Lunch at Roia at the Singapore Botanical Gardens.
The nearest MRT stations are Botanic Gardens station and Napier station. Alighting at MRT stations require a walk in the Gardens to get to Roia which suits me fine ☺️ If you drive, there are parking spots steps from the restaurant.
I haven't been to the Botanical Gardens for decades 🤭, so I set off early for my walk around the Gardens. My parents brought us here when we were toddlers and the thing I remember most were the black swans 黑天鵝. There's something magical about the large elegant stately looking black birds gliding like black sails in the placid pond.
There are still swans at the Gardens today 🤔
I love the stout and upright African mahogany tree. I believe trees are precious old souls.
It was a scorching day but I enjoyed the walk despite the sweat 😅 We made it, Roia is in the house on the left, peering out from behind the greenery.
The little path leading to Roia in an exclusive cul de sac.
Roia the restaurant is named after the Roya (in France) / Roia (in Italy) river which flows from the French Alps through Italy into the Mediterranean. Roia is the Italian part of the river 🤔
Roia is in a small colonial era two storey bungalow which was previously the residence of Assistant Directors of the Botanical Gardens. It is called the E J H Corner House but not because it is in a corner (though it actually is) 🤭😬
It is named after E J H Corner - Mr Corner was AD of Botanical Gardens from 1929 to 1945.
The main entrance to the two storey bungalow. The entire house was encased in air conditioned comfort.
Being early as usual, I roamed around AD Corner's old home 🤭
A cosy corner with wine cellars.
This is the main dining space on the upper level. It looked like the old balcony overlooking palms, trees and shrubs but now enclosed by full length windows and air conditioned. Today's a hot day, so we can feel a bit of radiated heat despite the greenery.
Okay.. after looking around the house, if you like a garden view, bright and cooler temperatures for lunch, these are the best seats. There are only two such tables, so better call to reserve, if this is also what you like 📞 8908 1705.
We requested for a fruity, full bodied red.
Lunch was a set menu with options of chicken, pork or fish for mains.
3 Course $98++
2 Course $78++.
Pickled Cucumber, Daikon, Crème Fraiche.
The edible fresh flowers brought the Botanical Gardens onto our table.
Roia Toast, "My Curry Puff", Pata Negra.
The crystal cube made with starch was audibly crackly crunchy, so fun to bite and chew into. Flavours came from the curry spice and umami savoury pata negra (jamon iberico).
Wish I could have more 🤭
Mille Feuille of Hokkaido Scallop, Dill Cream, Spring Flowers & Herbs.
Soft tender cubed scallop, delicately sweet with gently citrusy dill sandwiched between crisp paper thin pastry. So delicious.
Brittany Chicken, Cumin Jus, Braised Leek Tartlet.
The sous vide chicken breast soft tender, sweet - I recommend chicken lovers pick this for mains.
Duroc Pork Chop, Seared Foie Gras, Black Garlic Pommery Mustard Sauce.
The pork was tender firm, moist, and taste sweet and subtly porcine which I like.
The foie gras wasn't delicately spongy about to burst its juices but a little firmer yet the umami flavours were excellent.
The Black Garlic, Pommery (champagne), Mustard Sauce was delightful.
Japanese Ginpo, Pickled Radish, Pistachio & Lemon Sabayon.
Ginpo 銀寶 is a tidepool gunnel fish known scientifically as Pholis Nebulosa.
I only had a small bite of this. The fish meat was soft tender, moist, sweet.
Roia "Pavlova", Calamansi Honey Cream, Bergamot Thyme Sorbet.
A sourish sweet treat.
Sea Salt Caramel, Jaggery Tart, Strawberry Pate de Fruit.
Love these sweet poppy balls on that sweet caramel.
Restaurant name: Roia
Address: 1 Cluny Rd, Singapore Botanic Gardens, Singapore 259569
Nearest MRT: 15 minutes walk from Botanic Gardens, and Napier stations
Tel: 8908 1705
Hours: 12 noon - 3 pm | 6pm - 11:30 pm (Tues off)
https://maps.app.goo.gl/7v7RtykgpaSsrrMr6 (can't embed Google maps anymore)
Written by Tony Boey on 24 Mar 2024
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