Roia Review: New Modern French Restaurant By Award-Winning Chef In Botanic Gardens

Now, after six whole months of refresh, the word is in: modern French restaurant Roia has officially taken over the iconic spot. Food at Roia Roia is headed by the renowned Chef Priyam Chatterjee, who’s most famous for being the youngest chef to receive the Chevalier de l’Ordre du Mérite (Order of Agricultural Merit) in 2019.

We had the privilege of sampling Chef Priyam’s creations in the form of their newly rolled out four-course lunch menu , comfortably priced at $98++ per person . Paired with Iberico pork and curried mayo, this snack is an ode to our local curry puff, which was the first thing Chef Priyam put into his mouth upon arriving in Singapore.

It’s a little unusual, at least for me, to be served the bread course in the middle of a meal. Per to a restaurant representative, warm bread is served at this point to follow the course’s cold-to-warm progression.

This dish was every bit indulgent, yet at the same time, it wasn’t overly so, thanks to the garlic and chive flowers that added brightness in between each bite. Additionally, almond milk was used in replacement of dairy cream, which made the velouté lighter on the palate. Then there was the leek tart which, when paired with chicken, took this dish to the next level with its wafer-thin bottom and umami-laden filling.

You can add some of the dairy-free “sour cream” on the side for extra richness; it’s made with almond milk too, so you won’t feel jelak! As I have a sweet tooth, dessert, to me, is always the main star of the show at any fine dining restaurant.

The burnt milk chards added a pleasant toastiness to the chocolatey dessert, while the ice cream had the perfect amount of salt to offset the sweetness. We’re awaiting confirmation on whether this dessert will appear in the lunch or dinner menu, and will confirm once we hear back from the restaurant.

And if, at this point, you’ve still got room for another sweet ending, you’ll be pleased to know that petit fours are included in the package. Ambience at Roia Roia is housed in E.J.H Corner House , a conservation building that was formerly the residence of the assistant director of Singapore Botanic Gardens, E J H Corner.

On the ground floor is the Private Salon, open for intimate gatherings of up to 10 diners, and on the second floor is the main dining space overlooking the gardens, named The Balcony. Throw in fab service and an idyllic setting that’s unlike any other, the restaurant easily comes up tops in my list of must-visits in Singapore.

Do note that the restaurant is open for lunch for three days only, Friday to Sunday. For more dining options in the area, read our guide to the best food places in Botanic Gardens .

Address: 1 Cluny Road, E.J.H Corner House, Singapore Botanic Gardens, Singapore 259569 Opening hours: Wed-Thurs 6:30pm to 12am, Fri-Sun 12pm-3pm, 6:30pm to 12am Tel: 8908 1705 Website Roia is not a halal-certified eatery. 21 Botanic Gardens Food To Fuel Up At After Exploring The UNESCO Site Photos taken by Melvin Mak.