Locanda

Locanda is a casual Italian trattoria at 109 Rowell Road, on the edge of Little India. It comes from the team behind Buona Terra, the Italian fine-dining restaurant on Scotts Road. The name is the Italian word for an inn, and the menu keeps to simple, hearty Italian classics.

Locanda opened in July 2024. Chef Denis Lucchi of Buona Terra created the menu. He leads the kitchen with a team that includes long-serving staff from the fine-dining restaurant.

What to order

The menu is built for sharing. Start with bread and cured meats, then move on to pasta and a main.

• Bruscaccia: focaccia with toppings. One version comes with Casera cheese, lardo, hazelnuts, truffle and honey.
• Gnocco fritto with cold cuts: fried dough with Italian cured meats such as Parma ham, mortadella and speck.
• Antipasti: burrata with tomato and anchovies, eggplant parmigiana, and charcoal-grilled squid with salmoriglio.
• Pasta: tagliolini with crab and lemon, pappardelle with beef ragu and porcini, and tagliatelle with duck ragu.
• Mains: braised beef short ribs with polenta, secreto Iberico pork, and lamb rack with caponata.
• Dolci: homemade tiramisu and a Sicilian cannolo.

Large plates are suggested for tables of four or more. These include spaghetti ai frutti di mare and a salt-crusted whole turbot. There is also a set Signature menu that the whole table must share.

The setting

The dining room is cosy, in the style of an Italian country trattoria. Exposed brick walls, wooden tables and earthy colours set the tone. There is also a private dining room, styled like the dining room of a lakeside house. It works well for a birthday or a family meal. The drinks list has Italian wines, along with cocktails and mocktails.

Good to know before you go

• Book by phone or through the reservation page on the official website. The room is not large, so plan ahead for weekend meals.
• The restaurant is not open every day, so check the website before you go.
• A brunch menu, served sharing style, is offered at lunch.
• There are some vegetable-led dishes, such as eggplant parmigiana and tomato salad. Ask the staff if you need a strict vegetarian meal.

You can see the latest menus on the Locanda website.

Nearby

Rowell Road is a short walk from the temples and shops of Little India. Our Little India neighbourhood guides help you plan a walk before dinner. For a stay close by, look at hotels in Little India and Jalan Besar. For more pasta and European cooking, browse our European and Italian restaurants, or see all restaurants in Little India and Jalan Besar.