Il Cielo Hilton Singapore

This is a small restaurant per se, overseeing the bustling Orchard road. With the sunset, the evening became beautiful and it just felt that we are off on a holiday.

Serenity

I have been to this Italian restaurant a couple of times for lunch and dinner. I am always impressed with their service and food. Thus I have decided to take advantage of this Restaurant Week to invite my aunt and cousin for dinner.

After seeing the reviews on the overcooked fish/prawns, I became skeptical. As this is the first visit for my aunt & cousin, I would prefer them to enjoy their evening as we always say first impression counts.

Surprisingly, this evening turned out to be pretty perfect, from the antipasto to the desserts. I have ordered one additional antipasto to share - Capesante MSC and a bottle of red wine.

We were served with the Calamari salad, orange dressing, mango gel and cherry tomatoes. The first look at it, I love it. Why? The rich colours of this dish is enticing enough.

Calamari Salad

The dressing complements the calamari and the calamari complements the freshness of the vegetables. *Do note that the calamari is not deep fried.

The Capesante MSC was served next. Nothing spectacular about this dish. Oh, by the way Capesante MSC is Scallop creation with grilled pineapple & caviar. Perhaps it is not to my liking.

Fantasia Di Capesante

After the antipasto, we were served with our selection of main course - Sea Bass with potato crust, asparagus and roasted pepper.

SeaBass with Potato Crust, Asparagus and Roasted Pepper 

This is the dish that concerns me. Reviews on restaurant week have been pretty negative on the main course - undercooked or overcooked seabass. But the sea bass we ordered was neither. The fish was cooked to perfection. My cousin complained that the asparagus was too hard for her, but my aunt and I find that the asparagus were just right. For me, it is the way asparagus should be done.

And lastly, the dessert for the evening was red velvet mascarpone, raspberry micro, chocolate truffle, sweet pesto.

Red Velvet Mascarpone

The dessert was alright and I have to disagree with the sweet pesto. It is a weird combination.

As it is also an early birthday celebration for my aunt, I have informed the restaurant and they served up an additional slice of cheesecake. This is thoughtful of them.

Hilton Cheesecake

Aside with the food, the service provided by the staff is impeccable. I won't complain in any ways. But if I am to nitpick, olive oil was spilled onto the table and they did not wipe it. Nonetheless, this is minute.

I must say Il Cielo is a place to unwind and relax, and they never fail to impress me, even on Restaurant Week.

Il Cielo, Hilton Singapore
Website : http://www3.hilton.com/en/hotels/singapore/hilton-singapore-SINHITW/dining/il-cielo.html
Address :
Hilton Singapore
Level 24
581 Orchard Road
Singapore 238883
For reservation : +65 6730 3395
Email : ilcielo@hilton.com

Authentic Italian @ Trattoria Nonna Lina

Singapore, being a small island offers many different cuisines and it is so hard to keep tab on them. To find a true family run restaurant is like finding a needle in a haystack.

Earlier last month, I was introduced to Trattoria Nonna Lina. The distinct patriotic colors is painted as their outer facade. This gem is situated in a shophouse along Cantonment Road. It is small yet cosy place where Chef Simone and his family runs this place. It serves enchanting Tuscany food with the Chef in the house to prepare the food and his family to entertain the request from the customers. They serve true blue Italian cuisine. Food is a little pricey but worth the penny.

Be it lunch or dinner, they will serve their bruschetta as their antipasto. This starter captures the flavors of the ripen tomatoes, fresh basil, garlic, olive oil and balsamic vinegar topped on toasted slice of baguette.  

Bruschetta

So far I have tried 3 different antipasto - Soute Misto, Insalata Fresca with King Prawns and Zupetta Argentarina. Soute Misto and Insalata Fresca was during lunch. 

Soute Misto

Insalata Fresca with King Prawns

Zupetta Argentarina

From the gardens to the sea, all the ingredients Nonna Lina uses are truly selected with love. My favourite of  antipasto is Zupetta Argentarina ($29). You can said I am a seafood lover more than a vegetable lover. The generous serving of stewed mussells and prawns in the creamy porcini sauce is simply divine. I recommend you to order the antipasto to share as the portion are good for two to three persons.

During lunch hour, I had their Crab Aglio Olio.
Overall it is a decent plate of al dente pasta with a bountiful serving of crab meat. The only downside is the crab meat they served that day was a little fishy. But this does not dampen my desire to come and dine again.

With that said, I brought my cousin, Ms G here for dinner where we ordered an antipasto to share (Zupetta Argentarina, shown above). We ordered 2 main courses - Carbonara di Mare and Tortelli all'Aragosta.

Carbonara di mare

This Carbonara di Mare ($32) is served with seafood (prawn, squid and clams) and bacon in cream sauce.
I have to admit Nonna Lina by far, serves the best carbonara. Each mouth of pasta is infused with the essence of bacon. This is a must to try.

Tortelli all'Aragosta

Next we have Tortelli all'Aragosta ($42). Homemade tortellli filled with marine lobster in seasonal seafood ragù. This delicacy comes with a serving of 6 pieces of tortelli coated with the ragù and topped with the seafood (mussels, squids, prawns and crab meat). You can taste the generous filling of lobster in each tortelli which we can't get enough of. The sauce has a rich taste and velvetly texture. A little sour, sweet, spicy...you can simply taste all of it in this dish. 
I wonder how they manage to cook their pasta to al dente and their sauce are forever so flavourful. Everything is perfetto.

Grazie Chef Simone and his family for sharing their sumptuous dishes.  Ms G and I enjoyed our dinner very much and will definitely come again.

Trattoria Nonna Lina
Website : https://www.facebook.com/TrattoriaNonnaLina
Address : 61 Cantonment Road, Singapore 089757
For Reservation : 6222 0930