Il Giardino
Il Giardino at the Singapore Botanic Gardens feels less like a polished Italian fine dining restaurant and more like the sort of neighbourhood place you would happily return to with family and friends. Casual, generous and comfortable, with enough tableside theatre to keep dinner interesting without making the whole experience feel too serious.
Two dishes stood out for me. The Il Giardino Polpo alla Veneziana is one of their signatures, and understandably so. A whole octopus is braised for eight hours until beautifully tender, then brought out in a large pot and served tableside. The generous slices are finished with lemon, house made gremolata, ginger flower salsa verde and Laudemio extra virgin olive oil. There is plenty of richness, freshness and acidity going on, and the accompanying focaccia is perfect for mopping up all those juices. This was definitely one of those dishes where the bread quietly becomes part of the main event.
The Mafalde Cacio e Pepe brought another bit of tableside fun. The pasta is tossed in a Pecorino cheese wheel before being finished with freshly ground Kampot black pepper. Rich, creamy and peppery, but still very comforting rather than heavy. Simple ingredients, but when done well, that is exactly the point.
We also enjoyed the relaxed setting and the very personal service. Rada, the manager, was warm, friendly and attentive throughout, making us feel more like guests in someone’s home than customers in a restaurant.
A good meal does not need to be elaborate to be memorable. Good food, a bottle of Barolo, plenty of sharing and someone making you feel welcome. Il Giardino gets that balance quite right.
