Perched atop Telok Blangah Hill is an opulent colonial building occupied by Italian Restaurant Alkaff Mansion Ristorante. The bungalow was once a highly sought-after destination amongst the entitled in the 1930s, where it was renowned for the most extravagant socialite parties.

Painstakingly restored to its grandeur in 2011, all present-day visitors are warmly welcomed to experience the glorious splendour of yesteryears while enjoying authentic Italian fare. And on Sundays, Alkaff Mansion Ristorante offers a decadent buffet spread of Italian gourmet alongside unlimited flow of Prosecco, White and Red wines for only S$98++ per adult.

The seemingly hefty price tag is actually an amazing deal, especially when compared to the average rates in Singapore’s fine dining industry. Diners get to indulge in unlimited servings of fresh seafood, fine meats, pastas in a variety of sauces, and refreshing bubbles! You would probably have to pay twice more when ordering such amounts in other fancy establishments.

So, what’s not to love about Alkaff Mansion Ristorante’s Sunday Prosecco Brunch?

The two-storey stunning Alkaff Mansion is nestled in lush greenery and its remote location offers unrivalled tranquility. Its serene outdoor area features majestic water fountains and a beautiful gazebo that overlooks Telok Blangah Hill Park.

Drivers will be glad to know that free parking is available at Telok Blangah Hill Park’s Car Park 2. Complimentary valet parking services are also offered after 6.30pm daily.

The romantic Italian restaurant is transformed to a gastronomical extravaganza with its value-for-money free-flow Prosecco Brunch every Sunday from 11.30pm – 3pm. The magnificent Tudor-style dining hall is beyond stunning with its shimmering chandeliers and makes a great Sunday lunch date destination.

Priced reasonably at S$98++ per adult and S$58++ per child, patrons get to enjoy a mouthwatering selection of authentic Italian fare. The variety is so exhaustive that you will find yourselves spoilt rotten for choice. The featured dishes may differ every week, depending on the availability of ingredients.

Executive Chef Simone Depalmas is a native of Sardinia, Italy. With his rich gastronomy experiences, we always trust him to come up with the most delicious Italian fare.

Using only the freshest produce, mostly imported from Italy directly, Chef Simone believes in creating his dishes from scratch, and that includes the sauces! His fiery passion for cooking is evident in his repertoire of hearty culinary inventions that never fail to excite us.

The antipasti menu boasts a mind-blowing array of cold cuts and delectable raw seafood, so go on and pile your plates endlessly! We particularly enjoyed the ultra refreshing Scottish Salmon ‘Carpaccio’ With Caviar Dressing.

Luxuriate further with their other signature seafood items such as Octopus Carpaccio with Yellow Frisee Salad (also Chef Simone’s signature antipasti), Black Olives and Balsamic Reduction and Seasonal Freshly-Shucked Oysters. Oh, if you are lucky to be there on days that they serve the Beef Carpaccio, you totally have to try that!

The other cured meats, namely Cold Cut Veal Loin with Tuna Sauce & Capers and Parma Ham with Rock Melon, are must-try items too. We were unabashedly ashamed of returning for seconds, thirds and more; life of a glutton, right?

The feast also includes a selection of Italian premium cheeses – including the classic burrata – that will perfectly complement your unlimited wines. We have nothing but praises for the cheeses.

The next-door room features live stations of freshly prepared Cheesy Penne Pasta, Oven Baked Beef Sirloin, Roasted Atlantic Cod and more. If you are in need of more carbohydrates to fill your growling tummies, dive straight for the piping hot slices of Pepperoni and Prawn Pizzas. Look carefully and you will notice that each cheesy pizza is decorated with pretty edible flower petals.

The selection of pastas is also on rotation, and there will always be something new to try. No matter what you have a taste for – cream base or fresh tomatoes paste – there will be something to please. Oh, there is a huge cauldron of hot soup that bears a taste of home too!

Complete your decadent meal with the prettiest desserts. The dessert table is filled with an extensive variation of Italian classics and contemporary renditions. From bite-size crème brûlée and walnut brownies to deconstructed tiramisu, the abundance of sweet treats still surprise even the most regular customers. And with authentic Italian desserts being rather scarce in Singapore, we know we can always count on Alkaff Mansion Ristorante when we need some “Italiano Desserto” fix.

The seating capacity of Alkaff Mansion Ristorante’s dining hall for Sundy Prosecco Brunch is capped at 180 pax, but you will be surprised how well received this weekly event is with the expatriate community. Reservations are definitely recommended, even if it is just a table for two. Do note that credit card details will be required for group bookings of 8 or more guests.

Alkaff Mansion Ristorante is an extremely popular events venue, especially for solemnizations and wedding ceremonies. So do call in advance just to ensure that the restaurant is not fully booked for private receptions before you drop by. Prices are also subjected to change on selected festive public holidays.

Sunday Prosecco Brunch
Sun and P.H: 11.30am – 3pm (last order/pour at 2.30pm)
S$98++ per adult, S$58++ per child (ages 5 – 12)

Alkaff Mansion Ristorante
10 Telok Blangah Green
Singapore 109178
Tel: +65 6510 3068
Nearest Station: Harbourfront or Telok Blangah

This post is brought to you by Alkaff Mansion Ristorante.

Tucked away in a little corner in Telok Blangah is what used to be a retreat bungalow owned by the Yemeni Alkaff family. Alkaff Mansion Ristorante provides a nice respite from the fast paced city areas in Singapore, perching on top of Telok Blangah Hill (used to be known as Washington Hill). This well-known location was once the centre of high society parties and other events, besides being a family home to the Alkaff family.

