Forlino: Romantic Restaurant at One Fullerton

February 7, 2010 | 19 Comments

It is difficult for a restaurant whenever a chef left, especially for one that bears the namesake of the chef. For the longest time, I have heard about Forlino, an Italian fine dining restaurant at the second level of the swanky One Fullerton, overlooking Esplanade and the new Marina Sands.

Catherine, Ju and I had the chance to dine at some of the waterfront restaurants at One Fullerton, and we were at Forlino for their Valentine’s day six-course dinner (S$128++ per person) which will be available from Feb 12 to 14.

It can be quite a thwarting experience to find Forlino; there was the much-talked-about mysterious flight of steps leading to the restaurant. Black and white tiles, with blue paneled walls lined up the entrance right up to the main dining area – Forlino at One Fullerton is a stunning restaurant.

Everyone was full of praises for the Jumbo Crab Salad, a garden of wild rockets with strips of crab meat. Alaskan King crab will always sound nicer, and taste better than a Sri Lanka crab.

“Is that Spam (luncheon meat)?” One of us blunted out.

I wasn’t that surprised when I saw that there’s Beetroot cake on the menu, since I just had Beetroot Halwa not too long ago. The texture of the Beetroot Cake had a close resemblance to luncheon meat. Anyway, most of us couldn’t finish this, but the Robiola cheese fondue, made from milk of cow, goat and sheep, was very intriguing – impossibly creamy yet airily light.

I can remember a while back when I tried my first squid ink risotto and I thought that the planet would stop spinning. It was one of those rare moments that made me go ‘awesome’, and I knew life would never be the same again. At Forlino, I had one of those moments again. It was a simple Homemade Squid Ink Tagliolini – or so I thought. While most rendition comes in the black, slimy sauce, the tagliolini here was infused with squid ink, and it was tossed nicely in the flavorful Sea Urchin Sabayon – no hideous black stains on the lips. The semi dried cherry tomatoes were the sweetest tiny things ever, I loved every slurp of the pasta – Awesome!

The medium Angus Prime Beef Tenderloin had a tinge of pink in the middle; subtle hint of blood, slightly charred surface – I’m sure you’d like this. Besides the beef, we also enjoyed the very tasty potatoes but none of us knew how to appreciate the bitter Radicchio.

“Where’s the black cod from?” Catherine asked.

“Atlantic” came the prompt reply.

The Black Cod Fillet was like meat in cod’s disguise. Peeling off layer by layer, I drizzled each piece of the cod and a bit of the asparagus with the Sicilian blood orange sauce. It’s a tough choice for main course: choosing between the beef tenderloin and the black cod fillet, but the Angus prime beef edged out slightly for me.

The Strawberry & Yogurt Mousse was a cliche, with the corny heart-shape sauce of peppermint chocolate sauce. But still, cliche is a cliche because it works, sometimes. I was expecting a highly complex, multi-layers dessert to wrap up the show - oh well, a dessert’s still a dessert anyway.

* * *

This is the first part of a series that I’m doing on the waterfront restaurants in One Fullerton. I’ll like to thank Fullerton Heritage, and Lyla of Ate Consulting for arranging and hosting this dinner.

Service at Forlino was impeccable, all the staff was equally knowledgeable about the food and wine on their extensive menu. Under the lovely influence of moscato, good food, and stunning overview of the Marina bay; Forlino is definitely a romantic restaurant for Valentine’s day dinner.

Restaurant Review
Forlino
1 Fullerton Road
#02-06 One Fullerton
Tel: +65 6877 6995

Comments

19 Responses to “Forlino: Romantic Restaurant at One Fullerton”

he needs food
February 7th, 2010 @ 5:57 am

Looks like a lovely spread of food. Squid ink pasta always gets my juices flowing although the foam (sabayon) puts me off a little every time I see it used in dishes. The chef must like his daisies!
ciki
February 7th, 2010 @ 8:41 am

amazing dishes .. great write up – i would not mind a long hunt for a place if the food is worth it:)
The Little Teochew
February 7th, 2010 @ 10:25 am

Yeah, it was a great, FILLING meal wasn’t it?
Sihan
February 7th, 2010 @ 12:55 pm

i sense a bit of ssarcasm here. haha.
Sook @ My Fabulous Recipes
February 7th, 2010 @ 2:41 pm

