (dill, parsley and thyme).
For starters, spoon up into Zuppa Di Pesce (RM22). The seafood broth has just the right consistency and will leave you satisfied. The tomato-based soup, comprising crab meat, prawns, mussels and scallops, is spicy but sweetish.
Trio Bruschetta (RM19) is three pairs of toasted bread with three different toppings. The first is vinaigrette-flavoured classic of chopped tomato, basil, onion and basil. The second is a sauteed mushroom, garlic thyme and olive oil topping. The third, my favourite, is Boursin Cheese spread, chilli flakes and honey, topped with rocket leaves. I am not a fan of rocket leaves but they added a slight crunch to the sweet and creamy herb cheese on bread. Other appetisers include mixed Mediterranean salad, almond-crusted squid and garlic bread.
For pasta, there’s a range to pick from. The top three are Fratello Fettuccine Aglio Olio (RM18), with yellow, red and green handmade pastas tossed with olive oil, garlic and herbs or with mixed seafood (RM35). Both mild or spicy variants are available.
The Stracci Funghi Alfredo (RM28) has rectangular shaped pasta (with dill sandwiched in between the pasta) in a pool of a sweet creamy sauce, truffle oil and topped with slices of mushrooms and a sprinkle of herbs. The herbs do not overpower the dish.
Tortellini Burro Bianco (RM36) is a pasta dish that will keep you coming for more. Bits of chicken and mushrooms are stuffed into triangular-shaped pasta dough and served with a creamy garlic sauce and sundried tomato or a pesto mint cream sauce.
There are 14 types of pizza (from RM19) including a good selection of vegetarian pizza. Pizza Famiglia (RM59) is a 16-inch pizza perfect for a family. It is topped with tomato sauce, mozzarella cheese, turkey ham, roasted capsicum, mushroom, eggs and rocket leaves. A slice of the thin crust pizza has a perfect texture as it is cheesy at the top and crunchy at the bottom.
For the mains, Carrè di Agnello (RM65) has three tender grilled lamb chops in a rosemary gravy, topped with herb butter. The lamb sits on a bed of fresh rocket leaves and grilled tomato salad. Other recommended mains are lamb shank, panfried sea bass fillet and stuffed chicken.
To soothe your palate at the end of your big Italian meal, indulge in the signature non-alcoholic tiramisu (RM20). You get a generous slice of cake, plated with a mix of chocolate and strawberry sauce. This dessert has a good balance of bitter (espresso) and sweet (cream).
Fratello Italiano offers daily set lunches at RM23++ which includes a soup of the day, main course and bottomless ice lemon tea.
Fratello Italiano
WHERE
First Floor, Nexus Bangsar South, Jalan Kerinchi, Kuala Lumpur
BUSINESS HOURS
Daily, 11.30am to midnight
TEL
03-2242 3130
GETTING THERE
From the University LRT station, Kg Kerinchi, it’s a 15-min leisurely walk. If driving, head for Bangsar South and after two traffic lights, you will see the Nexus Convention Centre on the right.
WHAT’S COOKING
Italian food
MUST TRY
Stracci Funghi Alfredo, Fratello Fettuccine Aglio Olio, Lamb Shank, and Tiramisu
YOU’LL PAY
RM8 to RM128 (subject to GST)
Set lunches at RM23++
ATMOSPHERE
Cosy
SERVICE
Good
OVERALL VERDICT
Worth a try