Urbano e Fresco! @ Publika, Solaris Dutamas

Looking for authentic Italian cuisines but a trip to Italy to savour them is not in the plan? No worries, Urbano e Fresco! in Publika will be more than happy to make it up for your Italian delicacies craving. Urbano e Fresco was first born in Rome, Italy with a different name. The immediate success has brought them to second outlet in Milano and later on in Zurich, Switzerland. Seeing the potential market in Asia, the group decided to land a flagship in Malaysia, with the first outlet in Publika, Solaris Dutamas. Good news for Italian food lovers.

The interior of Urbano e Fresco! is homey with clean white backgrounds, while the stylish hue lightings bring in a harmony contrast to the classic wooden table and comfy cushion. An array of imported olive oil, spices and jam are well stocked up at the shelves near to entrance, ready to be purchased by Italian food enthusiasts.

We went for a dinner there last week, and glad that every dish we had there was marvellous. Menu is simple but extensive, complete enough to suit every taste bud. There are pizza, salads, soup, sandwich, panini, lasagna, and pasta to choose from, all authentically prepared using the best quality ingredients. For certain hard-to-find ingredients, the restaurant makes the effort to import them from Italy, to ensure the quality of food is not compromised.

Caprese Salad (RM32.90)

We started off with Caprese Salad- slices of fresh buffalo mozzarella and sliced tomato added with a touch of extra virgin olive oil and basil. Simple,good pairing of creaminess from cheese with juicy munch from tomato.

Bruschetta (RM12.50)

Toasted panini bread smothered with butter, topped with extra virgin olive oil, garlic, fresh chopped tomatoes, onions, and fresh basil leaves. Finished with finely shaved cheese for extra flavour.

Spinaci (RM22.90)

A bowl of colourful, fresh and healthy salad that combines baby spinach, feta cheese, strawberries and almonds flakes, lightly tossed with balsamic vinegar dressing. Mouthful of texture with tanginess from strawberries, crunchiness from toasted almond flakes, savouriness from feta cheese, and light crisp from baby spinach.

Roma ( 9″- RM31.90, 12″-RM38.90, 15″- RM43.90)

Pizza choices in Urbano e Fresco is interesting, with about 15 types of them paving down the menu. Among the choices are Margherita, Roma, Urbano Chef, Napoli, Atene, Tonno, Fruitti, Calzone, Tropicale and more. Other than that, you can customize your own pizza from the long list of toppings including anchovies, avocado, beef sausage, brie cheese, roasted egg plant, tuna fish, mix capsicum, beef salami, button mushroom, jalapeno, beef pepperoni, roasted steak strips, just to name a few. Each topping is priced at RM 4.50 for 9″ pizza, RM12.50 for 12″, RM8.50 for 15″, mixed seafood at RM10.00, prawn at RM6.00.

We had the Roma Pizza, which turned out to be the highlight. Thin, chewy pizza topped with Urbano e Fresco signature tomato sauce, mozzarella cheese, roasted steak strips, buttom mushroom, red onion and capsicum. Plentiful toppings for a satisfying meal.

Spaghetti Aglio Olio (RM21.90)

Traditional Italian pasta tossed with extra virgin olive oil, garlic, rocket salad, mushroom and Parmesan cheese. Al-dente and flavourful with right amount of spiciness to whip up the appetite, now we found another new place for good aglio olio.

Pesto Italian Spaghetti (RM26.90)

For prawn lover, pick the Pesto Italian Spaghetti for a munch of bouncy and plump Tiger prawns with pasta. Tossed with Pesto, cherry tomato and parmezan cheese, the spaghetti might be rather oily for some, but no worries as Urbano uses extra virgin olive oil, something healthy and benefits for the body.

Chicken Milanese (RM25.90)

One of the signature dishes in Urbano- choice of chicken being breaded and deep fried till golden brown, served together with rocket salad, cherry tomato, shaved parmesan cheese. Crispy at the outside with juiciness of meat locked within, the Chicken Milanese is delicious to be eaten alone without any dressing, but diners can have an extra creamy flavours by dipping it into mushroom sauce or mustard dressing served along.

Tiramisu (RM10.90)

The meal ended with the famous Italian dessert -tiramisu beautifully served in tall glass. Instead of being airy and light, Urbano’s version of tiramisu has creamy and dense mascarpone cheese, gracefully topped over lady fingers soaked in coffee essence. Better if it is infused with coffee liquor.