La Risata @ Ampang, JD Teaches Italian during Birthdays

Sometime last week, I asked my fellow friends where are we going to celebrate our friends birthday this week. I casually suggested Fukuya but that was quickly shot down as some need to eat bread for the rest of the month and kept singing “Di Persimpagan Dilemma” on his email replies, and then suggested us to head to this place called La Risata in Ampang.

Dinner appointment is set @ 7PM, fearing the massive jam in KL, me and May head over as soon as get off from work. La Risata have previously underwent some renovation and the result, is quite a tastefully decorated Ristorante.

 

Located in a 2 storey-building, the interiors provide a very Tuscany feel of Italy, especially the lightings and staircases. We were seated on the 2nd floor but there’s ample tables around, despite reviews from blogs that I have read that it’s usually full every night.

Knowing that my beloved friends will be late, we ordered Antipasti Mesti (RM38) that consist of a few appetizers. There’s grilled mushroom, deep fried calamari rings, beef carpacccio and garlic crostini with chicken liver pate. Pretty special in their own way and I got to know that a lot of my friends don’t eat pate.

 

Me and May while waiting for the rest to arrive.

The birthday boy, Lai and Kellie. Lai always said he’s like Chandler, who can’t take photos, but this turned out to be great.

 

Lin & Sui Lin. Chin Chin & Jason. Jason have to take this photo with Chin Chin because she’s the only one who could drive him back to Dayabumi to get his car.

Since we have everyone here, we proceed to our main table and started ordering our food.

Insalata (Salad)

Insalata Dea (RM22) – Grean leaf salad with grilled chicken, olives, roasted red peppers & celery with a creamy herb dressing & croutons. A very refreshing salad, almost similar to Caesar salad in a way.

Insalata Verdura Grillia (RM16) – Grilled zucchini & aubergine & roasted peppers marinated in lemon & olive oil topped with basil leaf & parmesan shaving. The zucchini and aubergine is sweet and very well grilled. The lemon and olive oil dressing makes this a very appealing salad.

Zuppe (Soup)

The biggest bowl of soup that I’ve ever seen. Zuppa Di Pesce (RM62), is a house specialty. It’s stated in the menu that it’s for seafood lover – huge servings of prawn, squid, mussel, clam & fish in a rich tomato sauce with garlic, chili & parsley.

Crema Di Funghi (RM14) – homemade cream of mushroom soup

Brodetto Di Cozze (RM23) – NZ blue mussel with a choice of a garlic & white wine or tomato soup. The mussel is really blue and quite huge too.

For someone like me who can’t drink any of the above 3 zuppe, I have to drink this. Crema Di Zucca Al Forno (RM13) – Wood fired oven roasted pumpkin soup, which is sweet and creamy. However, it’s a bit odd to drink a sweet soup for me though, hence I will prefer to add in a little bit of salt and pepper.

Pizza (no explanation needed right?)

There are 2 choices of sauce available, one which is above, name Pizza Bianco (meaning white sauce). The Pizza Speck Con Gorgonzola (RM35) – consist of smoked turkey ham, gorgonzola, caramelized onion, mozzarella & cream. The pizza is creamy but I dislike the bitter taste of the gorgonzola.

Pizza Rosso (meaning red sauce) is made with tomato paste. Pizza Pepperoni (RM23) – beef pepperoni, tomato & mozzarella. Do take note that all pizzas are thin crust and provide a distinct wood oven taste, just like how the Italians bake their pizzas.

Primi Piatti (Starters)

Primi piatti or just primi are felt to constitute the first course of an Italian meal, though they follow the antipasti. This course includes either pasta, rice, gnocchi, or polenta with sauce, or soups containing pasta, rice, or farro (spelt—an ancient variety of wheat).

This explains why all the pastas are located here.

Ravioli Di Pesce (RM27) is a house specialty, freshly made salmon ravioli in a creamy salmon sauce. While the ravioli is special, credit have to given to the creamy sauce as it complement so well together. Definitely a must try!

Lau ordered Gnocchi Al Peperonchin Grillia E Chorizo (RM27) – homemade potato dumplings with lamb chorizo sausage & ricotta cheese in a red pepper sauce. The Gnocchi is soft and chewy, something like our Chinese Chee Cheong Fun but I don’t like the sauce mainly because I don’t like red pepper or capsicum.

Lai’s Spaghetti Con Arragosta (RM38) is the most expensive pasta on the menu – with lobster, garlic, chili & olive oil. Being pricey does have its pros as the smell is so inviting!

Jason’s order is the most special of all as it’s wrapped under aluminum foil. Spaghetti Alle Vongole (RM24) – spaghetti with clams in a garlic, chili and white wine sauce.

Spaghetti Alla Cozze (RM32) – spaghetti with NZ blue mussels in a garlic, anchovy & white wine sauce.

Fettucine Mare E Monti (RM32) – flat pasta with scallop, wild porcini, & shitake mushroom in cream sauce.

Generally the pastas are quite nice according to some of their taste. However, I did try their Fettucine All’ Abese but I think it lack the creamy-ness and the fettucine is abit on the hard side.

Secondi Piatti Di Mare (Seafood Second course)

From online translation, I got to know that Secondi Piatti Di Mare means that it’s Seafood type second course. Feeling a bit fishy, I ordered the Branzino Alla Griglia (RM36) – grilled whole seabass with oregano, lemon & olive oil served with potato patties. The fish is consider fresh and grilled nicely. The oregano, lemon and olive oil infuse a great combination altogether. Some said that it’s a little bit under cooked, but I find it alright being a big fan of sashimi.

Secondi Piatti Di Carne (Meat Second course)

Di Carne means meat in Italian, so all meat related dishes are listed under Secondi Piatti Di Carne. Stinco D’Agnello (RM32) – wood fired over braised lamb shank in rosemary sauce on a bed of mashed potato. Despite having a name stinko, the dish is being praised by all the ladies seated to my right, which are May, Melon and Chin Chin. The meat is soft and the sauce is perfect.

We didn’t go ahead with dessert as everyone is pretty full by the time we finished our orders.

Time to lit up the ultra small candles.

The Happy Birthday burning off fast!

The 3 birthday uncles and aunty!

  

Another small cake from La Risata.

We sure have a lot of La Risata (laughter) during the entire night. And thank you everyone for making it for the dinner!

A photo of us before we called it a day. Next birthday won’t happen until June, so we’ll see how then. Happy Birthday to the 3 of you!

As for La Risata, it’s a very cozy ristorante and the food is pretty good too (especially the Salmon Ravioli), so I won’t mind dropping by next time. I’m sure you will do the same.

La Risata Ampang
16 Persiaran Ampang
55000 Kuala Lumpur
Tel No : 03 – 4252 6268

La Risata Damansara
128 Jalan Kasah
Medan Damansara
50490 Kuala Lumpur
Tel No : 03 – 2095 9572

Website : www.la-risata.com