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Lucali is kind of a big deal. The legendary pizza joint constantly draws long lines, has appeared on David Chang’s Netflix series, Ugly Delicious, and counts A-listers like Beyonce as loyal fans. They're all there for the Lucali Pie; an 18-inch creation that comes slathered with a four-hour secret tomato sauce, and a generous sprinkle of ‘Brooklyn combination’ cheese – buffalo mozzarella, low-moisture mozzarella, and shaved Grana Padano in case you were wondering.
And now, it hopes to win the hearts for Singaporeans with its latest outpost, Lucali BYGB, at Kallang Rivergreen Building. Once the country enters Phase 2 of re-opening and dine-ins are allowed, the restaurant, a collaboration between Lucali creator Mark Iacono and Singapore-based hospitality expert Gibran Baydoun, will open its doors to those hungry for a slice of its famed, chewy pie.
Till then, the 70-seater space remains close. Its kitchen, however, keeps busy with its take-out menu – a teaser to whet appetites before Lucali BYGB’s grand opening. The abridged offerings features salads, pasta, meatloaf, and sweet bakes – but not it’s legendary pizza. “Lucali BYGB is experiential. So we knew that it's important to hold back our Brooklyn pizza pies for that moment when people take their first bite [at the restaurant]," notes Gibran in a press release.
Instead, the star dish is now a humble meatloaf ($30), a recipe inspired by Gibran’s mother. Minced beef, pork, and mushrooms come together to create a flavour-packed rendition that’s dense but not dry. It’s a dish that can travel well too – and enjoyed both warm and at room temperature. The long fusilli ($24) is also worth a try. The curly strands remind us of plump instant noodles and come tossed with chilli, olive oil, and bread crumbs. To alleviate your guilt from all the indulging, get the cauliflower ($12) with charred with peppers and pistachio for a smokey side of greens, or have them fresh in salads like The Caesar ($25) or cous cous ($18) with zucchini, mint, and tomatoes. Then, end off your meal with classic American bakes, including rice crispy treats ($6) and Apple Hand Pies ($6).
Sadly, we'll have to wait for the arrival of Phase 2 before we can sample its highly raved pizza.
HOW TO ORDER Head over to its lucalibygb.com, which goes live at 10am daily. There’s no minimum order, and island-wide delivery fee is at $10.