Pete's Place is home to 34 years of oven-baked pizzas, pastas and home-made bread. Staying true to its original concept of dining authentic Italian, “traditional” overwrites “contemporary fusion” in the basement of Grand Hyatt Hotel.

• The Vibe
  Descending into the dimly lit tavern of Pete's Place, low murmurs of ovens and the aroma of freshly baked pizzas greet guests. Dark wood furnishings surrounded by bricked walls and framed photographs brings one back to the old English days. Checkered napkins and table-cloths further complement baskets of bread and large saucepans of food set on the counter, right down to their faux-newspaper menu.

• The Food
  Serving it buffet style, Pete's Place gives a choice of salad buffet ($19.50+++ inclusive of soup and dessert) or pasta buffet ($26+++ inclusive of salad, soup and dessert) for daily lunches. The chefs, under the guidance of sous chef Nelson Wong, whip up a mean Italian cuisine, leaving one simply spoilt for choice.

  Starting off with the largest salad selection one has ever seen, toss greens and condiments and douse them with dressing – everything entirely to your choice. Ingredients available at the salad bar include trays of lettuce, carrots, broccoli, cucumbers tomatoes, quail eggs, bacon, olives, nuts, corn, chicken and many more. Condiments and five dressing types can only add on to the long list. With top-grade ingredients fresh from the market, fresh greens crunching and tender meat spoiling taste-buds senseless, Pete's salad bar is definitely a success and especially popular amongst the health-conscious.

  The day's calorie count matters no more once you have a taste of bread from the buffet. Ciabatta, sunflower seed bread, sour dough, walnut bread are fluffy in texture and extremely tasty. Dab a generous serving of Pete's home-made herb butter or sundried tomato butter to experience a twist to “bread-and-butter”. Whilst sundried tomato butter tastes sweet as a whole, its slight sourish tinge only further brings to light the freshness of its tomatoes. The herb butter was a personal favourite, for it is creamy yet refreshing, similar to garlic bread but with a lot more substance within.

  The hot dishes were a little disappointing in variety, though quality more than makes up for it. The Fillet fish is proof of Hyatt's meticulous use of only the freshest seafood, with its crispy skin revealing flesh that is soft and flaky, oozing a thin film of fish oil upon the first bite. The Beef Lasagne differentiates itself from its commercial relatives by its distinct layers of beef, tomato-sauced pasta and cheese that melt directly in the mouth. Diners might wish to consider ordering it ala carte as endless scooping from the buffet dish left the lasagne a little soggy.

  Regulars of Pete's Place rave about their tiramisu; aromatic with light and soft ladyfingers rich with crème cheese. This finale dish, especially served chilled, will send any foodie to culinary heaven. To savour the tiramisu at its best, do order it ala carte.

  Highlights of the ala carte menu can be summarized into a mere few words: “must try”. These include seasonal blue mushrooms ($20 for 4), Yoghurt Ice-Cream with Balsamic Vinegar ($10) as well as classic Italian cappucino ($8) . Tasting these specialty dishes is a blissful experience that becomes nearly impossible to describe.

• The Service
  Pete's staff are clad in black and blend into the tavern-like atmosphere, appearing nearly invisible to diners. Perhaps it is not pure magic but them who make plates disappear and iced water topped up in a blink of the eye, all ready for the next platter of food to be set down on the table. With such efficient service, diners can make themselves feel right at home at Pete's Place.

SD Food Advisor's take on Pete's Place:
Pete's Place is a fine place to experience warm and hearty Italian cuisine served piping hot on counters. In exchange for quality food and 34 years of cooking experience, buffet prices are worth every cent to even the average income group. Main course dishes available at the buffet counter may be of an unsatisfactory range to some, but there is always the ala carte menu to fall back upon.