I have mixed emotions about this restaurant because there were dishes they got sooooo right and dishes they got sooooo wrong.
The prices are of course as you expect in a five star hotel so that's not a surprise, what is surprising is the level of preparation in some of the dishes and the apparent inconsistencies in the food.
I love Beef Carpaccio and there are only two places that I die to eat at whenever financially plausible, Ritz Carlton's Splendido Restaurant and a more affordable version of Radisson SAS's La Moda Restaurant.
Sicilia's Beef Carpaccio came as a disappointment.
Carpaccio is such a delicate dish and it should appear just that, delicate and exquisite. It should be paper thin to the point that after it's plated, one shouldn't be able to lift it up without tearing. It clings to your fork and reaches your lips with enough sensation that will tickle your tastebuds. I expected it to have thin shavings of good quality Parmegiano Regiano and probably a little salad, rocca perhaps with a bit of vinnaigrette dressing. You then grind a bit of sea salt and pepper or not, depending on your mood.
Sicilia's was nowhere close. It came a little bit thick for my liking. I don't know if I can re-plate it ten times without tearing but it was thick. It also came with parmesan cheese but I'm not sure it's Regiano. I might be mistaken or novice but that cheese was crumbling, taste a little bit old, don't know if it's still in good shape when they put it on my plate. Thought maybe they used a different cheese so I kindly asked for extra shavings of Parmegiano Regiano. It's a restaurant in a five star hotel, I expect them to have Regiano. It was the same crumbly cheese.
I also didn't taste any balsamic vinegar so I thought that was odd because the vinegar though simple completes the dish. The worst part is, it came with 4 weird potato chips on top instead of a good green salad on the side. Definitely not going to order it again.
Come my main course which the maitre'd suggested and assured that I will love was another flop. It came on its own with no starch partner, no bread, no mash potato, no vegetable, no french fries, no accompaniment but a solo arrival that remained splot on my plate. It was some kind of veal concoction which for me felt like it came from the sea. SALTY! So I forced to eat 2 bites and gave up. They offered a replacement and I refused. I've had enough flops for the night.
My sister and nanny ordered fetuccine with some sort of fried artichoke. It sounds yummy and my sister loved the artichoke but felt the rest wasn't spectacular. And although the same order, my nanny somehow barely got veggies in her pasta wherein my sister got gazillions.
An Executive Chef has to consistently serve good quality food regardless of the pressure or shortcomings in his kitchen, that pasta is soooo not consistent. Even if it's the line cook who made the mistake, the sous chef and the chef shouldn't have let that get out.
Now enough bashing. Let's go to the lovely parts of the meal.
Their focaccia as an appetizer was delish. It's light and it melts in your mouth. It had a side spread which is lovely but now I can't remember. I promise the spread was perfect for the focaccia. I believe they were olives (ala pesto)... boohoo I can't remember.
My son's margharita pizza was nothing close to a fast food pizza. It's properly made, rustic crusts and all, it really was wonderful. While waiting for our main course to arrive, we actually attacked the pizza because it was so good.
My other son, ordered a simple pasta in cream sauce as a kid's pasta and let's just say the adults fought to have one more piece of that poor boy's pasta. In the end we have to order another one because it's just not enough. Simple, light and creamy... just absolutely delish.
Hubby ordered I think a beef tenderloin/steak. It was small but a piece of heaven. Just enough to make your mouth water and once I had a bite, I had no doubt in my mind that it's one heck of a dish. Had I have enough space in my tummy, I would have replaced the disappointing veal with that peace of meat but after pizza, pasta and a reserve area for dessert, it was wise to refuse.
Come dessert time, a lovely tiramisu which MUST be perfected by any Italian Restaurant. Sicilia nailed it and though it tasted very much like La Moda's without the wafer garnish, it's perfect. Why fix it if it's not broken, eh?
I'll still be coming back to Sicilia, definitely order pizza, kid's pasta, tiramisu and that heavenly piece of steak ... partnered with a robust wine... I'll be a happy gal.
