Di Wei Teo Chew Restaurant @ Food Canopy Singapore Botanic Gardens - Food Court In A Garden

My curiosity brought me to Singapore Botanic Gardens but it is not to admire the scenic beauty of the UNESCO World Heritage Site. I heard that there is a food court at the park. The food court is run by Food Canopy and there are 7 stalls in it.

What caught my attention is Di Wei Teo Chew Restaurant. I am surprise to find a stall selling Teochew cuisine in a food court. According to the information online, the restaurant is helmed by Head Chef Chew which has 30 years of experience servicing classic favourites prepared using time honoured recipes that has been handed down through generations.

Cai Po Kway Teow 3.8/5

After browsing through the 43 items on the menu, I decided to order some staple Teochew food items. We started with the Cai Po Kway Teow ($7 for 2 pax). I have tried the dish before but the chye poh or Chinese dried radish are usually not noticeable. The rendition here comes with crunchy chye poh that is cut into short strips which is well infused with the wok hei smokiness.

Braised Duck 4/5

Sliced to generous thin slices, the Braised Duck ($10 small) was tender and well infused with the fragrant braising sauce. It is not overly sweet and comes with a subtle aroma of the spices. Dip the duck meat with the accompanying sweet and tangy dipping sauce for an elevated enjoyment of the duck meat.

Cold Crab 4.2/5

I thought we can only eat Cold Crab (seasonal price) in restaurant but I am surprise to be able to have it in a food court. I paid around $24 for quite a reasonable size crab which was sweet and meaty with a lot of roes.


Di Wei Teo Chew Restaurant 
Food Canopy
1J Cluny Road
Singapore 259607
Tel: +65 67636578
Facebook
Website
Nearest MRT: Botanic Gardens (CC Line, DT Line)

Opening Hours:
Tue-Sun: 1030am - 9pm
(Closed on Mon)

Direction:
1) Alight at Botanic Gardens MRT station. Take Exit B. Turn right onto Bukit Timah Road. Walk down Bukit Timah Road to Evans Road. Turn right onto Evans Road. Walk down Evan Roads. Walk to destination. Journey time about 15 minutes. [Map]

Oak Room Restaurant & Bar @ Hotel Royal - An Unexpected Find In A Hotel I Have Not Heard Of

When I was told that we are going to Oak Room Restaurant & Bar for dinner, I did a search on the web and I realized that it is located at the Hotel Royal in Newton. I have to admit that I have not heard of the hotel and not to mention the restaurant located on level 3 of the hotel. The restaurant which used to be at Bukit Timah is helmed by Executive Chef Darrence Wee before relocating to its current location in July 2016, offering modern European cuisine.

Stepping into Hotel Royal is like being transformed into the 80s. The decor of the hotel seems to be stuck in time. Worried not as Oak Room Restaurant & Bar welcomes you with a warm, cosy ambience in a modern setting.

Lobster Bisque 4.2/5

Dinner at Oak Room started on the bright side with a delicious Lobster Bisque ($18). The bitter sweet crustacean flavour shone through the creamy and robust soup.

Jamon Serrano 4/5

Next we had the Jamon Serrano ($28). The parma ham which is aged for 18 months is further dried by the chef to intensify the flavour. This is beautifully paired with tomato and a few drips of balsamic.

Grilled Spring Chicken 4.2/5

As my dining partner does not take seafood, the chef was kind enough to do an off the regular menu item from the Chef's Table 8-course menu. The Grilled Spring Chicken paired with parma ham and tomatoes was juicy and tender, However the highlight is the cajun rub on the chicken that make it a notch different from the rest.

UK Kurobuta Pork Chop 4.2/5

Next up we have the UK Kurobuta Pork Chop ($30) with bacon sauce, apple chutney and parmesan mash. This is one of the best pork chop I have eat. The texture was so soft and tender that I would have easily mistaken it as chicken in a blindfold. The portion was also very generous and affordability priced.

Prime USDA 4.5/5

The finale has to go to the Prime USDA Ribeye ($45) which is grain fed and dry aged for 28 days. The perfectly cooked pinkish meat is served with parmesan mash, greens, baby carrots and natural jus. When you have a premium piece of meat, there is no need to do anything fancy but just let the natural flavour does its own talking.

Sticky Medjool Date Pudding, Tiramisu, Creme Brulee 4/5

Ending the dinner on a sweet note was a trio of dessert samplers. From the left, we had the Creme Brulee, Tiramisu and Sticky Medjool Date Pudding. The desserts were better than I anticipated, especially the sticky medjool date pudding. The warm cakey bake accompanied with the carmel sauce is both warm and comforting.

Overall I have to say Oak Room is an unexpected discovery serving above average modern European cuisine. The price may seen a bit steep but this is justified through its quality and portion. It is a bit sad to see the restaurant was empty during our visit. I think they deserved more. I really hope they can get more awareness and business can turn better.

Note: This is an invited tasting.


Oak Room Restaurant & Bar
Hotel Royal
36 Newton Road
#03-01
Singapore 307964
Tel: +65 97116490
Facebook
Nearest MRT: Newton (DT Line, NS Line), Novena (NS Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon-Sat: 12pm - 3pm, 6pm - 1030pm

Direction: 
1) Alight at Novena MRT station. Take Exit B. Walk to bus stop at Novena Church (Stop ID 50037). Take bus number 5, 54, 143, 162 and 167. Alight 1 stop later. Journey time about 8 minutes. [Map]

2) Alight at Newton MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk to bus stop at Newton MRT station (Stop ID 40181). Take bus number 5, 54, 124, 143, 162 and 167. Alight 2 stops later. Cross the road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 10 minutes. [Map]

3) Alight at Novena MRT station. Take Exit B1. Walk to Newton Road. Continue walking along Newton Road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 12 minutes. [Map]