Growing Up: Il Lido: Fantastic food with a breathtaking view

Homemade tagliolini pasta with gooseliver, pears and marsala wine sauce

Sometimes parents need a little time away from their lovable kid, and so Terence and I sneaked off for some R&R at Il Lido on New Year's eve. We knew it was a "nice restaurant", a place "to go", but never had the opportunity to dine there.

After our meal, we'd say it is one of the most recommended places to go during lunch if you have your own transport--reason is because it's situated on Sentosa. It's got a great view of the Singapore Straits, the food is a dream, and the price you pay for a set lunch actually does go a long way. For S$58, you get a starter, a primi piatti (the first main dish), a secondi piatti (the second main dish), desserts and coffee/tea. There's no compromise in quality, presentation, taste or portion size.

I loved the tagliolini. It was al dente, and the saltiness of the cubes of gooseliver was nicely balanced by the tangy pear. And the marsala sauce was not too heavy. Terence liked the Chilean seabass, but perhaps the fish was a little too fishy for me. (Terence was surprised; I loved the Chilean seabass at Ember.)

We didn't even pay for entry into Sentosa. Terence asked if we could claim our entry tickets at Il Lido, and all the lady at the gantry said was: "Oh, you going to Il Lido? OK, it's free." And she waved us through!