Dolce Vita – Sweet Life by the Pool

Dolce Vita (Italian for “sweet life” or “good life”) offers modern Italian cuisine by the pool at Mandarin Oriental Singapore. The popular Italian restaurant was the venue for the 2018 November’s edition of 4 Hands Kitchen where Chef Giorgio Maggioni of Dolce Vita hosted one Michelin-starred Chef Felice Lo Basso from Felix Lo Basso Restaurant in Milan. The collaborative menu presented by the two top chefs was a delightful way to savour the flavours of authentic Italian cuisine.

Located on the 5th level Mandarin Oriental Singapore, Dolce Vita is a poolside restaurant with a relaxed elegant decor.  There is an outdoor alfresco area which gives guests a close-up view of the pool with the picturesque city’s skyline as the backdrop.

4 Hands Kitchen

We had wanted to dine at Dolce Vita since Chef Giorgio Maggioni was appointed chef de cuisine a few months ago. When we finally tried to make a reservation, we were told that the a la carte menu would not be available and that the restaurant would be only serving special 4 Hands Kitchen sets. For dinner, there was a 4 Course Set Menu ($108 ++) and a 5 Course Set Menu ($118 ++). We decided to try both sets.

The service at Dolce Vita was excellent. Almost as soon as we were seated, a generous helping of bread was served. Amuse Bouche was also presented soon after our orders were taken.

4 Course Dinner Set Menu

The 4 Course Dinner started with a dish of Wagyu meat prepared in 4 textures and flavours. The rare beef, lightly charred on the outside and red in the middle, had toppings like oysters and quail egg. The dish was very enjoyable and an excellent start to the meal.

The nesx dish was risotto with parmigiana di melanzane. The dish of rice covered with eggplant baked with cheese and tomato looked very interesting. It had strong flavours.

The main course was pigeon, pumpkin and orange. The traditional Italian dish was very well done. It was light but satisfying.

The final dish of the 4 course dinner was mascarpone, coffee and cocoa. It was an elegantly presented and delicious version of one of Italy’s most popular dessert – tiramisu.

5 Course Dinner Set Menu

The 5 course dinner started with crispy langoustine, radish, yuzu and saffron – a prized shellfish dish given an Asian twist.

The next dish was the very interesting donut of calamari. It was a beautiful dish which packed layers of flavours.

Next came the porcini tortelli, king crab, chervil. The tortelli was filled with mushrooms and drizzled with a delicate sauce. The clean sweet taste of the crab contrasted well with the robust flavours of the porcini mushrooms.

The main course was hamachi “in cialletta”, potatoes, parsley and white wine. It looked lovely and was a light and enjoyable dish.

The 5 course dinner ended with strawberry, raspberry and mint ice cream. The dessert was very attractive but not very special tastewise.

Both the 4 course set and 5 course set were interesting and enjoyable. The waygu beef and the donut of calamari were the standout dishes.

The 4 Hands Kitchen dining experience at Dolce Vita was certainly a memorable one. As I sat there with my wonderful dining companion, sipping coffee after a very nice dinner in the elegant and sophisticated restaurant, I could not help but feel blessed. Indeed, life is sweet…dolce vita.

Ratings:
Food: 4
Service: 4
Value: 3
Atmosphere: 4
Overall Rating: 4 TOPs  

Dolce Vita
5 Raffles Avenue
The Mandarin Oriental
Singapore 039797

Tel: +65 6885 3500

Opening Hours:
Mon-Fri: 12-2:30pm, 6:30-10:30pm
Sat & Sun: 12-3pm, 6:30-10:30pm

Nearby MRT Stations: Esplanade, Promenade, City Hall

 

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The Ordinary Patrons | Real Dining Experience of Ordinary People
an independent Singapore food blog