Bold flavours, comforting textures: A’Roma Dinings is maturing into one of PJ’s top landmarks for a taste of la dolce vita, steered by the stewardship of Malaysian chef Silverster Marcus, whose fundamental training in French cuisine and two decades of professional experience in Italian cooking leave a fairly distinctive impression. It’s a comfortably spacious restaurant that feels like a labour of love, filled with painstakingly painted murals that set a memorably vibrant tone for a hearty, soulful meal.

Pasta & Risotto

Pastas and risotto may be the benchmark by which most patrons judge an Italian venue: By that measure, A’Roma does justice to the Roman spirit of kitchen-spawned meals, with casarecce and curly pappardelle – varieties of pastas not often seen in the Klang Valley – crafted by A’Roma’s own team for a firm, fresh bite, the former partnered pleasurably with chunks of slow-braised pork cheek and sauteed bacon in a thick, tangy puttanesca sauce (RM38), the latter heaped with tender duck leg in an earthy ragu of foie gras morsels and mushrooms (RM45).

And since we’re fans of saffron risotto, we’re encouraged to spot it served here, respectably aromatic, freckled with substantial scallops, tiger prawns, green peas and roasted capsicum (RM48).

 Pork & Lamb

If you’re carnivorous for pork and lamb, the menu should satiate those meaty cravings: The Spanish-sourced pork belly and ribs both prove to be sacraments of sheer succulence, potently perfumed with flower honey and chipotle, rewarding customers with a luscious, flavoursome chew, with plenty of crunchy pork crackling on the board to munch on (RM79 for the full ensemble).

A’Roma also takes pride in its lamb racks, a caveman-worthy portion to sink your teeth into, crusted with a fragrantly textured crumble of harissa peppers and herbs, complemented by charred capsicum, grilled vegetables and mashed potatoes (RM78).

Charcuterie & Cheese

We also like A’Roma’s sharing boards, showcasing charcuterie and cheese (RM60 each), accompanied by bread and pickles. The first platter is enjoyably curated with Italian cold cuts – Bologna-produced mortadella, Milano salami, prosciutto and lip-smacking fatty cotechino – while the cheeses come from all across Europe, comprising Italian gorgonzola with green olives and black cherries, French herbed boursin in truffle oil, Greek feta with herb oil, and Cypriot halloumi with apricots and basil, for a spectrum of cheesy dynamics. Either or both would be a suitable follow-up to A’Roma’s thin-and-crispy flatbread and dips (rather addictive).

Desserts & Wine

Desserts are typically worth saving space for at Italian joints – A’Roma puts its own twist on every dish, savoury or sweet, and the tiramisu is no exception, layered with Sumatran-harvested Degayo coffee and melted dark chocolate fudge, brimming with nuts and berries galore at its base (RM23). If you prefer something more decadent, the 75% dense and dark chocolate semifreddo ticks that box, enhanced with butterscotch, hazelnut ganache, orange segments and strawberries (RM23).

A solid selection of wine is available by bottle and glass, so head here for your Chianti and Cabernet fix; many thanks to A’Roma’s friendly team for having us.

Location & Details

Address: 1, Jalan 20/14, Paramount Garden, Petaling Jaya, Selangor.
Hours: Sun-Thurs, 12pm-11pm; Fri-Sat, 12pm-12.15am.
Tel: +603-7865-9829
Find: View directory for a’Roma Dinings here.