Basilico review: Italian set lunch at Regent Hotel

This Basilico review features a visit to the Italian dining establishment at Regent Hotel, to celebrate a friend’s Birthday. The set lunch menu will be featured in this post.

For a review on the regular a la carte menu intstead, please check out this post instead.

Basilico Review: Love Dining

I love the American Express Platinum Charge card, which came with Love Dining benefits – It’s an amazing dining discounts programme that allows eligible Amex credit card holders to dine at up to 50% off. 

Early in 2021, I wrote an exciting blog post about new dining establishments that joined the Love Dining programme, and Basilico at Regent hotel is one of them.

So when a close friend had her birthday last month, I decided to treat her to a lovely Italian meal at Basilico.

Image source: American Express

Inspired by this post and want to apply for an American Express credit card? Apply through one of my referral links and receive either bonus Membership Rewards points or statement credit:

• The Platinum Charge Card: Use this referral link and receive up to S$900 statement credits and Samsonite Choca Spinner 68/25 (worth S$700) when you apply and minimum spend criteria is met.
• The American Express Platinum Card: Use this referral link and receive up to S$350 statement credits when you apply and minimum spend criteria is met.
• American Express Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer Ascend Credit Card: Use this referral link and receive up to 38, 000 Krisflyer miles and S$50 statement credits when you apply and minimum spend criteria is met. 

Disclaimer: the views and opinions expressed on this page are that of Happy High Life and may not necessarily reflect the position of American Express. Happy High Life is not responsible for any decisions made by readers. The terms and conditions for each credit card's application and usage may be subject to change by American Express. Therefore, readers are recommended to check any matters with American Express or its partners; the list of all benefits of the Platinum Charge Card can be found here.

Regent Hotel

Located in the vicinity between the Singapore Botanic Gardens and Orchard road, the hotel is literally a stone’s throw from St.Regis Singapore. On two separate ocassions, Grab taxi drivers who’ve confused the Regent with Regis as they are so close together.

Entrance of Regent Hotel Singapore

 Internally, at the entrance, the hotel has an old-school luxury charm about it. Yet, it doesn’t feel old or dated.  With natural sunlight streaming through the roof, the natural brightness sets the stage for a relaxing afternoon meal.

Elevator to the Rooms

Basilico: Restaurant and Menu

The entrance itself was nothing short of impressive. Enter the restaurant and behold the sight of huge ceiling chandeliers above a centrally located zone where chefs worked in quiet efficiency.

Tucked away in the corner is another workstation – there’s a huge pizza oven, lots of pasta, and the general aroma of sauces and spices. It smells good already, Lol. 

Busy Chefs at Work

There are generally at least two menu options – the set lunch (available 12:00pm to 2:30pm) or the a la carte. Both the menus qualify for Love Dining (but do check with the server what are the qualifying items – there might be exceptions). 

At the time of writing, the three-course meal was priced at SGD 65 – but in this Basilico review, I do recommend that readers check out the website for the latest menu and pricing; the restaurant does change up the items every now and then.

Basilico Review: Set Lunch Menu

Antipasti: Starters

While waiting for the food, my friend and I pigged out on the bread basket. Always love this in a good Italian restaurant. The artichoke dip here was divine (but then again, I really love artichokes).

Bread Basket. Served with Artichoke Dip and Olive Oil

For my starter, I chose the soup, the ‘Zuppa di Ceci e Vongole‘ – a Southern Italian style chickpea and clam soup with fresh rosemary, cherry tomatoes, and toasted ciabatta bread. This was so comforting – the fragrance of the seafood and rosemary really came through – just the kind of soup to have on a rainy day.

Soup: Zuppa di Ceci e Vongole

My friend on the other hand, chose a mixed Italian-themed starter platter – the ‘Antipasto All’ Italiana.’

Antipasto All’ Italiana

It’s a whole Italian smorgasboard selection of Antipasti: a 24-month old cured parma ham, Milano salami, pistachio mortadella, prosciutto cotto, aged parmesan cheese with truffle honey, putignano burratina, buffalo mozarella with heirloom tomatoes, wild rocket and marinated artichokes, smoked Alaskan salmon and marinated vagetables.

And of course, a little bit of crab

While technically a snack platter – this was a lot of food. My friend split the platter with me – and even then, my half portion already resembled a reasonable-sized starter.

Main Courses

And then, the show stoppers arrived. 

There are days when all you want is a real good serving of carbs, and the Risotto here is not to be missed. Carnaroli rice cooked in Brodetto broth with lobster, scallops, tiger prawns, prosecco, and bits green asparagus – the rice soaked up the ocean’s goodness. Topped with caviar – that was literally the flavourbomb that elevated the whole seafood factor.

