Emilia Bar Italiano

Emilia Bar Italiano occupies a corner of Jalan Agus Salim in Menteng and is the bar-led sibling of the Emilia Cucina Italiana restaurants. The room feels more like an old American pub than a trattoria, with half-panelled walls, velvet booths and a glasshouse section, and it runs from 7am until late, with live jazz on some weeknights.

The pasta is the reason most people come back. Pappardelle with slow-cooked beef ragù is the dish regulars name first, followed by truffle fettuccine and lobster linguine gratinée. Mussels in white wine with focaccia and escargot with mushrooms and spinach work well as starters, the Amante della Carne pizza is loaded with meats, and the tiramisu is a strong finish. The cocktail list includes an aged Negroni and a pandan-coconut martini.

It suits a relaxed date or drinks with a group that also wants a proper meal; book at weekends, when it fills up. There is a second Emilia Bar Italiano in SCBD, and the group's Emilia Cucina Italiana restaurants are in Pondok Indah and Permata Hijau.