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Love nature and looking for a comfortable place to enjoy good Italian cuisine? Newly opened at The Garage, Singapore Botanic Gardens, Italian restaurant Il Giardino is your answer, alongside a fragrant of freshness.
Il Giardino has planted its roots at The Garage in the Singapore Botanic Gardens, opening its doors to welcome guests into a world of Italian cicchetti-style dining concept amidst the warm and enchanting surroundings.
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Like its name that translates to “The Garden”, the restaurant brings communal dining into Singapore’s lush greenery, where each window frame looks out to a picturesque preview of the sensory experience to come, as you dip into the nature-inspired flavours.
Designed by 1-Group’s Culinary Associate Director, Felix Chong, the menu presents luscious Italian recipes complemented with Singaporean touches. Felix shared that he had trained under chefs in Italy, and brought home delightful recipes that carefully dabbed on local nuances.
Il Giardino: Where Italian Flavours Meet Singapore’s Gardens
As a starter, we had the Beer Bread ‘Gnocco Fritto’ with Ginger Flower Salsa Verde. It was crispy and the freshness of the dip made it a nice start to the meal. The next dish was the Panzanella ‘Singapura’ ($16), an Italian salad that is made with bread soaked in tomato juices, with a tropical twist by the green mango, cashew nuts and citrus.
A dish that we would strongly recommend going for, is the signature Il Giardino Slow Cooked Venetian Octopus (from $22). The octopus was carefully slow cooked to reach a delectable balance of tenderness and the freshness sealed into the sweet gentle flavours of the meat. The soothing flavours of the dish are enlivened by the accompanying fresh lemon slices, gremolata and Laudemio extra virgin olive oil.
Pizzas & Pastas: Satisfying Meal Anchors
For low-key classics that are sure to satisfy the crowds, the pastas and pizza we had are good contenders.
The Spaghetti alle Vongole (from $19) is served in the classic fashion with fresh clams, garlic, white wine and herb crumbs. The chili confit gives a subtle but delightful kick that leaves a reverberance of the flavours on the palate.
The Porcini and Ricotta Cheese Ravioli (from $16) is a comforting dish that is highlighted by its five-cheese sauce and a sweet overtone by the pear compote. It is a rich dish, but it did not deter fellow diners from finishing their plates.
Just when we thought we had our fair share of carbs covered, we found ourselves reaching for the irresistible Parma (from $19), a pizza with crisp edges topped with Parma ham, mushrooms, argula, light truffle cream sauce and honey.
Mains for Group Gatherings
The Roasted Corn-fed Chicken (from $18) comes in half and whole chicken portions. The meat is brined and oven roasted, served with rocket salad and Amalfi lemon caper sauce. The taste of the Amalfi lemon is underplayed and does not do fair justice to the overall flavours of the dish.
The Pan Roasted King Salmon ($28) comes with a parsley and pine nuts crust, alongside eggplant caponata. It is savoury and flavourful, and an appealing dish to fish lovers.
Desserts and Cocktails to Wind Down
For desserts, the il Giardino Affogato ($14) and Crispy, Fried Italian Pastries ‘Chiacchiere’ ($14) both come in four options of vanilla gelato, hazelnut gelato, honey ginger sorbet and blood orange sorbet.
In line with its botanical theme, Il Giardino offers a refreshing selection of cocktails and mocktails that are inspired by nature. We would recommend bookending your meal with a glass or two as icing on the cake to complete your experience – or simply to wind down the day.
Il Giardino is located at Level 2 of The Garage, 50 Cluny Park Road, Singapore Botanic Gardens, Singapore 257488. More information can be found on the Il Giardino website.
Dining and Cooking