Basilico Buffet

Want an amazing Italian feast? Try Regent Hotel’s Basilico Buffet.

Among all the Italian restaurants I’ve visited in Singapore, Basilico remains a perennial favourite. While the restaurant has undergone multiple menu overhauls, the quality and service here remain consistency high.

Basilico is part of the American Express Love Dining programme. The Love Dining programme is a benefits of the American Express Platinum Charge Card, so the husband and I frequently use it to dine at up to 50% off in reputable places.

New Menu: Basilico Buffet vs Amex Semi-Buffet

In one of my posts from early 2022, I mentioned that in the past, Basilico applied Love Dining benefits to the à la carte menu. However, an overhaul will welcome in a new menu specially for Amex Love Dining.

American Express: exclusive Amex Love Dining Menu

At the time of dining, we were informed of a fixed Amex Love Dining menu. However, in reality, those who qualify for Amex Love Dining had two options:

(i) The standard Basilico Buffet menu. This includes all mains, appetizers, and desserts on the buffet display.

or

(ii) The Amex-exclusive menu. This is a semi-buffet option: diners will choose ONE main dish from the menu selection. They will have an unlimited amount of appetizers and desserts from the buffet display. Diners will not help themselves to main dish items from the buffet in this case (It’s largely based on trust, and no one seems to be inspecting seriously, but hey, let’s honour whatever dining choices made yah).

Note: Either option will allow qualifying Amex card holders Love Dining benefits.

American Express Platinum Charge Card (Image source: American Express)

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• The Platinum Charge Card: Use this referral link and receive up to 140,000 bonus Membership Rewards points when you apply and minimum spend criteria is met.
• The American Express Platinum Card: Use this referral link and receive up to 62,500 Membership Rewards points when you apply and minimum spend criteria is met.
• American Express Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer Ascend Credit Card: Use this referral link and receive up to 35, 000 Krisflyer miles when you apply and minimum spend criteria is met. 

Disclaimer: the views and opinions expressed on this page are that of Happy High Life and may not necessarily reflect the position of American Express. Happy High Life is not responsible for any decisions made by readers. The terms and conditions for each credit card's application and usage may be subject to change by American Express. Therefore, readers are recommended to check any matters with American Express or its partners; the list of all benefits of the Platinum Charge Card can be found here.

Semi-buffet option: Amex-exclusive mains

The husband and I both decided to go with the Amex Love Dining semi-buffet menu option – a choice of main dish + unlimited appetizers and dessert.

Pesce Spada Arrosto (Swordfish)

I went for the Pesce Spada Arrosto: roasted swordfish fillet with charred leeks and marinated palermo bell pepper with aged balsamico and saffron and amalfi lemon sauce. Mildly buttery and richly flavoured, the swordfish does not come with a strong fishy taste – its just so beautifully moist. 

The husband opted for Biancostato Di Manzo. This is a grilled, grass-fed black angus beef ribeye with occelli butter mashed potato, lemon fava beans, and a rosemary beef reduction sauce. 

Biancostato Di Manzo (Black Angus Beef Ribeye)

Hearty and tender, we were so glad that the medium-rare doneness oozed just the right amount of juiciness. 

Medium Rare

Standard Buffet: Mains from the display

Diners who opt for the standard Basilico Buffet option can have as much mains as they wished from the buffet display. 

Display of Main Dishes

The selection is VERY decent; honestly I can’t say whether the Amex menu or the standard menu is better. I would suggest taking a good look at the buffet items and deciding based on what you feel like having that day.

Left to Right: Seafood Stew, Roast Potatoes, Grilled Vegetables

Carnivores would not be disappointed: there’s a mouth-watering display of lamb, chicken, and pork.

Almond-crusted Lamb and Grilled Chicken

Crispy Pork Belly

And of course, the very stereotypical Italian dishes of pizza and pasta.

Pizzza selection – flavours seemed to be on rotation

Left to Right: Wagyu Beef Lasagna, Penne with Pork in Amatriciana sauce, Gnocchi with Pumpkin cream sauce.

Antipasti: starters, cold cuts, salads, bread

As far as appetizers/ starters go, I’m almost certain that this is nearly the most extensive (if not THE most extensive) selection of Italian Antipasti I’ve ever seen in one place.

Cold Cuts and Olives

This was also the day that I captured – probably all the species of tomato – in one picture.

How many species of tomato and cuts of mozzarella cheese / burrata are there???

I must have walked around the Antipasti round table display at least 50 times.

How much olive oil / salad dressing can a person need?

Pro-tip: find the truffle flavoured oil. It was simply divine.

Folks – we were so incredibly spoilt for choice. I mean, just look at the bread and cheese selection – the options in this segment alone can be a very satisfying meal in itself. 

Gourmet cheese and breads

The Antipasti provided in this Basilico Buffet – the variety and quality is simply unreal. All ingredient were fresh, wholesome, and very authentically Italian (in my humble opinion).

More salad selections, anyone?

