THE REVIEWS ARE IN
Reviews
The Sicilian fried salted cod balls were breathtakingly good with the right amount of crisp and softness. The lemon aioli that went with it was perfect as well! We also had the vanilla marinated heirloom tomatoes which were really refreshing and interesting!For pasta, we had Linguine al Limone which had the right amount of zest and citrus. The Bigoli co' Lanara (duck ragu pasta) though tasty, really tasted like Chinese Jajangmyeon - oops.My partner especially love the Cannoli!
Loved the dishes we ordered. Staff were also helpful, which made the place even more inviting. Will aim to come for dinner next time.
2nd time back to this place for birthday celebration.We really love their seasonal pasta as every time you visit, you get to try something different.For dessert, we love the olive oil cake. It's was nice and soft and not too sweet.
Spent a hearty afternoon here over many delicious dishes and crafty cocktails. I particularly enjoyed the bouncy texture of their handmade pasta. Will return for more!
We had a pleasant dining experience at Forma. The space is dimly lit, very warm but also hard to read the menu with. We shared the Burratina and the fried salted cod balls, both delicious and a good start. The bread with the burrata was very fresh and one the best we’ve had. For pasta we had the one with the pork sausage and agreed that was the tastiest. The other option was the mushroom, garlic parmigiano reggiano from the daily specials which was just ok. Service was attentive. Both types of pasta we’ve never had before so that was nice to try something new.
My 2nd time here. The food never disappoint. Pasta dishes are on point and tasty especially the seafood pasta.Pricing is on the higher side but this is very normal due to the increase of food material and manpower cost.
Had two tasting menu with my wife, choosing one of each option for every course to try more variety.The pasta are great, being perfectly al dente which is not easy for fresh egg based pasta. But my fav was their interpretation of the ribolita. While traditionally being more like a thick vegetable soup made with bread and cavolo Nero, this version is more like a Korean pancake made with the vegetables and grana (or was it parmigiano). Topped with crispy kale which makes for excellence contrast of texture.Mains are a tad salty for our preference but everything else is great.
Quaint little corner Italian diner that serves very rustic Italian pastas and mains. The cod balls and carpaccio was good. Loved the duck Ragu and seafood pasta. Beef was a tad salty, but savoury. Overall it’s a place worth a return. Their super tuscans are will priced as well.
Great tasting pasta and seasonal selections. Texture is perfect of course. Seafood is also authentic and super fresh. Photos says it all. Really like the sardines!
You can see them making pasta themselves.It's a homemade pasta, so it's so chewy and delicious.The pork is large and perfectly well-baked.
Birthday dinner here after having a birthday lunch earlier. Didn't order much because we were too full from lunch. The garlic bread and the seafood pasta were very good. Pasta and the seafood were fresh and the sauce was delicious. Service here was good.
My shout out to Mr. Randall and Mr. Roberto for their looking after myself and their guests on a busy Friday night. They gave great recommendations dishes along with popular cocktails.My greatest compliments to Chef Wasabi and the whole kitchen team with their fantastic dishes they've made. Starters were amazing to begin with, and the pasta Gramignia Paglia was incredibly smooth. The Branzino has its beautiful flavour with the butter mixed with chopped herbs and a side of chard lemon, making it smooth and zesty touch.Lastly dessert was unique known as Artichoke Tiramisu with a beautiful balance of Kahlua and dark chocolate chips.A fantastic dining experience and a well recommended place to bring your family and peers!
Loved the dining experience. Every dish was perfectly executed. Prompt and polite service from the staff. I have to say the pasta and the main courses were the highlight. Such robust flavours and did I say the lamb chop was perfectly pink in the middle with slight charring on the sides....
Definitely the pasta… the go-to. Skip the puny fish which contained bits of broken bones. Pasta comes in types that are not commonly seen. Flavours are great and balanced. Portions are generally small so, don’t worry about over ordering. Had an appetiser but not quite suitable for my palate. Service is prompt and good. Take note of the price… but for the flavour, I think it’s worth the penny (or dollars 😂)
It's hard to get a reservation at Forma, and rightly so. The pastas you find here are incredibly unique, and hard to find not just in Singapore but I'll assume in many cities around the world. I've tried all the pastas on both iterations of the menu so far, and they get the texture of the pasta just right each time and the sauces compliment the pastas and make the pastas the rightful star of the show. There are obviously going to be some that are more favoured than others, but it's a wonderful experience all round. Have been here twice so far, and imagine I'll continue to keep coming - as long as I can snag a reservation.