Everything looks delightful.
Life for Beginners
February 7th, 2010 @ 2:49 pm

Dude, your photographs are beginning to look like pieces of art… seriously. I no longer drool at them in hunger, just in amazement.
mike
February 7th, 2010 @ 8:08 pm

the squid ink pasta looks absolutely divine….
Shirin
February 7th, 2010 @ 9:51 pm

ooh. another romantic location (: brad, you have sooo many places up your sleeve. i’m completely lost for choice now. but i definitely want to try this out! i love the way they plate their food. i’m a sucker for these kind of things. (: [is the menu only for valentine's or is that included in the a la carte?] xx
Lets Eat
February 8th, 2010 @ 12:51 am

The squid ink risotto is probably my best pick, maybe one day I will have the please of trying
Camemberu
February 8th, 2010 @ 1:56 am

Finally we see your post! Wah your photos making me think of macro lens again…I like the way they are so dramatic always.
Angeline
February 8th, 2010 @ 10:05 am

I am really captivated by the jumbo crab salad!
Priscilla
February 8th, 2010 @ 5:28 pm

that cod looks super yummy
ladyironchef
February 8th, 2010 @ 8:18 pm

he needs food: The sabayon actually taste very well with the squid ink past, i actually prefer it to squid ink sauce

ciki: Time to save up for this fine dining restaurant the next time you are in town

The little teochew: Filling meal? that’s a bit of an understatement, considering we have a 4 hour dinner

Sihan: Really? what sarcasm? haha

Sook: Hee delightful is a good word to describe the dinner

LFB: Pieces of art? Aww.. you just make my day!

mike: It taste absolutely divine too

Shirin: I still have many places that i have yet to blog abt! and their service is very good too, they would open up the lid of everyone’s plate at the same time

Lets eat: You are right, the squid ink pasta is my fav dish for the night

Camemberu: You know you want it : )

Angeline: Captivated? When are you going? hee

Priscilla: cod lover yeah?
Angeline
February 9th, 2010 @ 9:59 am

LOL. expansive place man. I go when i get bonus k? Or unless someone is asking me on a date there.
ladyironchef
February 9th, 2010 @ 11:22 pm

Angeline: Yeah give me a treat there! : )
Shaiful Zulizan
February 15th, 2010 @ 1:23 pm

“Bad Experience” during Valentine Day

Hi there!

Just to share my bad experience and some pointers during my dining at the “Highly Proclaimed” Forlino Restaurant.

MY VALENTIME BAD DINING EXPERIENCE.

- Host don’t know where to bring us to our table.

- Captain (anoying), keep on asking us how the food?

- Server keep on asking do we take pork? (I tought our menu does not have pork when we ask?).

– Most of the food was terrible (Fishy & overly-salted and their chef said that how it should be cooked).

- Portions of food too small (it only took 3 or 4 bite to finish it).

- They dont served ice-water (but when ask for warm water they served me ice-water!).

- Service was slow & staff got no initiative.

- And no apology or sorry was said to us after this whole incident.

I really hope the management look into this matter to improve their next valentine day event.

Sincerely

Shaiful Zulizan
ladyironchef
February 16th, 2010 @ 12:26 am

Hello Shaiful, sorry to hear about the experience, hope that your date and you still managed to enjoy the rest of the night. I think it’s part of parcel of the captain’s job to make sure that the customers enjoy and provide feedback about their food. When we were there, they also asked us some simple questions, i felt that it was rather prompt and not overly intrusive.

As for the food itself, i think it’s pretty subjective because everybody has different preference, and for a fine dining restaurant, i know, portions are really small (for big eaters). We didn’t have any problem with the ice water part, maybe it was a bad hair day.

We had a long dinner too, it was about 3.5 hours, well we are having fine-dining remember? haha. Okay here’s the trick, next time if anything similar happen, make it known to the restaurant manager that you are unhappy about the whole situation and obviously it should be reasonable and justify. I’m sure any decent restaurant manager will be more than pleased to help improve the situation : )
Jacelyn
February 17th, 2010 @ 10:11 am

Did you try their balsamic ice cream? It’s awesome!
ladyironchef
February 18th, 2010 @ 9:30 am

jacelyn: Nope, balsamic ice cream? sounds, eh, unique. lol

Forlino: Romantic Restaurant at One Fullerton

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