Written by Harnoor Channi-Tiwary — Singapore-based travel and gastronomy writer reporting for Expat Choice between assignments whose work appears in the world’s leading digital and print lifestyle magazines and who brings an insider’s lens to the expat traveller experience.
Ten years on, Expat Choice remains Asia’s original platform for expat-led stories in food and travel—real voices, real places, real discoveries. In this latest feature, Harnoor Channi-Tiwary leaves her writing desk to experience Roman cuisine in Singapore.
Set in the lively enclave of South Beach, this article explores Medusa, a bold new Roman trattoria that blends nostalgic, pop-inflected interiors with deeply authentic Italian flavours. Through vivid observations and a detailed tasting journey, the piece captures how Medusa stands out as an energetic, design-forward dining destination, one that balances playful aesthetics with serious Roman cooking, and positions itself as a compelling new addition to the city’s dining scene.
South Beach has always reminded me of Convent Garden in London. Throw a live band in, and you can almost picture the cavernous space coming alive at the drop of a hat. Sans the music, it still remains a highly underrated destination, packed with restaurants and dining concepts to suit a range of visitors.
You can’t miss Medusa, the latest addition to South Beach, even with a casual glance around. The distinctive red decor is reminiscent of pop culture, and a surefire way to catch your attention. The minds behind the restaurant insist that the interiors have been designed like a Roman bistro, but it doesn’t remind me of Rome when I walk in. Instead, the colour pop, the steel-edged tables and the red leather sofas take me back to Archie’s comics and American diners of yesteryears, fading fast in New York’s industrial-decor phase of recent times.
The food, however, is unmistakably Roman. And that is what the Fortuna group specialises in. Helmed by Rome natives, Head Chef Federico Scordo and General Manager Federico Burci, the food at Medusa instantly transports you to Italy, served in a space that has a distinctive vibe.
Walking into Medusa, you can’t help but pull out your phone to snap a selfie or two in the mirrored entryway, the perfect backdrop for a new DP, I’d say. Once inside, take in the colour pop and find your seat while admiring the kitsch decor including disco balls that take centrestage on the ceiling.
The house bread, as it should be in any self-respecting Italian joint, is outstanding at Medusa. Focaccetta, freshly baked and served with Roma Tomato and Salsa Verde dips ($16) is addictive and you’ll need to hold yourself back from inhaling the entire lot.
Eager to sample the fare, we started our meal with the essential Roman appetizer, Suppli al Telefono ($16 for 2 pieces). Deep fried balls of rice and cheese, these can be found at every street corner of the Italian capital, and Medusa does not disappoint either. However, they were soon to be overshadowed by something that I have, in my 15 years of food writing, never come across - breaded and fried burrata. Bizarre in concept (I can imagine what my Italian purist friends would say), yet absolutely delicious in execution, the burrata retains its shape and the crust adds a dimension of crunch to the creamy cheese within. This could very well be the star of your entire meal - make sure you order it.
Though Italian food is often reduced to pizza and pasta globally, a standout main dish at Medusa is the Roman-style Porchetta ($42). Pork belly that melts in the mouth, a crispy rind, served with mashed potatoes, a rich jus, and a generous drizzle of the in-house salsa verde. This one is a winner and bound to be one of the most popular dishes at Medusa.
Pair your meals with a drink or two, as no self-respecting Italian table is devoid of wine. If you want to experiment with something else, try the refreshing gin cocktail, Diana, with notes of citrus and creme de violette, or for something sweet, the Medusa, championing rum infused with dates with an inconvenient yet indulgent mountain of whipped cream on top.
End your meal, like you should, with a tiramisu. For some reason that I can’t fathom, the tiramisu here is topped tableside with freshly shaved black truffle. The savoury touch to this delicious, creamy dessert does lend an interesting angle, yet I can’t help but think that I’d rather have saved the truffle for my pasta course.
Medusa is young, energetic, and absolutely fun. I found myself recommending it to a friend who was looking for a dining venue for her 17-year old daughter to celebrate with friends. Classy, without being snooty, this retro Roman trattoria is likely to find many takers in the months to come.