Since the mid 1990s, Alkaff Mansion Ristorante has been known to serve award-winning cuisine to patrons but ever since LHN Culinary Concepts took over the reigns in 2010, the restaurant finally restored its splendour and has become one of Singapore’s go-to dining spots and event venue for corporate, private events and weddings.

Here is what we enjoyed the most from Executive Chef Simone Depalmas’ intricately crafted menu, strongly influenced by his Italian roots.

To kick-start your gastronomic adventure here at Alkaff Mansion Ristorante, a popular antipasti to start with is the Fresh Octopus Carpaccio (S$24). This dish, according to Chef Depalmas, is one of the most frequently ordered starters at the restaurant.

Sliced thinly into delicate and translucent pieces, the octopus is enhanced with the added frisee salad and San Marzano cherry tomatoes on top, and dressed sparingly with balsamic reduction for a hint of tanginess to the dish. Chef imports his seafood fresh directly from his hometown of Sardinia, an island in Italy, so you are guaranteed only the freshest seafood will be served here.

If you are dining in a pair, pick the Seafood Platter (S$68) instead to try a variety of seafood dishes. Dig into plump tiger prawns, a generous serving of tuna tartare with croutons crowning it, thinly sliced sea bass carpaccio, chunky octopus salad and fresh lobster chunks dressed in a tart citrus sauce. The platter is exceptionally big so it can be shared up to four diners.

Moving on to the fresh pasta dishes, the Sardinian Fregola with Assorted Seafood (S$28) is a stunner. Fregola is essentially a ‘cous cous’-like pasta, imported all the way from Italy. The mussels that are tossed in with the pasta is exceptionally juicy as they are fresh from Sardinian waters, without being frozen when flown over. Cooked with other fresh seafood such as squid and clams, the rich flavours of the pasta shone through with the added use of herbs and dried tomatoes.

We were served this next dish wrapped up in a thin sheet of plastic. Yes, the Homemade Squid Ink Tagliatelle (S$32) is skillfully prepared in the hands of chef as he tosses this pasta dish into the oven for a couple of minutes before serving to bring out the robust flavours.

Adding an oomph to this marvellous pasta dish are the plump and juicy mussels and an assortment of other fresh Sardinian seafood.

It is hard to come by really good risotto in Singapore as many restaurants here do not use the correct grains to cook the dish, or simply fare poorly in execution. Thankfully, the Porcini Mushroom Risotto Superfino Acquerello (S$28) here at Alkaff Mansion Ristorante exceeded our expectations.

Chef uses the Superfino Acquerello grains in this risotto dish and it is a high quality grain prized for producing the best risotto dishes. The porcini mushrooms and thyme also enhanced the flavours of the dish.

Served flambéed, the Oven Baked Sea Bass in Salt (S$48/600g, S$56/700g, S$64/800g) produced the most tender and juicy flesh. As the fish was baked in salt, the inner ‘meat’ of the sea bass has absorbed a great part of it, making it good to eat even on its own.

We were served the sea bass with a tangy squeeze of lemon, some fresh vegetables and delicious dried tomatoes; they all make great companions to the fish.

If red meats are your go-to choice for a hearty (or romantic) dinner here at Alkaff Mansion Ristorante, the Oven-Baked Lamb Rack (S$45) or the Sliced Beef Tenderloin (S$45) should be your top picks.

Cooked to a perfect medium pink, the lamb rack is served with a smooth dollop of mashed potatoes, pearl onions and a rich prune sauce that has been reduced overnight to bring out the most intensive flavours to complement the meat.

For steak lovers, a guaranteed satisfying meal will be made better with the sliced tenderloin; cooked to your preferred doneness, of course. The steak is sliced up for easier consumption and served alongside roasted potatoes and fresh or grilled vegetables.

What makes a good suckling pig? A crisp skin outer layer with flavourful and tender meat inside. This is exactly what Chef Depalmas brought to the table with an Italian spin to this classic dish. And you bet we fell head over heels in love.

The Slow Cooked Sardinian Style Suckling Pig (S$46) is roasted for several hours at a specific temperature of 70 degree Celsius to produce fork-tender meat and a divine crisp to the skin. Served with a sweet berry compote to balance out the salty-rich flavours of the pork, we couldn’t help but believe that we must have done something so darn right in our past lives to be able to enjoy such a heavenly suckling pig.

Every good meal must end with an equally or even better tasting dessert. Chef puts in the same amount of love and care into his savoury dishes and sweet desserts, hence producing incredibly decadent desserts that you will polish off even if you were already ‘full’ from your mains.

Chef Depalmas’ Alkaff Mansion Tiramisu (S$14) is a simple dish but done the traditional and authentic way without any addition of cream – only light and premium mascarpone cheese. The added acidity of the fruits and berries adds dimensions to this otherwise light dessert.

The clear winner of the desserts is none other than the Fresh Mint Vanilla Panna Cotta with Mixed Berries and Raspberry Sauce (S$14). The Panna Cotta itself was as wobbly as a good Panna Cotta should be, and the fragrance of the mint was refreshing without being over-powering. This is a nice palate cleanser for your hearty meal.

It was a really splendid experience at Alkaff Mansion Ristorante, and one that we will not soon forget. It is little wonder this place is so popular among couples for wedding ceremonies and dinners, and yes, it is an ideal romantic dining location indeed.

For the latest updates, go to www.alkaff.com.sg, like Alkaff Mansion Ristorante on Facebook and Instagram.

Alkaff Mansion Ristorante
10 Telok Blangah Green
Singapore 109178
Reservations: +65 6510 3068
Events: +65 6510 1010
Mon to Fri: 11.30am – 3.00pm, 6pm – 11.00pm
Sat & Sun: 11.30am – 3.00pm, 6pm – 11.00pm
Nearest Station: Harbourfront or Telok Blangah

This post is brought to you by Alkaff Mansion Ristorante.