If you had to eat like a king for breakfast, the choice should be Basilico. This deservedly popular restaurant at The Regent is famous for its Italian-inspired buffet spread marked by superbly fresh ingredients.

When we arrived at 9am, the restaurant was already a hive of activity. We requested for a table overlooking the pool and were swiftly shown to a comfortable sun-drenched spot. With plenty of space in between tables, guests can enjoy discreet conversations or a quiet morning reading the papers. Unobtrusive yet efficient, the service staff brought us our coffee, tea and freshly squeezed juices before we tucked into our breakfast.

To me, Basilico runs like a well-oiled machine. The stations are laden with a slew of dishes that are constantly topped up - so you are never left with lonely looking platters. The spread stood out with its amazing variety of breads and pastries - from the slices of whole wheat bread to puffy croissants and glazed Danishes. The spinach quiche, beautifully browned on top and with a soft wobbly filling, was delicious, as were the pillowy French toast and fluffy pancake served with lashings of maple syrup. The cinnamon buns with walnuts were a tad dry for our liking.

From the hot section, we zeroed in on the poached eggs served in a heated cast-iron pot. The chefs have taken this humble item to new heights by lacing it with sublime tomato-based sauce. We happily dipped our hot toast into the perfectly runny yolks and complemented the eggs with aromatic sauteed mushrooms, crispy bacon, roasted tomatoes and potatoes.

The Asian dishes, though not as spectacular, were well prepared. The warm, fluffy Japanese rice was accompanied by steamed mackerel, miso soup, tamago, and a variety of pickles and seaweed. There was also golden brown vadai, creamy congee and the standard steamed dim sum items. On display over at the cold station was a host of cheeses, hams, cold cuts, gravlax and salads.

All the savoury food was backed by an excellent range of sweet treats. Far from just an afterthought, the sweet section consisted of mini doughnuts crowned with chocolate glaze, miniature raisin cakes, flaky apple strudel and others. We revelled in the best pistachio cake ever. It was buttery, moist and fragrant, and a good excuse for us to prolong our meal just a little bit more.

What we appreciate most about Basilico is that the chefs inject a certain finesse to the buffet breakfast and don't compromise on quality. Whether Basilico's breakfast is fuel for your Orchard Road shopping escapade or simply an answer to a morning wake-up call, we can assure you that the food outshines many other hotel breakfasts on our island.  

The Regent, 1 Cuscaden Road, 6725 3232