It’s easy enough to get caught up in the excitement after reading EatDrinkKL‘s glowing review of il Lido.  It didn’t take much to convince Bald Eagle to go there with me.  “You buying?” he asked, his eyes twinkling with mischief, knowing that I would agree because I wanted to go so badly. “Fine,” I said.   “Oh, sweetheart, can you also pick me up from the office on the way to the restaurant?” the blackmailer pressed. “I don’t feel like driving in the jam.”

I should have let him starve that night when I found him sprawled on my timber floor.

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The amuse bouche was a slice of bluefin tuna, cured and served with balsamic vinegar, its texture slightly chewy, and its flavour subtle, probably from a young bluefin.  Good start.  As we looked around, a couple of tables were occupied, and the atmosphere was jovial.  Service was stellar.  As the wait staff hovered around with watchful eyes, I thought to myself that digging the nose wouldn’t be a wise move.  I bustled with my GF1 instead, feeling thankful that I had brought a tiny camera instead of the bulky DSLR.  I glanced up, and immediately someone came to my side.  “I’d like some sparkling water, please,” I said.  It came in an instant.  I fluttered my eyelash, and someone appeared before me again.  I felt like Aladdin.  Service was that good.  Not only were the staff helpful, they were friendly, courteous and knowledgeable too.  Please God, make this last.

Our starter, a pan fried goose liver with saba wine must and sweet potato galette, came with two pieces of liver, fried such that the centres were still soft and melting, although it didn’t possess the requisite crisp surface that I liked.  This did not deter from my enjoyment of the dish; the saba wine must tasted very much like vino cotto (I reckon it is probably similar) and it provided a fruity sweetness, complemented by the delicious sweet potato galette.  The risotto with gorgonzola cheese was a simple, wholesome dish, bare and unadorned.  Barring the intense flavour of the exquisite blue cheese (which you could either love or hate), the rice was soft on the outside but possessed a bite or a crunch, what one would call a perfectly cooked risotto.  The shredded radicchio, such a simple vegetable, balanced the flavours of the dish.

Since the restaurant was only in its first week of operation, there appeared to be teething problems, one of which was the speed at which the dishes came out.  It wasn’t much of an issue for us as we were happily caught up in our conversation to notice time pass by, but hey, we’re easy to please.  The idle time allowed us to observe our surroundings; nice sleek padded seats which looked like Mademoiselle chairs by Kartell/Starck and the most gorgeous and recognisable Skygarden Lights by Marcel Wanders/Flos.  One of the private rooms was decked with Louis Ghost chairs by Kartell/Starck.  The walls were a mixture of textures, all dark, that allowed the focus to be on the food.

The pappardelle with goose liver, duck confit and shaved truffle was decadent.  Cooked al dente, it was obvious that the pasta was made fresh.  The piece de resistance was definitely the Sardinian roasted suckling pig.  Three square pieces formed the meal, but it was a labour intensive process, starting with a 4-hour confit, followed by chilling, pressing and grilling.  The result was the most tender pieces of pork with a thin layer of fat separating the crisp skin and the flesh, all meltingly delicious.  The roast was served with sweet tart cranberries that cut through the richness of the dish.  By this time, we were stuffed, and shared the creme brulee sampler, and while the servings were small, each mouthful packed a punch.

Helming the kitchen is Chef Samuele Alvisi who hails from Milan and has substantial experience in the F&B industry.  Beppe de Vito, the handsome man behind il Lido in Singapore, is also currently around to ensure that there are minimal teething problems.  For now, the rooftop lounge is not open yet, but once it is ready, I reckon that it will be an amazing place to chill out, what with the view of the Twin Towers in the distance.

Oh, my husband ended up kindly paying for the meal, so all was well that evening.

il Lido
Lot 183 Jalan Mayang (located directly opposite the Australian Embassy)
Off Jalan Yap Kwan Seng
50450 Kuala Lumpur.

Tel: 03-2161 2291

Fegato d’Oca con Galletta di Patate Dolci e Salsa alla Saba
Pan Fried Goose Liver with Saba Wine Must and Sweet Potato Galette

Risotto al Gorgonzola e Radicchio con Salsa alle Nocciole
Gorgonzola Cheese and Radicchio Risotto with Hazelnut Sauce

Pappardelle all’Anitra e Fegato d’Oca
Pappardelle with Goose Liver, Duck Confit and Truffle Sauce

Maialino da Latte con Legumi Arrostiti e Salsa alle Prugne
Sardinian Roasted Suckling Pig with Plum Sauce

Combinazine di Creme Catalane
Creme Brule Sampler with Vanilla, Coffee, Pistachio and Strawberry

Simple and classic decor