COCONUTS HOT SPOT — Once known as a fine dining hotspot for lovebirds, the restaurant formerly called ilLido at The Cliff (now it’s just The Cliff) has revamped and rebranded, in its effort to move away from starched white tablecloths, exorbitant prices, and all the stuffy trimmings of an expensive experience.
In its place, you’ll find a sleek, modern Italian eatery that’s just the right amount of casual for Sunday brunch, but still chic and elegant for a romantic Saturday dinner. Essentially, it’s a breath of fresh air.
Offering outdoor views of the South China Sea in its chill lounge area, The Cliff serves up lunch and dinner, alongside bar bites available all afternoon and evening for those enjoying a pool day. Featuring an affordable menu of traditional recipes — inspired by the chef’s memories of a childhood along the North-eastern coast of Italy — with a modern twist, classic seafood items to try include grilled octopus with orange potato and salmoriglio ($23) and whole sea bass with butternut, olives, and cherry tomatoes ($60/two people).
Everything here is fresh and vibrant, without being bogged down by overwhelming sauces, so you get to taste the ingredients in their natural, elevated state.
Of course, this being an Italian joint, you can’t miss out on The Cliff’s selection of house-made pizzas and pasta. The fior di latte cheese, mascarpone, and truffle cream pizza is a truffle lover’s dream ($32), while the tomato, buffalo mozzarella, and basil pizza ($22) is a classic delight. Even those of you who don’t typically finish off pizza crusts will find yourselves tempted to keep going back for another bite of the crispy, fluffy bread.
As for the pasta offerings, definitely try the beef cheek tortelli swimming in cheesy cream and red wine sauce ($30) for mouthfuls of tender meat, or pile on the well-worth-it carbs with the pork ragout pappardelle ($24). If you’re up for a splurge — since most dishes are below $30 — order the spaghetti “Alla Chitarra” with generous chunks of lobster ($42).
Besides the signatures, meats like the slow-cooked pork chop with baby carrots ($30) are also available, alongside shared plates of Italian cheese with bread and honey ($44) and platters of Parma ham with burrata cheese and rocket leaves ($42).
To end off the meal while you sip on a cocktail, order the tiramisu ($14), a light rendition that won’t weigh you down after all that feasting; or get zesty with the raspberry and Sorrento lemon custard tart ($12) — but be warned, it doesn’t hold back on the sour notes.
Alternatively, you can never go wrong with the dark chocolate lava cake and mango sorbet ($15).
Also keep an eye out for the restaurant’s family-style Prosecco brunch every first and third Saturday of the month, with sharing plates of meats and seafood complemented by a free flow of the booze. Other special events include a degustation menu held every Thursday from April onwards, and a journey through the culinary fare of Italy’s different regions on every last week of the month.
The Cliff is at Sofitel Singapore Sentosa Resort & Spa, 2 Bukit Manis Rd, 6708-8310. Daily noon-2:30pm, 6pm-9:30pm; pool and bar menus available from 11am-5:30pm and noon-10:30pm respectively.
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