ONE of Singapore's top restaurateurs was charged on Wednesday with drink driving and dangerous driving along Stamford Road last July.

Giuseppe De Vito, better known as Beppe De Vito, managing director of Il Lido at Sentosa Golf Club, is accused of driving his Maserati along Stamford Road at the junction with Beach Road when he had almost twice the legal limit of alcoholic breath in his body at 2.47am on July 5. The legal limit is 35mcg of alcohol in 100ml of breath.

The 35-year-old is also alleged to have beaten red lights at the junction of Stamford Road and Beach Road as well as the Nicoll Highway and Middle Road junction when travelling at a fast speed the same day.

De Vito was represented by Mr Shashi Nathan and Mr Navin Lobo.

Mr Nathan told the court he had just been briefed and asked for the case to be adjourned to make representations to the Attorney-General's Chambers. De Vito is out on $8,000 bail. His case will be mentioned on April 17.

The Singapore permanent resident was co-owner of Garibaldi at Purvis Street. Two years ago he struck out on his own to open Il Lido Italian restaurant at Sentosa. Private dining option on board its own 44-foot catamaran sporting the restaurant name is also available.

The hotel management school graduate who has worked all over Europe and Hongkong came to Singapore more than 10 years ago to help start up Bice, a Milanese restaurant, at Goodwood Park Hotel.

He has since opened about 20, with at least half a dozen of the finest Italian eateries in Singapore.