Basilico

I've been wanting to try the semi-buffet at Basilico for a while now. The swanky Italian restaurant is consistently featured on the "best eats" lists and reviews have generally been favourable. We got Kang along to have dinner ($69) here over the weekend. Entering through the imposingly grand entrance of the upscale restaurant, you immediately get a sense that this is a classy joint. Don't let the swish elegance of this place fool you, the wait staff are all very smiley and warm, so you feel right at home. Diners speak in hushed tones and despite this being a buffet restaurant, the atmosphere really is quite tranquil and peaceful.

At Basilico, you fill up with a range of Italian antipasti, choose your main course out of a total of 9 different mains, and finish up with an array of pretty desserts. While the buffet was generally authentic and of a relatively good standard and quality despite the small selection, we weren't so impressed with the mains.

At the antipasti table, there are various cold cuts, salads, breads and cold appetizers. We particularly liked the freshly shaved Parma ham, truffle-olive oil salad dressing, and fresh-out-of-the-oven pizza bread.

The dessert counter had cheesecakes, fudge cakes and a medley of other cakes, together with a variety of gelato. The gelato, with its semi-sweetness and a lighter hand with the cream, was our favourite way of rounding off our fairly good meal.

We thought we'd share our mains so we could sample everything. It was nice that the staff thoughtfully put the mains in the middle for us to share. The Branzino Arrosto con Spinaci, favette, Fagiolini, Pomodorini Scaglie di Cacio Ricotta was our favourite main, a fillet of fresh flaky seabass was roasted and served with wilted spinach, green beans, fava beans, cherry tomatoes and shaved cacio ricotta cheese.If we had one gripe, it would be that a lighter hand with the salt could have made this dish better.


The Filetto di Angus alla Griglia con Patate Ratte Arrosto, Asparagi Gratinati al Pecorino, an Angus beef tenderloin was grilled and served alongside roasted ratte potatoes and pecorino cheese gratin asparagus. While the beef was tender and juicy enough, it didn't have that oomph of a full-bodied robust piece of red meat.


The Risotto con Pancetta Steccata, Finocchietto Pugliese Parmiggiano Stravecchio e Burro di Occelli, with pork belly, apulian fennel, aged parmesan cheese and butter was distinctly Asian in style. Mostly because it tasted strongly of star anise, a spice frequently used in Chinese cooking. While the risotto was done al dente, this was unfortunately a boring, one-dimensional dish, rich and creamy but lacking in depth of flavour.




Basilico
1 Cuscaden Road
Level 2, The Regent
Tel: 6725 3232
Open daily from 12noon to 2.30pm for lunch; 6.30pm to 10pm for dinner

Comments

Anonymous said…
The Prof says, those risotto grains dont look fat enough.
Bern said…
Huh, r u saying they are too skinny?!
Bern said…
How fat do you want them to be?
Anonymous said…
Prof says : the skinny looking risotto seems to suggest that the rice grains may not have had enough time to soak up the poo-like gravy/sauce. Either that or they are using some funny grains that dont turn fat.

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