The prices are of course as you expect in a five star hotel so that's not a surprise, what is surprising is the level of preparation in some of the dishes and the apparent inconsistencies in the food.
I love Beef Carpaccio and there are only two places that I die to eat at whenever financially plausible, Ritz Carlton's Splendido Restaurant and a more affordable version of Radisson SAS's La Moda Restaurant.
Sicilia's Beef Carpaccio came as a disappointment.
Carpaccio is such a delicate dish and it should appear just that, delicate and exquisite. It should be paper thin to the point that after it's plated, one shouldn't be able to lift it up without tearing. It clings to your fork and reaches your lips with enough sensation that will tickle your tastebuds. I expected it to have thin shavings of good quality Parmegiano Regiano and probably a little salad, rocca perhaps with a bit of vinnaigrette dressing. You then grind a bit of sea salt and pepper or not, depending on your mood.
Sicilia's was nowhere close. It came a little bit thick for my liking. I don't know if I can re-plate it ten times without tearing but it was thick. It also came with parmesan cheese but I'm not sure it's Regiano. I might be mistaken or novice but that cheese was crumbling, taste a little bit old, don't know if it's still in good shape when they put it on my plate. Thought maybe they used a different cheese so I kindly asked for extra shavings of Parmegiano Regiano. It's a restaurant in a five star hotel, I expect them to have Regiano. It was the same crumbly cheese.
I also didn't taste any balsamic vinegar so I thought that was odd because the vinegar though simple completes the dish. The worst part is, it came with 4 weird potato chips on top instead of a good green salad on the side. Definitely not going to order it again.
Come my main course which the maitre'd suggested and assured that I will love was another flop. It came on its own with no starch partner, no bread, no mash potato, no vegetable, no french fries, no accompaniment but a solo arrival that remained splot on my plate. It was some kind of veal concoction which for me felt like it came from the sea. SALTY! So I forced to eat 2 bites and gave up. They offered a replacement and I refused. I've had enough flops for the night.
My sister and nanny ordered fetuccine with some sort of fried artichoke. It sounds yummy and my sister loved the artichoke but felt the rest wasn't spectacular. And although the same order, my nanny somehow barely got veggies in her pasta wherein my sister got gazillions.
An Executive Chef has to consistently serve good quality food regardless of the pressure or shortcomings in his kitchen, that pasta is soooo not consistent. Even if it's the line cook who made the mistake, the sous chef and the chef shouldn't have let that get out.
Now enough bashing. Let's go to the lovely parts of the meal.
Their focaccia as an appetizer was delish. It's light and it melts in your mouth. It had a side spread which is lovely but now I can't remember. I promise the spread was perfect for the focaccia. I believe they were olives (ala pesto)... boohoo I can't remember.
My son's margharita pizza was nothing close to a fast food pizza. It's properly made, rustic crusts and all, it really was wonderful. While waiting for our main course to arrive, we actually attacked the pizza because it was so good.
My other son, ordered a simple pasta in cream sauce as a kid's pasta and let's just say the adults fought to have one more piece of that poor boy's pasta. In the end we have to order another one because it's just not enough. Simple, light and creamy... just absolutely delish.
Hubby ordered I think a beef tenderloin/steak. It was small but a piece of heaven. Just enough to make your mouth water and once I had a bite, I had no doubt in my mind that it's one heck of a dish. Had I have enough space in my tummy, I would have replaced the disappointing veal with that peace of meat but after pizza, pasta and a reserve area for dessert, it was wise to refuse.
Come dessert time, a lovely tiramisu which MUST be perfected by any Italian Restaurant. Sicilia nailed it and though it tasted very much like La Moda's without the wafer garnish, it's perfect. Why fix it if it's not broken, eh?
I'll still be coming back to Sicilia, definitely order pizza, kid's pasta, tiramisu and that heavenly piece of steak ... partnered with a robust wine... I'll be a happy gal.
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