Restaurantweek'10 Day 1: Dinner at Il Lido

Il Lido – 27 Bukit Manis Road, #02-00 Sentosa Golf Club, Singapore

Fine Italian dining, a panoramic view of the beautiful Sentosa Golf Course and a cool evening breeze blowing in from the ocean; now that’s a setting for a dinner! Diffused light made for a most romantic atmosphere though it made taking photographs a real challenge. The $55 per-head restaurant week price was exceeded as we just had to sample some wine from the list that earned Wine Spectator magazine’s Best of Award of Excellence. The final bill came up to $280 for a 4-course dinner for 3.

(I must note the striking similarity between Forlino and Il Lido’s menus, I mean the choice between Cod and Wagyu Beef Cheek as a main and Lava Cake for dessert is just uncanny.)

The Porcini Mushroom and Truffle Cream Soup was smooth and creamy with a viscosity that was just right. However the flavours were somewhat subtle and it was found to be under-seasoned, a lament that would be echoed throughout the meal. I had the Scallops with Chanterelle Mushrooms, Sweet Garlic Cream and Crispy Prosciutto on the other hand were a delight with fresh, pillowy, sweet shellfish bathed in a rich, flavourful sauce. The chanterelles seemed a little soggy though.

The Angel Hair with Spicy Baby Prawns was pleasant but overcooked and soggy if unfairly compared with the flawless al-dente experience I had just hours before. The sauce was spectacular though, with a rich sweetness that only the painstaking reduction of a masterfully prepared stock could achieve.

The slow cooked Wagyu Beef Cheek with Celeriac and Crunchy Vegetables had a lovely, soft texture though not quite achieving the melt-in-your-mouthness symbolic of the prized, marbled meat. Flavours were balanced but once again under-seasoned; we could not help but request for salt and pepper, a decision not regretted for the nuances were truly brought out thereafter.

I felt like seafood again and chose the Atlantic Cod with Chanterelle Mushroom, Baby Leeks and Prosecco Wine Sauce. From the get-go, the presentation and taste profile were a little too similar to my scallop appetiser for comfort. The leeks were delightfully sweet and tender but alas, the fish was overcooked to the point of toughness, a true tragedy for such a fine and fresh cut that was so deliciously buttery that the dish might have been too rich if not for the fabulous pinot grigio I had with it. The chanterelles had a more pronounced flavour this time around which might indicate a slight lack of consistency on the kitchen’s part.

The Molten Lava Chocolate Cake in Hazelnut Crust with Vanilla Ice Cream arrived sans-hazelnut crust as the waiter belatedly explained they ran out of hazelnuts; replacing the vanilla ice cream with hazelnut ice cream instead. The cake itself was pleasantly rich though the chocolate used was not dark enough for my liking. The hazelnut ice cream struck the right balance of richness and nuttiness but the strawberry coulis threw an unpleasant spanner into an otherwise harmonious taste profile reminiscent of a milk chocolate praline.

The meal was closed with two sweet wines that continued the theme of mixed-feelings that was characteristic of the dinner. The first was a Frangolino Rosso Non-vintage that had the most magical nose so full of blackcurrant and berry notes that I would liken this elixir to Ribena’s sexy, seductive older sister. It is a most accessible wine with an almost alcopop taste profile. In short, I loved it.

The Moscato D Asti 2007 intrigued me initially as I have never encountered a sparkling Moscato before. It had a champagne-like appearance in the glass but any impressiveness stopped there as it had no nose to speak of and was frankly quite bland.