ilLido At The Cliff Tasting Session

ilLido At The Cliff Tasting Session
2 Bukit Manis Road
Level 1, Sofitel Singapore Sentosa Resort & Spa

Opening Hours:
Mon - Fri: 6pm - 9:30pm,
Sat - Sun: 12pm - 2:30pm, 6pm - 9:30pm


http://www.sofitel-singapore-sentosa.com/dining/illido-at-the-cliff/


This was an invited media review. I did not pay for the meal during the free hosted tasting session.
Attended with representatives from HungryGoWhere, Purple Taste, The Arctic Star, The Hungry Cow, and Fundamentally Flawed.

Truffle Parmigiano Filled Gnocchi With White Asparagus And Carbonara (SGD $36)

Impeccable Italian Dishes In A Romantic Setting

(Ratings: On a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 = Worst and 10 = Best)
Overall: 9
Ambience & Setting: 9
Food & Beverage: 9
Service: 9
Value for Money: 8
Budget about SGD $88 per person.


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Opened in January 2016, having relocated from the Sentosa Golf Club to its current premises in Sofitel Singapore Sentosa Resort & Spa, the famed ilLido At The Cliff by acclaimed restaurateur Beppe De Vito needs little introduction. With its long-standing history going back to 2006, ilLido At The Cliff is known for its impeccable fine Italian dining experience, set amidst a tranquil, romantic hill which offers gorgeous views of the South China Sea.

Sofitel Singapore Sentosa Resort & Spa Facade

Garden Chandelier

Marble Tiled Corridor

Wild Peacock

ilLido At The Cliff Signage

Ambience at ilLido At The Cliff exudes an unhurried luxury. The ample greenery makes sitting by the shaded veranda a treat, looking out at the sea and surrounded by nature. This al-fresco terrace also boasts an outdoor bar, right next to the hotel's swimming pool. Step into the cozy, intimate restaurant, and you'll find a comfortable, elegant setting. Decorative modern chandeliers cast a warm glow over the plush dining room, decked out in shades of crisp white, dark turquoise, and mahogany hues. Very apt for intimate meals or special occasions, the place makes you want to linger on.

ilLido At The Cliff Exterior

ilLido At The Cliff Interior

Veranda & Bar

Veranda Views

Service at ilLido At The Cliff befits its fine dining status. With a small floor space, staff can afford the time to accord personalised attention to each table. They're proactive in offering top-ups for drinks, and will engage diners in conversation. Staff also display good product knowledge, introducing each dish as it's served, and arranging the layout for plates on the table. They efficiently clear away empty / dirty plates between courses, quickly resetting for the next course. The friendly hospitality leaves a good impression. As there is limited seating here, advance reservations are highly recommended.

Seating Bar Counter

Seating Veranda

Seating Pool Side

Seating Restaurant

Seating Private Alcove

Layered Rings Chandeliers

Food at ilLido At The Cliff is fine dining, modern Italian plates, and seasonal specials. Chef De Cuisine Simone Fraternali heads up the kitchen, presenting beautifully plated, masterfully crafted, delicious Italian dishes. When he goes around to engage guests, to hear him describe the amount of effort put into each dish... astounding. Keeping to Italian tradition, most dishes feature 1 or 2 star ingredients, with the natural flavours being highlighted. Taste is complex and layered, yet no component overwhelms the other ingredients, achieving a delicate balance. Portions are rightly sized for individuals. Prices are comparable to most other fine dining establishments, and are a testament to the high quality, budget about SGD $88 per person for a 3-course meal here.

ilLido At The Cliff Menu - Antipasti, Pasta, Mains

ilLido At The Cliff Menu - Desserts, Beverages, Digestifs

ilLido At The Cliff Menu - Seasonal Specials June - July 2017

Us With Chef De Cuisine Simone Fraternali

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The Assorted Bread Basket With Balsamic Vinegar & Olive Oil (SGD $Complimentary) features an assortment of warm Italian bread, from fluffy focaccia to crusty ciabatta. A classic start to any Italian meal.

Assorted Bread Basket With Balsamic Vinegar & Olive Oil (SGD $Complimentary)

Part of the June - July 2017 seasonal menu, the Baked White Asparagus With Egg Milanese And Veal Jus (SGD $30) was my favourite appetizer. Also makes for a great breakfast option! Tender shoots of white asparagus, with a delicate smoky sweet vegetal flavour, garnished with luxurious earthy black truffles, surrounded by savoury salty veal jus, reduced for hours to give it a robust flavour. The star was the egg, lightly breaded and crisp on the outside, golden yellow and molten soft on the inside. Incredibly surprising and delightful on the palate, we wondered how Chef managed to make the egg have contrasting textures. Highly recommended!

