Griglia Open Fire Italian Kitchen - Katong

An amazing open-fire Italian restaurant nestled along the East Coast dining belt. We tried the 3-course lunch menu and were thoroughly impressed. The grilled prawns for appetisers were huge, beautifully seasoned and packed with smoky char that elevated the entire dish — we were almost full just from that alone. For the mains, we had the seabass and it was executed perfectly. Cooking fish over open fire is no easy feat, but the fillet remained tender, flavourful, and infused with a wonderful smokiness without being overdone. We had a fantastic dining experience at Griglia and would highly recommend making the trip down to try their food.

Decided to spend Mother’s Day here with the family after walking past this restaurant many times while in the Katong area. I was not disappointed - all the dishes were on point and the service was impeccable. I enjoyed the tomahawk steak the most as it was cooked to perfection and served alongside a delicate beef Jus sauce. Prices are what you expect to pay in an upscale restaurant so don’t complain it is pricey. Parking along East Coast road can be tricky so I suggest that you park in I12. There are no child seats available so best to bring your own booster seats if you have one.

Had the best birthday dinner here. They have a set menu for two that I would say is really worth it. It’s not cheap but the food just kept coming so I was stuffed! As you would expect from their name, I feel like they made an effort to introduce as many wood fired elements as they could, even to dishes that you wouldn’t expect. Like the scallops - which came with charred corn. The bread came nicely charred too. Even the beef came with a side of charred asparagus and charred lettuce hearts. The staff were really sweet and welcoming too! Perfect place for a special occasion.

⸻ I visited Griglia Open Fire Italian Kitchen and ordered the Set for Two ($158). We were advised to top up an additional $38 for the upgraded beef dish. Overall, the food quality was good—the starters were enjoyable and well-executed. However, there were simply too many dishes served before the main course. For two ladies, it felt overwhelming and a bit excessive in portion. When the beef finally arrived, it was unfortunately too rare for our liking—very tough and difficult to chew. We ended up taking quite a bit away and repurposing it into other dishes (like beef stew) instead, which was a pity considering the price point. I do feel the set menu could be improved by offering a smaller portion of the main at a lower price. The current format feels compulsory and may lead to food wastage, especially for smaller appetites. A more flexible and portion-conscious approach would make the dining experience more enjoyable and value-for-money. Lastly, the dining environment could be better managed. A larger group seated next to us was quite loud and disruptive, making it hard to enjoy a peaceful meal. Perhaps better seating arrangements between small and big groups would help improve the overall experience. Overall, nice food but with room for improvement in portion sizing, flexibility, and dining ambience.

What a true gem at East Coast! I had a wonderful dining experience at Grilia today that exceeded all expectations. The steak and pork chop were cooked to absolute perfection — incredibly tender and truly melt-in-your-mouth delicious. Every bite was satisfying and flavorful. The service was just as impressive. The staff were warm, attentive, and genuinely friendly, making us feel so welcome from the moment we arrived. They even surprised us with a complimentary cake and sang a birthday song, which made the celebration extra special. To top it off, they helped take a photo for us and printed it out as a keepsake — such a thoughtful touch!We left with full hearts and happy stomachs. Definitely coming back again. Highly recommended!

We celebrated my husband’s birthday at Griglia Italian Restaurant and had a wonderful experience. The restaurant has a comfortable atmosphere, and the service was warm, friendly, and attentive. Special thanks to Karan and Johan for their thoughtful service. They were very friendly and made us feel well taken care of. They also helped take photos for us to capture this special birthday memory, which was a very heartwarming gesture. The food was especially impressive. I usually worry about eating pasta because some restaurants can make it too heavy or greasy, but the pasta here was perfect. Although the dishes look simple and unpretentious, the flavours were beautifully balanced. The taste was just right — flavourful without being too rich or overwhelming. We ordered the Wagyu ribeye, fusilli, spaghetti, pappardelle, Hokkaido scallops, baked eggplant, focaccia bread and grilled asparagus juice. The Wagyu ribeye was very tender and cooked perfectly. The pastas were delicious, especially the pappardelle, which had a very comforting texture and flavour. The scallops were fresh and delicate. The baked eggplant and warm focaccia bread were also very nice. The young chefs are friendly and clearly passionate about their cooking. Thank you for making our celebration so memorable. We will definitely come back again.

Long overdue compliments from a visit late last year. We were looking for a good pasta spot without having to head into town, and this place exceeded expectations from the moment we stepped in. The warm welcome from the staff and the calm, homely ambience immediately put us at ease. The aged Parma ham with pears was beautifully refreshing. The savoury ham paired perfectly with the natural sweetness of the pears. It’s a simple combination, but executed really well — proof that classic dishes shine brightest in capable hands. We had our sights set on the jumbo crab fusilli, and with the staff’s recommendation, we also tried the special menu—cheese ravioli with sage butter, sliced truffles, and what I recall to be caramelised eggplant adding a gentle sweetness. The ravioli completely stole the show — easily one of the best pasta dishes we’ve had in town. The pasta was cooked perfectly, and the sauce delivered a lovely sweet-savory balance. The truffles elevated the dish further, though honestly, it would still be excellent even without them. The jumbo crab fusilli was good as well, but understandably overshadowed by the ravioli. The spiral pasta held the shredded crab meat nicely, and the nduja sauce added a pleasant, mild heat. Definitely a spot we’d return to when the pasta craving hits.

Had a really great dinner here. We had a 9pm reservation and thought we were late, but the restaurant was still bustling when we arrived. Most of the staff were really on the ball, quick, friendly, and attentive, though it was clearly a busy night and there were moments when it took a bit of effort to get someone’s attention. Still, everyone was warm and hospitable once they came over. Surenthiran took care of us through the evening and made sure things were well looked after. The kitchen was impressive, dishes came out fast and were explained to us as soon as they left the grill. The meats had a beautiful crust, nicely charred, and were cooked exactly to our requested doneness. Everything we ordered turned out great. Prices felt reasonable, portions were decent, the ambience was lovely, and the wine selection was extensive. We were also treated to a complimentary tiramisu and a limoncello shot, and they even took a Polaroid photo for our family, which was a really nice and thoughtful touch. We stayed till around 11pm, past closing time, and the staff were still friendly and patient without making us feel rushed. Overall, one of the better dining experiences I’ve had here and definitely a place I’d recommend for a nice dinner with family or loved ones. A couple of small notes for anyone visiting: The restaurant is on the smaller side and can feel a bit packed, and the wine list was a little confusing (we initially thought we were ordering a full bottle, but the listed price was for half), so it’s worth double-checking before ordering. That said, none of these took away from the experience. It was still a very enjoyable and memorable dinner. Would happily come back again.