Since they are known for their pasta, my partner and I tried 4 pastas between the 2 of us. It was really filling since we did ordered 2 appetizer as well as 2 desserts.While their portion is small, I think that it would be just nice if appetizer and desserts are ordered alongside the pastas.The pasta is the star of every pasta dish which is refreshing. No need for fancy protein to outshine the pasta. This is for pasta lovers who enjoy the bite of handmade pasta made from scratch. Appetizer and desserts were really good as well.Highlights for us is Rigatoni (most chewy). I really like the sardines as well. Chestnut tart was pretty good too.
A place to go for a special occasion.Pasta was good. Antipasti were quite unique. We tried the lamb dish for our secondi, it was so so.I enjoyed the meal overall but it was quite pricey. 430+ for 7 items plus 100+ wine. Portion of the food was small, mind you.May/may not come back again considering that getting a table is very difficult :/Service was so so.The seat indoor can be quite cold. Make sure you wear smart casual.Toilet not super clean but was ok.
Place is fully booked and packed but appreciate the effort to explain the menu to us. Not for long dinner dates as there are 2 settings. Pasta is the main focus here but we tot the cherry dessert was the highlight.
F is for Formidable is for Forma. We thoroughly enjoyed our pasta, artichokes, flat bread, and biscotti. Service was great all around, and the refillable water for three bucks a head is very decent. I don't mind waiting to make a reservation, but I wish the pasta came with protein, given the relatively steep prices. That said, thanks for a lovely dinner nonetheless.
Enjoyed the meal throughout.! Delicious hand made pasta. Portion is not very big. Ordered 3 pasta for the 2 of us. Well cooked. Will go back again.
Enjoyed our dinner here.Comfortable atmosphere - they have a dress code for the indoors seats but this is not enforced. Saw plenty in shorts/ sandals.The appetiser and pasta portions are appropriate- small but leaves space for the other courses! Pasta is done well, and generally, the food is good.Will come back.
A cosy corner with great food and even better service. Patient waitress gave us the low down as we were first timers there. We were lucky to get a last minute booking for 2 and also lucky to be the first in the queue at 545pm.Enough reading. Call them now!
I’m giving it 5 cos it’s in our neighbourhood & we’re biased. 4 if it was anywhere else, ultimately it’s a pasta place - great hype & u expect it to deliver.. & so it did, partially. Except the steak which was too far gone med, than med-rare. Lovely ambience - would I come back, yes, but not on waitlist.
Splendid dining experience. Pasta was top notch, with the tortellini a must try. Parma ham was also very well done, especially coming from someone (me) who is afraid of the usual raw stench. Been wanting to try this place near our hood since it opened. But due to its popularity, it was not possible to get a reservation. Thankfully, the reservations manager was kind enough to allow us to walk-in on my birthday and here we are, writing this well deserved review. Thank you for accommodating us on a special day and we will definitely return for more.
Have always been a fan of Ben's hand-crafted pastas and was constantly waiting for his online pre-orders. Imagine my excitement when I heard he was opening up a space! It was an amazing experience, everything was perfect - right down to the service staff. It's difficult to get a table here, but completely worth the wait!
Perfectly executed pastas (had to order the lemon pasta twice because it was so good) and beautifully seasoned and cooked pork tomahawk. Not the basic type of pastas you might be used to, but a culinary experience you just enjoy. Will definitely be back again… and again, and again.
Among the best pasta I've eaten in recent years, but get ready to get charged for everything, even the second round of sparking water we did not ask for (the server sent it to our table). All in all, excellent but pricey.
Excellent food and service here! The pasta portions might be a little small but that’s because it’s painstakingly handmade with skill and effort - so savour every bite! Loved the texture of the spaghetti and the flavours of the tortellini in brodo, things that you can only find here when in Singapore. The fish was very delicious too however the starters whilst not bad were forgettable. At the end of the night the host of the restaurant was also sending off guests which I felt was a nice gesture. Will be back if I can get a table!
