Dinner at il Cielo's Italian Restaurant @ Hilton Hotel

581 Orchard Road, Level 24, Hilton Hotel, Singapore 238883

Tel: 6730 3395

Website: http://www3.hilton.com/en/hotels/singapore/hilton-singapore-SINHITW/dining/il-cielo.html

I'd been wanting to dine at il Cielo Restaurant & Bar for a while, and hence we made our way there on a Saturday evening. Unfortunately, the pool was undergoing renovations, because dining by the beautiful pool was one of the main reasons I had wanted to come to il Cielo. By the way, "il cielo" means "The Sky".

Non-fazed, The Beau and I were seated in the exquisite, intimate little restaurant with dim lightings, well-spaced tables and emanating quietly elegant vibes.

I ordered a glass of red wine with my meal after placing orders. Just nice, it was Restaurant Week, hence I ordered my dinner based on the special set menu at SGD$55++ per pax.

The Bread Basket was brought to the table, with a couple of hard rolls and crunchy breadsticks.  We broke some bread and nibbled on breadsticks while waiting for the appetisers to be served.

My starter was the 47 Degrees Cooked Salmon, served with yogurt sauce and saffron dust. The tiny cubes of salmon were delicious, no doubt - texture a cross between bouncy raw sashimi and the softness of smoked salmon. The pairing with yogurt sauce was brilliant, enhancing the sweetness of the fish with a savoury-sour overture.

For mains, I'd chosen the Roasted Octopus, served with polenta and parsley sauce. The octopus bore a lovely smoky flavor that combined well with its naturally delicate, sweet flavor. It was also grilled to a lovely tenderness that the teeth sliced through very easily. The grilled peppers on the side, and parsley sauce were charming accompaniment, no doubt; it was overally, a very enjoyable dish.

For his mains, The Beau had the Porchetta D'Iberico (SGD$44.00) - roasted iberico pork tournedos, served with sweet mashed potatoes and morels. The meat came in rolls form, and flaked off juicily and scrumptiously - there were a little fats on the side that added to the bounciness of the overall texture. The dish was paired brilliantly with plums that added a sweet flavor to the savoury red meat rolls.

For my dessert, there was the il Cielo Style Tiramisu Dome, served with Cappuccino Gelato. The powdery coffee texture was amazing, and the coffee aroma filled the palate beautifully, with just a bite. Hints of the alcohol were present, not strong though, and the coupling with cappuccino ice-cream enhanced the sharp flavor one step further.

The Beau had a slice of Cheesecake - rich, creamy yet fluffy in texture and taste, melting ever so gently on the mouth like a teaser.

Overall, it was a lovely place to dine at, with attentive service and exquisite food, not to mention brilliant ambience. I would come back when the pool is ready so that I could dine by the lovely pool, under "il Cielo" (the sky) truly.