Started by the same team behind Fortuna, Medusa is a new osteria romana concept centred on Roman cuisine. The casual Italian restaurant is situated in JW Marriott South Beach, bringing a new focus to the usual fare.
They open officially on 10 January 2025.
Retro Red Interior
The space is inspired by the glitz and glamour of 1960s Rome, following a bright red, retro theme.
A highlight is the disco ball centrepiece in the main dining area!
The entrance is decorated with photospots, including a neon light wall and mirrored ceilings.
There are indoor and outdoor seating areas available, accommodating up to 92 people.
Osteria Romana Medusa Menu
The offerings focus on Roman-style cooking, led by the Rome native Head Chef Federico Scordo.
Look forward to starters like Saltimbocca ($32) with marinated veal and Polpette al Sugo ($24) featuring pork and beef meatballs.
Pizza and pasta options are plenty, including classics such as the Carbonara ($32) and Cacio e Pepe Tonnarelli ($28).
Their Roman-style pizzas feature a thinner, crunchy crust. Flavour choices range from the spicy, meaty Er Diavolo ($36) to the cheesy Quattro Fromaggi ($35).
A Rome speciality is the Pinsa Romana, a version of pizza using a blend of wheat, rice and soy flour.
The toppings include Gricia ($20) with Fior de latte cheese and guanciale, and the Puttanesca ($22) with tomato.
There’s also a curated cocktail menu named after gods of Greek mythology such as the gin-based Diana ($22) and Minerva ($22) with Pisco and Roman wine syrup.
Check out the full menu here.
What We Tried
Appetizers
To start, we had the Burrata Fritta ($26). This was essentially a fried burrata topped with a cheese foam and crispy guanciale.
While the overall flavour was light, it had a nice saltiness from the toppings plus the familiar creaminess of the cheese.
This was great with their housemade Focaccetta & Dip ($16).
The bread was airy with a crunchy, almost hard crust. This leaned toward a dense tough texture and less fluffy, which we had hoped for.
It came with two dips: tomato and salsa verde, which helped to add some flavour.
Their Suppli al Telefone ($16) is a version of an arancini with tomato-flavoured rice and cheesy center.
While we liked the cheese pull, it didn’t really stand out in terms of flavour. We wished there was more sauce!
Pizza & Pasta
We tried the Casarecce ($35), featuring a creamy tomato sauce. Surprisingly, there isn’t any cream at all, despite being so rich!
The chewy, curly pasta shape caught all the sauce, making it enjoyable to eat.
A highlight for us was the Fettuccine Alfredo ($36). This was served with a raining of parmesan that they grated all over (even on the table).
This was traditionally prepared with only four ingredients: pasta, Parmesan, black pepper, and butter.
Despite the simplicity, it was well done with a creamy and savoury flavour that wasn’t too cloying either!
We got to try their Pomodoro & Ciccia ($30) pizza.
This had a great, crunchy crust that held the toppings well, but we found that it needed more sauce for a stronger taste.
The combination of cheese and guanciale was simple but enjoyable, we wished it had a more prominent flavour.
Main
The Porchetta ($42) was a favourite! With a crispy skin and tender flavourful meat, this was meaty and not dry.
The addition of salsa verde and jus enhanced the richness of the meat.
Dessert
The meal ended with a Maritozzi ($16), a cream-stuffed Roman brioche-style bun.
We had the Pistachio cream. The cream was nice and fragrant but the bread didn’t stand out taste-wise either.
Cocktails
The Medusa ($30) featured a date-infused rum and smoked banana cream, tasting like a boozy banana pudding!
For something lighter, the Diana ($22) featured a citrus liqueur and citrus with a cute cherry jelly heart.
Italian Restaurant In Promenade
Medusa works well for those interested in Roman food beyond the usual Italian fare! The vibey, retro interior gives it a laid-back atmosphere good for gatherings and intimate dinners.
Check out more Italian eats in Singapore:
- terra Tokyo Italian: Michelin-Selected Japanese-Italian Restaurant In Tanjong Pagar With $45 Set Lunch
- Altro Zafferano: Italian Restaurant in Raffles Place with an Amazing View of Singapore’s Skyline
- Locanda: Cosy Italian Restaurant In Little India With Fresh Pasta & Italian Wines
Osteria Romana Medusa
26 Beach Rd, B1-22 South Beach Avenue, Singapore 189768
Opens officially on 10 January
*This article is based on a media-tasting event, but all opinions expressed about the food are entirely our own.
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