We were so lucky to get a table at this highly anticipated upscale trattoria located in the heart of Joo Chiat! We were impressed by how simple but flavouful each pasta dish was...it was spot-on, especially each morsel of that freshly-made tortellini. The other dishes such as the gnocco fritto and pan-roasted blue cod in vermouth butter sauce were also absolutely delicious. With such superb food accompanied by fantastic service, trust me, you definitely want to go back for more!
All great handmade pastas. Well sized so you can try a few. Four pastas between two people great for sharing!Issa (Manager / Server) was great at helping to serve and make recommendations! Staff was attentive and helpful.I’ve been twice now and can’t wait to go back and try more pastas and dishes!
There is the dry pasta and then there is BENFATTO95 FRESH PASTA.Lee Yum Hwa of Ben Fatto 95 private dining has deep respect for the tradition of hand-crafting Italian pasta where pasta makers practiced their daily ritual of rolling pasta by hand in a "laboratori". Sfoglino is bold in its execution; focuses on the simplicity of the texture and shape of each pasta style.At Forma, a new joint venture between Ben Fatto 95 and the Cicheti Group, you will be treated to a myriad of pasta shape options. The likes of Tortellini to Pappardelle are prepared until it is tender and almost velvety to the touch (and to the bite). At Forma, you'll get to appreciate the delicate texture of freshly made pasta coupled with perfect cream- and tomato-based sauces. In my humble opinion, fresh pasta is far smoother and has got a nice chewy bite to it than dried pasta.Book ahead as Forma has a long waitlist.
The Sicilian fried salted cod balls were breathtakingly good with the right amount of crisp and softness. The lemon aioli that went with it was perfect as well! We also had the vanilla marinated heirloom tomatoes which were really refreshing and interesting!For pasta, we had Linguine al Limone which had the right amount of zest and citrus. The Bigoli co' Lanara (duck ragu pasta) though tasty, really tasted like Chinese Jajangmyeon - oops.My partner especially love the Cannoli!
Loved the dishes we ordered. Staff were also helpful, which made the place even more inviting. Will aim to come for dinner next time.
2nd time back to this place for birthday celebration.We really love their seasonal pasta as every time you visit, you get to try something different.For dessert, we love the olive oil cake. It's was nice and soft and not too sweet.
Spent a hearty afternoon here over many delicious dishes and crafty cocktails. I particularly enjoyed the bouncy texture of their handmade pasta. Will return for more!
We had a pleasant dining experience at Forma. The space is dimly lit, very warm but also hard to read the menu with. We shared the Burratina and the fried salted cod balls, both delicious and a good start. The bread with the burrata was very fresh and one the best we’ve had. For pasta we had the one with the pork sausage and agreed that was the tastiest. The other option was the mushroom, garlic parmigiano reggiano from the daily specials which was just ok. Service was attentive. Both types of pasta we’ve never had before so that was nice to try something new.
My 2nd time here. The food never disappoint. Pasta dishes are on point and tasty especially the seafood pasta.Pricing is on the higher side but this is very normal due to the increase of food material and manpower cost.
Had two tasting menu with my wife, choosing one of each option for every course to try more variety.The pasta are great, being perfectly al dente which is not easy for fresh egg based pasta. But my fav was their interpretation of the ribolita. While traditionally being more like a thick vegetable soup made with bread and cavolo Nero, this version is more like a Korean pancake made with the vegetables and grana (or was it parmigiano). Topped with crispy kale which makes for excellence contrast of texture.Mains are a tad salty for our preference but everything else is great.
Quaint little corner Italian diner that serves very rustic Italian pastas and mains. The cod balls and carpaccio was good. Loved the duck Ragu and seafood pasta. Beef was a tad salty, but savoury. Overall it’s a place worth a return. Their super tuscans are will priced as well.
Great tasting pasta and seasonal selections. Texture is perfect of course. Seafood is also authentic and super fresh. Photos says it all. Really like the sardines!
You can see them making pasta themselves.It's a homemade pasta, so it's so chewy and delicious.The pork is large and perfectly well-baked.
Birthday dinner here after having a birthday lunch earlier. Didn't order much because we were too full from lunch. The garlic bread and the seafood pasta were very good. Pasta and the seafood were fresh and the sauce was delicious. Service here was good.