We had multiple rounds of starters; it was so very good.

super sweet rock melon, some roast vegetables and bed of salad with truffle oil and caesar

We probably ate too much bread that day. Not that we cared.

The challenge? Leaving sufficient room for dessert. 

Inspired by this post and want to apply for an American Express credit card? Apply through one of my referral links and receive either bonus Membership Rewards points or statement credit:

• The Platinum Charge Card: Use this referral link and receive up to 140,000 bonus Membership Rewards points when you apply and minimum spend criteria is met.
• The American Express Platinum Card: Use this referral link and receive up to 62,500 Membership Rewards points when you apply and minimum spend criteria is met.
• American Express Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer Ascend Credit Card: Use this referral link and receive up to 35, 000 Krisflyer miles when you apply and minimum spend criteria is met. 

Disclaimer: the views and opinions expressed on this page are that of Happy High Life and may not necessarily reflect the position of American Express. Happy High Life is not responsible for any decisions made by readers. The terms and conditions for each credit card's application and usage may be subject to change by American Express. Therefore, readers are recommended to check any matters with American Express or its partners; the list of all benefits of the Platinum Charge Card can be found here.

Dessert

Breathe… and take it all in.

Dessert layout

There is something about rows upon rows of tiny desserts that make people very happy. Especially if they are Italian desserts.

From back left counterclockwise: White Chocolate Cake, Mille Feuille, Blueberry Financier, Naples Sfogliatelle, Pear Tart

Such as the Cannoli – so far they come in chocolate, pistacho / cherry, and creme or custard. We tried all three, and I can swear that anyone crazy about cream-based desserts will go nuts over them.

Assorted Cannoli

And then there is an assortment of mini mousse and mini panna cotta in little shot glasses… 

Chilled Desserts Display

When in doubt, just eat everything. Lol.

Have a bit of everything

And there’s Apple Crumble – it doesn’t look much in pictures, but omg the aroma of baked apples in a buttery crust? Irresistable.

Apple Crumble

Not adventurous and prefer something more idiot-proof? Gelato.

Apple Crumble + Gelato = Happiness

Overall thoughts

A buffet is a balancing act; a series of decisions regarding which food item + how much of chosen food item to stuff inside oneself.

And honestly, Regent Hotel’s Basilico buffet does it so very well. I cannot emphasize enough how high a standard the quality of ingredients are. Any vegetable was sweet and beautiful. Any meat was seasoned to bring out the best flavour. Any cream was milky-rich. You can taste and feel the life in each and every ingredient, and that makes it so joyful. 

Considering the variety and quality, it’s more worth it than many other buffet places I’ve been.

Service too was wonderful; the servers were patient and professional. Plates were quickly cleared and help was delivered with a smile.

I highly recommend getting reservations before coming; currently the crowd isn’t too bad yet, but I suspect that with more and more people coming to know about the Basilico buffet, its popularity will undoubtedly surge. 

And now I wanna go back

Do note that the menu or main dish items are prone to rotation. I’ve seen the menu change up every now and then; it could be a delight for regulars to have something new, but if you’re hankering for a specific item I always recommend checking out the website first for the latest update.

10/1o would totally come back again.

Basilico Buffet Review: Love Dining Discounts 

To learn more about the love dining programme, check out my guide right here.

For this Basilico Buffet review, the husband and I went for the Amex-exclusive semi-buffet menu.

Thanks to American Express Love Dining benefits, we received 50% off the meal. 

Amex Love Dining discounts were applied as such:

Basilico Buffet Review

• Buffet or Amex semi-buffet – $88.00 per adult x 2 = $176.00
• Cappuccino: $10.00 (Coffee is not included in the buffet)

– Subtotal: $186.00

– Amex 50% discount = minus – $88.00 (Coffee/ Drinks does not count towards Love Dining benefits)

– New Subtotal: $186.00– $88.00 = $98.00

– 7% GST: $7.55

– 10% Service Charge: $9.80

– Total Bill: $115.35

Want some Love Dining?

Apply for an American Express credit card and get bonus points!

American Express Platinum Charge Card (Image source: American Express)

Inspired by this post and want to apply for an American Express credit card? Apply through one of my referral links and receive either bonus Membership Rewards points or statement credit:

• The Platinum Charge Card: Use this referral link and receive up to 140,000 bonus Membership Rewards points when you apply and minimum spend criteria is met.
• The American Express Platinum Card: Use this referral link and receive up to 62,500 Membership Rewards points when you apply and minimum spend criteria is met.
• American Express Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer Ascend Credit Card: Use this referral link and receive up to 35, 000 Krisflyer miles when you apply and minimum spend criteria is met. 

Disclaimer: the views and opinions expressed on this page are that of Happy High Life and may not necessarily reflect the position of American Express. Happy High Life is not responsible for any decisions made by readers. The terms and conditions for each credit card's application and usage may be subject to change by American Express. Therefore, readers are recommended to check any matters with American Express or its partners; the list of all benefits of the Platinum Charge Card can be found here.

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