Risotto alla Pugliese

A less carb-intensive option here would be the steak – the Black Angus Beef Sirloin.

Or in Italian: Tagliata di Manzo

Black Angus Beef Sirloin, served with Cannellini bean puree, Amarone wine reduction and sunchoke chips.

Lots of sunchoke chips

The steak was amazing – cooked to a medium-rare perfection, it was so soft, so tender. The carrot wasn’t an afterthought either – the vegetable toning down the richness ever so slightly, and the chips added a texture of crunch.

Amazing

I’ve had loads of good beef before – including the aged steak at Lawry’s the Prime rib, the grilled-to-perfection A5 grade Wagyu at Sen of Japan, and the super velvety meat-off-the-bone beef cheeks at Brasserie Les Saveurs (St. Regis). (Yes, those places have Love Dining benefits as well!). This steak here is one of the best I’ve had to date – it’s more refined than Lawry’s and Sen of Japan’s, and the sauce closely rivals that of Brasserie Les Saveurs’. It’s the clear favourite of the day, and I highly, HIGHLY recommended this as a must-try item.

Dessert Platters

In this world, there are few things sweeter than dessert.

Especially when the dessert is a mixed platter of sugar-rush inducing goodness.

Chef’s Plated Mini Sweets Selection

There’s a berry-flavoured panna cotta, macaron, mini tiramisu, little chocolate cake, a dainty meringue tart and petite cream puff. The variety really makes one feel like they are havinga a whole lot of food, even though the serving is really average in size.

Not into sweets? Fret not. A really cool alternative to end the meal is the cheese platter.

Selezione di Formaggi Italini

A platter of Basilico’s selection of Italian hard and aged Cheeses. It is served with Truffle Honey and dried fruits – hardcore cheese lovers would enjoy it, but even those not too crazy about cheese can appreciate how the unique sweetness of truffled honey contrasts the saltiness of Italian cheese.

Complimentary Birthday Cake

Tip if you’re celebrating a special occasion: inform the restaurant! You’ll never know if a surprise pops up. At Basilico, for my dear friend’s birthday, this appeared towards the end of the meal…

Nutty and creamy / mousse-like in texture, and topped with more nuts – the cake added more joy to an already enjoyable meal.

General Basilico Review

Generally, with American Express Love Dining places in hotels – I have never been disappointed with any of the participating hotel dining establishments. Basilico has exceeded expectations – I cannot find fault with any of the food here. Moreover, usually, Love Dining benefits apply only to a la carte items – Basilico is one of the rare places that allow you to enjoy their SET MEAL and dine up to 50% off.

Overall, the standards are more formal and high-end that other similar Italian dining establishments. It’s definitely more so than Prego (at Fairmont), which has more casual vibes. Unlike the down-to-earth type of home-made Italian fare such as that of Burlamacco Ristorante or La Nonna, this place feels more elegant and classy – the kind of place where you’d impress a date or have an Executive Business lunch or deal take place. The closest equivalent would likely be LaBrezza at St. Regis Singapore – and that place is just accoss the road from Regent hotel.

I also commend the service given by the staff here – everyone was attentive, knowledgeable, familiar with all the discounts, and quick to serve. The level of professionalism was very high – quick responses, friendly and polite folks – a human touch that isn’t easily replicated.

10/10 would highly recommend this place. My Basilico review is more than positive – definitely will be coming back here with the husband someday.

(Actually, yeah, we’ve been back – read HERE for our subsequent visits and the review of the a la carte menu!)

Want some Love Dining?

Apply for an American Express credit card and get bonus points!

Inspired by this post and want to apply for an American Express credit card? Apply through one of my referral links and receive either bonus Membership Rewards points or statement credit:

• The Platinum Charge Card: Use this referral link and receive up to S$900 statement credits and Samsonite Choca Spinner 68/25 (worth S$700) when you apply and minimum spend criteria is met.
• The American Express Platinum Card: Use this referral link and receive up to S$350 statement credits when you apply and minimum spend criteria is met.
• American Express Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer Ascend Credit Card: Use this referral link and receive up to 38, 000 Krisflyer miles and S$50 statement credits when you apply and minimum spend criteria is met. 

Disclaimer: the views and opinions expressed on this page are that of Happy High Life and may not necessarily reflect the position of American Express. Happy High Life is not responsible for any decisions made by readers. The terms and conditions for each credit card's application and usage may be subject to change by American Express. Therefore, readers are recommended to check any matters with American Express or its partners; the list of all benefits of the Platinum Charge Card can be found here.

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