If you are searching for safety with a side of refined Italian glamour, look to BVLGARI Hotel & Resort’s laid-back yet luxurious Il Ristorante Niko Romito. When you arrive you can still valet your car – rest assured, it is handed back to you clad in disposable plastic protection – and as you enter the restaurant itself, to the left of the grand entrance of the hotel, your temperature is taken and hand sanitiser is offered.
You are welcomed into a dimly lit, undeniably chic interior. The dark wood or marble tables are spaced accordingly two meters apart, and the knowledgeable and attentive staff manage to make their black protective gear of gloves and masks look elegant.
The delectable menu curated by the Michelin starred Italian chef, Niko Romito, is filled with modern iterations on traditional Italian dishes, making the choice a difficult affair. Luckily, the waiter was on hand with ample suggestions which we took on board gladly. To start we opted for the delicately delightful carpaccio di ricciola, a marinated yellow-tail amberjack characterised with tomatoes, capers, olives and orange. We of course had to try a pasta dish, so decided on the lobster and red-prawn linguine which certainly did not disappoint. Not too heavy, yet everything you’d expect from a five-star Italian kitchen. And our secondi came in the form of the baked codfish, dressed with chickpeas, a light garlic sauce and traditional balsamic vinegar. Every forkful was flavourful satisfaction.
Almost too full for dessert, we took a slight recess and enjoyed the relaxed yet elevated atmosphere and our mocktails, looking out to night sky and adjacent Yacht Club. Once enough time had passed, we washed down our meal with the apple compote with ricotta cheese and capers – the perfect fusion of sweet and savoury.
To end, we were offered a vibrant, virgin limoncello and branded Bulgari chocolates, putting the fine final touches on an exquisite dining experience.
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