Baked White Asparagus With Egg Milanese And Veal Jus (SGD $30)

Baked White Asparagus With Egg Milanese And Veal Jus

Part of the June - July 2017 seasonal menu, the beautifully plated White Asparagus With Lobster Knuckles And Amalfi Lemon Hollandaise (SGD $32) features fresh chunks of deshelled lobster, with a bold briny salty sweet flavour and a bouncy texture. The tender white asparagus with its delicate sweet vegetal notes are complemented by the juicy salmon roe, the crunchy red radish, and the zesty creamy amalfi lemon hollandaise. The amalfi lemons are known as 'the queen of lemons', and are more sweet than sour in taste, giving the sauce a pleasantly delicate flavour.

White Asparagus With Lobster Knuckles And Amalfi Lemon Hollandaise (SGD $32)

White Asparagus With Lobster Knuckles And Amalfi Lemon Hollandaise

The Grilled Octopus With Confit Tomatoes And Potato Cream (SGD $29) was a highlight for me, with its tender morsels of bouncy octopus, grilled till it takes on a smoky savoury sweet flavour. The luxurious and smooth potato cream has earthy notes, while the bright and juicy confit tomatoes pair well with the crunchy vegetal curly endive / frisée. I enjoyed every bite of this. Highly recommended!

Grilled Octopus With Confit Tomatoes And Potato Cream (SGD $29)

Grilled Octopus With Confit Tomatoes And Potato Cream

The Hokkaido Scallop Crudo With Tuna Tartare And Sweet Peas (SGD $30) is clean-tasting and fresh, the thickly sliced chunks of scallop lending a light sweetness to the more earthy savoury tuna. Garnished with red radish and curly endive / frisée, this provides a crunchy foil against the bouncy textures of the scallops and tuna fish. I also find the dollops of sweet pea puree contribute a bright freshness, lifting the overall dish.

Hokkaido Scallop Crudo With Tuna Tartare And Sweet Peas (SGD $30)

Hokkaido Scallop Crudo With Tuna Tartare And Sweet Peas

The Pan-Roasted Foie Gras With Raspberries And Duck Jus (SGD $30) has a luxurious, thick slab of creamy fatty foie gras, served over earthy wilted spinach, garnished with tart sour raspberries and savoury salty duck jus. The combination of flavours have a nicely balanced counter-point, preventing this dish from being too heavy on the palate. Lovely and decadent.

Pan-Roasted Foie Gras With Raspberries And Duck Jus (SGD $30)

Pan-Roasted Foie Gras With Raspberries And Duck Jus

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Part of the June - July 2017 seasonal menu, I absolutely loved the Truffle Parmigiano Filled Gnocchi With White Asparagus And Carbonara (SGD $36). Breaking from tradition, the gnocchi is reinvented as large, chewy soft purple potato glutinous balls, filled with a creamy black truffle and parmigiano cheese filling. Flavour is earthy cheesy salty savoury, unique and bold. Complemented by juicy cherry tomatoes, delicate vegetal white asparagus, earthy shaved black truffles, and a creamy rich carbonara sauce. Completely delicious. Highly recommended!

Truffle Parmigiano Filled Gnocchi With White Asparagus And Carbonara (SGD $36)

Truffle Parmigiano Filled Gnocchi With White Asparagus And Carbonara

The Tagliolini With Hokkaido Scallops And Bottarga (SGD $33) features sliced scallops, micro greens, and long, cylindrical, paper-thin tagliolini pasta noodles. Taste is more savoury salty than sweet, a contribution of the bottarga, a salted, cured fish roe, giving the overall dish a deep, robust flavour. However, the pasta was more sticky in texture than usual.

Tagliolini With Hokkaido Scallops And Bottarga (SGD $33)

Tagliolini With Hokkaido Scallops And Bottarga

The Spaghetti Alla Chitarra With Lobster, Cherry Tomatoes, And Tarragon (SGD $42) features chunks of fresh chunks of deshelled lobster, with a bold briny salty sweet flavour and a bouncy texture, along with juicy sweet cherry tomatoes, and herbal sweet tarragon. The long and square-shaped spaghetti alla chitarra pasta noodles are served in a light seafood sauce, giving the dish an overall taste profile of the ocean.

Spaghetti Alla Chitarra With Lobster, Cherry Tomatoes, And Tarragon (SGD $42)

Spaghetti Alla Chitarra With Lobster, Cherry Tomatoes, And Tarragon

Loved the Pappardelle With Iberico Pork Ragout And Guanciale (SGD $34), with its broad, flat sheets of al-dente pappardelle pasta noodles, garnished with savoury sweet, stewed till tender, shredded Iberico pork ragout. The Italian guanciale / cured pork cheek lends a depth of salty savoury flavour, complementing the flavour of the ragout. Bold and meaty, very satisfiying. Those who love meat will take a shine to this. Highly recommended!

