The iconic EJH Corner House in Botanic Gardens is back in business, housing a new modern French restaurant with gorgeous botanical dishes inspired by nature, herbs and flowers. You’ll find Roia sitting atop a hill hidden within Botanic Gardens, nearest to the Visitor Centre. There’s even a complimentary buggy service to ferry guests to the restaurant in case of inclement weather.
Elements of the 2-storey heritage house have mostly been preserved, with the main dining area located on the second level. The decor is modern and luxurious, with plush sofa and booth seatings, for a romantic date night that’s sure to impress.
There’s also tables placed by the clear windows for a scenic “glasshouse”-esque dining experience overlooking the surrounding gardens—you’ll feel like you’re dining al fresco without having to deal with the outdoors.
New on Roia’s menu is a seasonal 4-course brunch experience ($98++ per person) that also includes a selection of 3 amuse-bouche, a bread course and petit fours. You’re essentially getting served a total of 7 courses in total, which makes the $98++ per person price point pretty accessible, especially for all the intricately prepared dishes that look like actual works of art instead of mere food.
Roia Toast; Ikura Tart; Pickled Cucumber Tart
You’ll notice that every dish comes beautifully plated and embellished with edible seasonal flowers and herbs, a nod to the surrounding nature that inspires them. The brunch course starts off strong with a series of amuse-bouche: out of which our favourite is the Roia Toast, a modern take on the iconic curry puff, served atop translucent “crystal bread” for an ultra crunchy and airy mouthfeel. Ikura lovers will definitely reach for the Ikura and Hamachi Tart, while the Pickled Cucumber Tart makes for a refreshing start to the meal.
Mille Feuille Saint Jacques
Rye Bread, Seared Brioche
Next up is the Mille Feuille Saint Jacques: an absolute treat for the eyes with its complex layers of crisp pastry and stunning visuals—we almost couldn’t bear to dig into the dish. The bread course is also not to be overlooked, and we were served a duo of thickly-sliced rye bread and seared brioche buns along with a dollop of shio butter. If we could only have one of the two breads (to save space for the rest of the course, naturally), we would definitely go for the seared brioche: a super soft and fluffy bun that’s seared off on the grill for a slightly crispy exterior.
“Fungi & Corner”
One of the standouts from the brunch course would be their signature “Fungi & Corner”, featuring potato rosti, rich confit egg yolk, warm mushroom velouté and generous dollop of caviar. Not only is the dish elegantly presented, it also tastes so comforting and hearty—a crowd favourite for mushroom lovers for sure.
Brittany Chicken
For the entrée, we have the Brittany Chicken, inspired by Singapore’s very own chicken rice. The chicken is prepared sous vide to keep it tender and juicy, and while we found that the dish could have slightly more flavour (missing the chicken rice-style chilli and garlic sauce, maybe?), it is a thoughtful homage to the local dish.
Valrhona Dark Chocolate Gâteaux
Sea Salt Caramel Tart; Strawberry Pâte de Fruit
Finally, the brunch course ends with a series of sweets for desserts: an ultra-rich Valrhona Dark Chocolate Gâteaux and petit fours. By this point, we were well and truly stuffed, so make sure to come to Roia prepared (and hungry) to fully enjoy all the course has to offer. The 4-course brunch menu is available exclusively on Fridays to Sundays, at 12pm and 1.30pm seatings.
Roia makes for a stunning date night location, and now also a luxurious brunch affair with the girls with the addition of their new daytime brunch menu. Aside from the new brunch menu, Roia also serves a 6-course Signature ($188++ per person) or 8-course Experience ($288++ per person) menu for dinner.
Price: $$
Taste: 9/10
Favourite dish(s): “Fungi & Corner”, Mille Feuille Saint Jacques
Roia
Address: 1 Cluny Rd, Singapore Botanic Gardens, Singapore 259569
Opening Hours: Wednesday-Thursday, 6:30pm-12am, Friday-Sunday, 12pm-3pm & 6:30pm-12am
