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Pune Inc: Enjoy a Roman holiday at Donna Cucina in the city, one pasta platter at a time

It was the taste of fresh pasta that changed the course of Arshita Singhvi’s life. The Chartered Accountant now runs an Italian restaurant in Pune's Kalyani Nagar.

arshita singhvi, Donna Cucina, pune news, indian express

Love, in true Italian style, is best expressed through food. So, Arshita Singhvi has been perfecting dual-tone ravioli and a walnut, green chilli and garlic sauce dressing in her kitchen at Donna Cucina, the new Italian restaurant in Kalyani Nagar, for Valentine’s Day guests.

The menu, at any time, boasts Cappelletti Al Fungi (small, hat-shaped pasta filled with garlic mushroom and served with mushroom thyme butter), an array of Gnocchi, risotto, lasagna and Napolitana pizza, among others. “The dual-tone ravioli is very pretty to look at, with pink and yellow colours,” says Singhvi.

Italian food lovers would be familiar with Singhvi as the home cook who became popular on Instagram by rustling up delectable artisanal pasta during the Covid-19 pandemic. Orders came in such large numbers that she grew her business into a cloud kitchen in Koregaon Park. In late October, she shifted to an 80-plus seater, Donna Cucina, in a vintage villa where guests are served freshly handcrafted pasta and other dishes just the way it is done in Italy. The restaurant makes its own fresh ricotta – or Italian whey cheese – every day.

The Italian food market has been steadily growing in India, with surveys indicating that it is second only to Chinese in the foreign cuisine segment. In Pune, it is indicative of the trend that Singhvi was receiving orders from across the city but mostly from Koregaon Park. Donna Cucina is building a niche among the upper crust by building a clientele among people who are well-travelled and enjoy authentic Italian food.

“We have kept it simple when it comes to the business model. We are going to keep doing what we are good at and that means even when we serve coffee, it is Illy, which is a premium, family-owned Italian brand founded in 1933. We are keeping to our niche so as not to confuse our brand. Donna Cucina is not for the mass public, because they might not get the flavours and might feel that there’s not enough chilli and so on,” Singhvi adds.

A Chartered Accountant who has been cooking since she was a child, Singhvi draws her culinary philosophy from the simplest form of pasta that is made with just sage, butter or parmesan. “Just a few ingredients and it was one of my best and most comforting meals. It is so simple and quick but you have to get the ingredients right. Whatever you are using must be fresh,” she says. Significantly, her pasta does not use egg as “the magic of flour and water is amazing”.

Donna Cucina’s major investment has been in the kitchen, which boasts two imported machines from Italy for pasta making, among others. While Singhvi broke even at the Koregaon Park outlet in six months, it took three months to achieve an operational break even at the new space. A number of diners invariably still pick up fresh pasta to take home. “Once you eat fresh pasta, it is very difficult to go back to the packet variety. We also have a live kitchen and a live pasta room, where you can see your pasta being made from scratch,” says Singhvi.

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She had tasted fresh pasta for the first time while travelling in Manali years ago, and “I was hooked”. “I came back and, immediately, bought a pasta machine for myself. I was just making pasta just for me to eat. It is rare to find fresh pasta,” she says. It also changed the course of her life – she is the first in her family to enter the hospitality business.

With Donna Cucina, Singhvi will in all likelihood make others too fall in love with fresh pasta.

Dipanita Nath

Dipanita Nath is a Senior Assistant Editor at The Indian Express, based in Pune. She is a versatile journalist with a deep interest in the intersection of culture, sustainability, and urban life. Professional Background Experience: Before joining The Indian Express, she worked with other major news organizations including Hindustan Times, The Times of India, and Mint. Core Specializations: She is widely recognized for her coverage of the climate crisis, theatre and performing arts, heritage conservation, and the startup ecosystem (often through her "Pune Inc" series). Storytelling Focus: Her work often unearths "hidden stories" of Pune—focusing on historical institutes, local traditions, and the personal journeys of social innovators. Recent Notable Articles (December 2025) Her recent reporting highlights Pune’s cultural pulse and the environmental challenges facing the city during the winter season: 1. Climate & Environment "Pune shivers on coldest morning of the season; minimum temperature plunges to 6.9°C" (Dec 20, 2025): Reporting on the record-breaking cold wave in Pune and the IMD's forecast for the week. "How a heritage tree-mapping event at Ganeshkhind Garden highlights rising interest in Pune’s green legacy" (Dec 20, 2025): Covering a citizen-led initiative where Gen Z and millennials gathered to document and protect ancient trees at a Biodiversity Heritage Site. "Right to breathe: Landmark NGT order directs PMC to frame norms for pollution from construction sites" (Dec 8, 2025): Reporting on a significant legal victory for residents fighting dust and air pollution in urban neighborhoods like Baner. 2. "Hidden Stories" & Heritage "Inside Pune library that’s nourished minds of entrepreneurs for 17 years" (Dec 21, 2025): A feature on the Venture Center Library, detailing how a collection of 3,500 specialized books helps tech startups navigate the product life cycle. "Before he died, Ram Sutar gave Pune a lasting gift" (Dec 18, 2025): A tribute to the legendary sculptor Ram Sutar (creator of the Statue of Unity), focusing on his local works like the Chhatrapati Shivaji statue at Pune airport. "The Pune institute where MA Jinnah was once chief guest" (Dec 6, 2025): An archival exploration of the College of Agriculture, established in 1907, and its historical role in India's freedom struggle. 3. Arts, Theatre & "Pune Inc" "Satyajit Ray, Ritwik Ghatak were not rivals but close friends, says veteran filmmaker" (Dec 17, 2025): A deep-dive interview ahead of the Pune International Film Festival (PIFF) exploring the camaraderie between legends of Indian cinema. "Meet the Pune entrepreneur helping women build and scale businesses" (Dec 16, 2025): Part of her "Pune Inc" series, profiling Nikita Vora’s efforts to empower female-led startups. "How women drone pilots in rural Maharashtra are cultivating a green habit" (Dec 12, 2025): Exploring how technology is being used by women in agriculture to reduce chemical use and labor. Signature Style Dipanita Nath is known for intellectual curiosity and a narrative-driven approach. Whether she is writing about a 110-year-old eatery or the intricacies of the climate crisis, she focuses on the human element and the historical context. Her columns are often a blend of reportage and cultural commentary, making them a staple for readers interested in the "soul" of Pune. X (Twitter): @dipanitanath ... Read More

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