Pappardelle With Iberico Pork Ragout And Guanciale (SGD $34)

Pappardelle With Iberico Pork Ragout And Guanciale

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Part of the June - July 2017 seasonal menu, the Beef Tenderloin With Foie Gras, Marsala, And White Asparagus (SGD $48) has moist and tender cuts of beef tenderloin, done to a perfect medium rare. Accompanied by the prized white asparagus, with a delicate smoky sweet vegetal flavour, and a painstakingly reduced beef jus and marsala wine, which has bold savoury salty notes. A large, decadent slab of creamy fatty foie gras completes this luxurious dish. Good!

Beef Tenderloin With Foie Gras, Marsala, And White Asparagus (SGD $48)

Beef Tenderloin With Foie Gras, Marsala, And White Asparagus

What I like about the Black Cod With Caramelized Celeriac And Lemon Capers (SGD $48) is the tender, flaky, smooth oily flesh of the black cod fish. The garnish of juicy cherry tomatoes, earthy sweet celeriac, zesty sharp sour lemon capers, and crunchy vegetal curly endive / frisée complete this simple, yet comforting dish. Bright clean flavours here. Good!

Black Cod With Caramelized Celeriac And Lemon Capers (SGD $48)

Black Cod With Caramelized Celeriac And Lemon Capers

The Pan-Roasted Seabass With Romanesco And Basil Sauce (SGD $38) is a vibrant, colourful plated dish, with the herbal refreshing basil sauce poured over the seabass fish tableside. Studded with a range of fresh crunchy vegetables, including red radish, curly endive / frisée, and purple cauliflower, amongst others. The seabass fish has a crisp, salty savoury skin, with smooth, flaky sweet flesh. Very satisfiying. Good!

Pan-Roasted Seabass With Romanesco And Basil Sauce (SGD $38)

Pan-Roasted Seabass With Romanesco And Basil Sauce

The Guinea Fowl With Foie Gras And Black Truffle (SGD $45) initially struck me as something I usually won't order, but after trying it, I must say I absolutely love it! Painstakingly created over 2 days, with no less than 5 different cooking techniques that go into creating this delicious dish. The guinea fowl bones are slow cooked then reduced to get the natural jus, which has bold savoury salty notes. To achieve a tender, moist, bouncy texture, the breast meat is slowly sous vide. For the leg, it's prepared via confit, in order to get an even texture and lock in moisture. Finally, the garnish of caramelised carrots are made by baking carrots basted in natural honey, then plated with the other components over a creamy smooth, sweet pumpkin puree. Incredibly good. Highly recommended!

Guinea Fowl With Foie Gras And Black Truffle (SGD $45)

Guinea Fowl With Foie Gras And Black Truffle

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Part of the June - July 2017 seasonal menu, the Vanilla And Orange Crème Brûlée With White Asparagus Gelato (SGD $20) is a beautiful dessert. The unique white asparagus gelato has a delicate vegetal sweet flavour and a creamy texture, very appealing. Beneath is a well executed crème brûlée, the wobbly soft custard topped with a thin, crispy caramelised crust. Notes of floral vanilla and zesty orange make this sweet treat stand out with its fruity flavour. Fantastic!

Vanilla And Orange Crème Brûlée With White Asparagus Gelato (SGD $20)

Vanilla And Orange Crème Brûlée With White Asparagus Gelato

The Jamaican Pepper And Chocolate Mousse With Strawberries And Rum (SGD $18) has a rich and moist chocolate mousse cake, topped with gold leaf for a touch of glamour. Garnished with sweet caramelised rum-glazed strawberries, which lend a nice contrast in flavour. The tiny bits of pepper lend a refreshing and surprising kick, sharp but not spicy, just enough to tingle but not upset. Nice!

Jamaican Pepper And Chocolate Mousse With Strawberries And Rum (SGD $18)

Jamaican Pepper And Chocolate Mousse With Strawberries And Rum

The most popular dessert here, the House Tiramisu (SGD $18) has a rich, creamy, spongy mouthfeel, very pleasant. Straightforward and classic Italian style, though with more cream to sponge fingers in ratio, and notes of chocolate and coffee. It's worth ordering, though I personally prefer the other more exciting desserts.

House Tiramisu (SGD $18)

House Tiramisu

The flavour that stood out for me in the White Chocolate, Raspberry, And Lemon Tart (SGD $18) is the sharp, zesty sour tangy notes of the lemon tart, which has a wobbly soft curd and a buttery tart crust. The milky white chocolate tuiles, sharp sour raspberries, crunchy airy meringue, and zesty lemon cream, all lend layers of flavour to this dessert. Pretty good, comes across as light and refreshing on the palate.

White Chocolate, Raspberry, And Lemon Tart (SGD $18)

White Chocolate, Raspberry, And Lemon Tart

Overall, ilLido At The Cliff impresses with its relaxed and elegant ambience, professional and personalised service, and Italian food that is both delicious and beautifully plated. From 08 June to 30 July 2017, ilLido At The Cliff is presenting a crafted menu of White Asparagus, the prized ingredient of Spring. Personally, I feel that contemporary Italian luxury is exemplified by ilLido At The Cliff, making for a fantastic dining experience.


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