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To celebrate our 16th wedding anniversary early this January, my husband and I chose a restaurant that we had been meaning to check out for the longest time. I still have a long list of restaurants in Singapore left to check off my bucket list so I hope to make good headway on that this year.

Situated in a green enclave, a stone’s throw from Orchard Road, Regent Singapore is a five star serene urban oasis balancing classic style with modern comfort. Housed within Regent is all-day dining restaurant Basilico serving seasonal Italian cuisine.

Helmed by Rome-born and bred Head Chef Valerio Pierantonelli, the award-winning Basilico is widely considered one of Singapore's best Italian restaurants. The menu at Basilico features authentic Italian elements such as a rotisserie, antipasti, mains and pasta, comforting wood-fired pizzas, sumptuous desserts and a walk-in cheese cellar. There are both buffet and a la carte dining options.

First impressions as we entered the hotel bobby was the feeling of contemporary grandeur. The hotel boasts chic interiors and needless to say, was sparkling clean. Several aspects of the space caught our eye - the stunning chandelier, tasteful furniture, the skylight, the bubble glass elevators, a suspended art piece, the water feature and the extensive indoor flowers and plants which made the space appear lively and calming.

I could hear the twins exclaim in delight several times. They seemed genuinely thrilled with their whereabouts.

Basilico is located at the second floor of Regent Hotel and can be accessed by stairs or elevator. It has a modern and sophisticated appearance. There are two levels, with an upper open deck/terrace.

The centerpiece of the restaurant is a gorgeous circular island. Inside, there are different pockets of seating areas.

We were greeted by a gracious hostess and friendly waiter who showed us to our seats. The seating is comfortable, there are nice floor lamps that just give out enough soft lighting. A quaint cabinet in the background with goblet and decanter added an whimsical touch to the decor.

Note that Basilico has a smart casual dress code to complement its elegant interiors. I am so used to dressing uber casual in Singapore (even to work) that I don't even know what smart casual means any more 😜

Guests need to scan the QR code for the menu. Although the menu isn't elaborate, there is a reasonable selection of appetizing salads, soups, mains, pastas, pizza and dessert.

We started off the evening with a complimentary bread basket served with a trio of condiments - extra virgin olive oil, olive tapenade and balsamic vinegar. We ordered glasses of white wine for ourselves and fruit juice for the kids.

I kicked off the meal with a salad. I went for the arugula/rocket salad which turned out to be a fresh, simple and lightly dressed salad consisting of peppery arugula, olives, a combination of sun dried tomatoes and cherry tomatoes as well as Parmesan. A great start to the meal.

Our children love pizza (like most children) so we had to order one. If you have been following my blog for a while will not be surprised that it was Margherita pizza. The chef brought the freshly made traditional Neapolitan pizza to our table and it looked so good. We loved the crispy yet chewy thin crust. Just from the first bite, one could tell that the chef knows pizza like the back of his own hand. There was a great balance of the San Marzano tomato sauce and mozzarella cheese with delightful hints of basil. Tucking into the pizza was very enjoyable indeed. The girls loved it!

For the main course, I ordered pasta. One can never go wrong with ravioli at a good Italian restaurant right? The dish didn't look fantastic but the combination of flavours and textures more than made up for the appearance. The dish had small square shaped perfectly cooked ravioli containing moreish meaty mushrooms, coated in a delicate flavourful sauce with crunchy walnuts and salad for texture. It was the perfect portion size as well.

Recommended.

Much to our surprise (and delight!), we were served a complimentary chef's plated mini sweets. We loved the apple pie, tiramisu, dark chocolate cake and the raspberry dessert with a creamy core.

We ordered a scoop of vanilla gelato each for the girls which by the look on their faces, they thoroughly enjoyed.

My husband and I ordered the Tiramigiu which turned out to be a modern take on the traditional Tiramisu. We absolutely love tiramisu and this is a dessert that I commonly make at home while entertaining.

Basilico's rendition had marsala and mascarpone sabayon, savoiardi biscuit crumble, espresso coffee gel, bitter valrhona chocolate and coffee ice cream. It was light and airy with lovely hints of coffee and chocolate. We were absolutely stuffed by the time we finished this dessert so keep in mind that this would be ideal for sharing.

Basilico at Regent: Italian food with a flair

Showcasing fresh ingredients, seasonal produce and authentic Italian recipes, Basilico at Regent is a must-try restaurant in Singapore for Italian food lovers. We enjoyed a wonderful family dinner and will undoubtedly go back. This is the perfect venue to celebrate a birthday, anniversary or any other special occasion. We were impressed by the elegant ambience of the restaurant as well as the cordial and attentive service. All the dishes we sampled were delicious and satisfying. Dining here would set you back at least $80 per pax (a la carte).

I recommend this restaurant for couples, friends, families and small groups of people.

My rating for this restaurant is