My shout out to Mr. Randall and Mr. Roberto for their looking after myself and their guests on a busy Friday night. They gave great recommendations dishes along with popular cocktails.My greatest compliments to Chef Wasabi and the whole kitchen team with their fantastic dishes they've made. Starters were amazing to begin with, and the pasta Gramignia Paglia was incredibly smooth. The Branzino has its beautiful flavour with the butter mixed with chopped herbs and a side of chard lemon, making it smooth and zesty touch.Lastly dessert was unique known as Artichoke Tiramisu with a beautiful balance of Kahlua and dark chocolate chips.A fantastic dining experience and a well recommended place to bring your family and peers!
Loved the dining experience. Every dish was perfectly executed. Prompt and polite service from the staff. I have to say the pasta and the main courses were the highlight. Such robust flavours and did I say the lamb chop was perfectly pink in the middle with slight charring on the sides....
Definitely the pasta… the go-to. Skip the puny fish which contained bits of broken bones. Pasta comes in types that are not commonly seen. Flavours are great and balanced. Portions are generally small so, don’t worry about over ordering. Had an appetiser but not quite suitable for my palate. Service is prompt and good. Take note of the price… but for the flavour, I think it’s worth the penny (or dollars 😂)
It's hard to get a reservation at Forma, and rightly so. The pastas you find here are incredibly unique, and hard to find not just in Singapore but I'll assume in many cities around the world. I've tried all the pastas on both iterations of the menu so far, and they get the texture of the pasta just right each time and the sauces compliment the pastas and make the pastas the rightful star of the show. There are obviously going to be some that are more favoured than others, but it's a wonderful experience all round. Have been here twice so far, and imagine I'll continue to keep coming - as long as I can snag a reservation.
Since they are known for their pasta, my partner and I tried 4 pastas between the 2 of us. It was really filling since we did ordered 2 appetizer as well as 2 desserts.While their portion is small, I think that it would be just nice if appetizer and desserts are ordered alongside the pastas.The pasta is the star of every pasta dish which is refreshing. No need for fancy protein to outshine the pasta. This is for pasta lovers who enjoy the bite of handmade pasta made from scratch. Appetizer and desserts were really good as well.Highlights for us is Rigatoni (most chewy). I really like the sardines as well. Chestnut tart was pretty good too.
A place to go for a special occasion.Pasta was good. Antipasti were quite unique. We tried the lamb dish for our secondi, it was so so.I enjoyed the meal overall but it was quite pricey. 430+ for 7 items plus 100+ wine. Portion of the food was small, mind you.May/may not come back again considering that getting a table is very difficult :/Service was so so.The seat indoor can be quite cold. Make sure you wear smart casual.Toilet not super clean but was ok.
Place is fully booked and packed but appreciate the effort to explain the menu to us. Not for long dinner dates as there are 2 settings. Pasta is the main focus here but we tot the cherry dessert was the highlight.
F is for Formidable is for Forma. We thoroughly enjoyed our pasta, artichokes, flat bread, and biscotti. Service was great all around, and the refillable water for three bucks a head is very decent. I don't mind waiting to make a reservation, but I wish the pasta came with protein, given the relatively steep prices. That said, thanks for a lovely dinner nonetheless.
Enjoyed the meal throughout.! Delicious hand made pasta. Portion is not very big. Ordered 3 pasta for the 2 of us. Well cooked. Will go back again.
Enjoyed our dinner here.Comfortable atmosphere - they have a dress code for the indoors seats but this is not enforced. Saw plenty in shorts/ sandals.The appetiser and pasta portions are appropriate- small but leaves space for the other courses! Pasta is done well, and generally, the food is good.Will come back.
A cosy corner with great food and even better service. Patient waitress gave us the low down as we were first timers there. We were lucky to get a last minute booking for 2 and also lucky to be the first in the queue at 545pm.Enough reading. Call them now!
I’m giving it 5 cos it’s in our neighbourhood & we’re biased. 4 if it was anywhere else, ultimately it’s a pasta place - great hype & u expect it to deliver.. & so it did, partially. Except the steak which was too far gone med, than med-rare. Lovely ambience - would I come back, yes, but not on waitlist.
Splendid dining experience. Pasta was top notch, with the tortellini a must try. Parma ham was also very well done, especially coming from someone (me) who is afraid of the usual raw stench. Been wanting to try this place near our hood since it opened. But due to its popularity, it was not possible to get a reservation. Thankfully, the reservations manager was kind enough to allow us to walk-in on my birthday and here we are, writing this well deserved review. Thank you for accommodating us on a special day and we will definitely return for more.
Have always been a fan of Ben's hand-crafted pastas and was constantly waiting for his online pre-orders. Imagine my excitement when I heard he was opening up a space! It was an amazing experience, everything was perfect - right down to the service staff. It's difficult to get a table here, but completely worth the wait!
Perfectly executed pastas (had to order the lemon pasta twice because it was so good) and beautifully seasoned and cooked pork tomahawk. Not the basic type of pastas you might be used to, but a culinary experience you just enjoy. Will definitely be back again… and again, and again.
Among the best pasta I've eaten in recent years, but get ready to get charged for everything, even the second round of sparking water we did not ask for (the server sent it to our table). All in all, excellent but pricey.
Excellent food and service here! The pasta portions might be a little small but that’s because it’s painstakingly handmade with skill and effort - so savour every bite! Loved the texture of the spaghetti and the flavours of the tortellini in brodo, things that you can only find here when in Singapore. The fish was very delicious too however the starters whilst not bad were forgettable. At the end of the night the host of the restaurant was also sending off guests which I felt was a nice gesture. Will be back if I can get a table!
We were so lucky to get a table at this highly anticipated upscale trattoria located in the heart of Joo Chiat! We were impressed by how simple but flavouful each pasta dish was...it was spot-on, especially each morsel of that freshly-made tortellini. The other dishes such as the gnocco fritto and pan-roasted blue cod in vermouth butter sauce were also absolutely delicious. With such superb food accompanied by fantastic service, trust me, you definitely want to go back for more!
All great handmade pastas. Well sized so you can try a few. Four pastas between two people great for sharing!Issa (Manager / Server) was great at helping to serve and make recommendations! Staff was attentive and helpful.I’ve been twice now and can’t wait to go back and try more pastas and dishes!
There is the dry pasta and then there is BENFATTO95 FRESH PASTA.Lee Yum Hwa of Ben Fatto 95 private dining has deep respect for the tradition of hand-crafting Italian pasta where pasta makers practiced their daily ritual of rolling pasta by hand in a "laboratori". Sfoglino is bold in its execution; focuses on the simplicity of the texture and shape of each pasta style.At Forma, a new joint venture between Ben Fatto 95 and the Cicheti Group, you will be treated to a myriad of pasta shape options. The likes of Tortellini to Pappardelle are prepared until it is tender and almost velvety to the touch (and to the bite). At Forma, you'll get to appreciate the delicate texture of freshly made pasta coupled with perfect cream- and tomato-based sauces. In my humble opinion, fresh pasta is far smoother and has got a nice chewy bite to it than dried pasta.Book ahead as Forma has a long waitlist.
“The beauty of living in a connected world is that with enough dedication and heart, anyone anywhere can make authentic cuisine from any culture. One might even say there’s now a little corner of Italy in the heart of Joo Chiat.”
– CNA Lifestyle
“Forma is more than just a pasta paradise. It aims to provide a multi-course introduction to the hearty flavours of Italy. An almost transportive experience extends beyond the plate to the wine glasses and the four walls.”
– The Peak Singapore
“Forma nails the trifecta of a vibey location, food that is just as comforting as the atmosphere and a cult favourite: precisely prepared pastas.”
– High Net Worth
“Some matches are made in heaven. This one just happens to offer some really delicious handcrafted pasta.”
– Spirited Singapore
“With its premium selection of authentic Italian dishes, my night at Forma was unlike any other I’ve experienced. This high-end trattoria certainly gave me a taste of Italy that I will never forget.”
– Yahoo Singapore
“Compact dining areas (that) bring out the comfort and warmth of a traditional trattoria, staying true to the commensality found in Italian and Singaporean culture.”
– Design Anthology
“It’s hard to miss this restaurant at first glance with its storefront revealing the pasta-making room, i.e. where all the meticulous kneading happens.”
– Vogue Singapore
“There is also a lengthy wine list, spanning 150 or so wines that cover the best of Italy’s 20 wine regions. Ask the sommelier Ronald for recommendations if he’s around – he’ll know what matches a hearty beef ragu pasta or buttery fish fillet perfectly.”
– Time Out Singapore
PRESS COVERAGE