Gardenasia Bistro, nestled in the serene Kranji countryside, is true to the nature of its namesake; serving up heart-healthy Western cuisine with an Asian twist, taking pride in showcasing garden-fresh ingredients.
The entire bistro is surrounded by greenery with a waterfront, constituting to a calming oasis of tranquillity. It is immensely relaxing for a languorous meal.
Enjoy the comforts of air conditioning indoors, where elements of modernity have been subtly woven into the interior of the villa-inspired architecture, enlacing visitors with a soothing and relaxing atmosphere.
Salad
Portobello Mushroom Salad ($14)
Salads are Gardenasia’s specialty, and we couldn’t forgo ordering at least one salad, despite my disinclination to greens.
I chose the Portobello Mushroom Salad that comes with a slightly-smaller-than-a-palm-sized cheese-baked mushroom, topped with almond flakes for more texture. The greens are lovingly and gently tossed in a light dressing, showing no indication of bruising.
Nibbles
Mozzarella Cheese Sticks ($9 for 6 pieces)
For starters, the Mozzarella Cheese Sticks, deep-fried to golden perfection, will whet your appetite. It is served atop lightly dressed salad that is evidently fresh from its vibrant hues.
Mains
Fish & Chips ($15)
Gardenasia claims to use fish that are not frozen. The flesh is thick and firm without coming across as dry. My preference slants towards slightly more fatty fish with flaky flesh though.
Grilled Rosemary Chicken with Mushrooms Gravy ($15)
The thick cut of farm-fresh boneless chicken leg is seasoned with fresh rosemary and herbs that lend subtle aromas to the well-balanced dish, served on a bed of potato wedges.
I wiped the plate clean, off any traces of the delectable gravy, with chicken that I cut up into bite-sized morsels.
Overall, the dish is standard but not mind-blowing. I have a sneaking suspicion that the unrealistically high expectations I had for this dish attributed to the slight disappointment.
Pan-roasted Australian Lamb Racks ($24)
The pan-roasted double-ribbed Australian Lamb Racks is another dish that Gardenasia recommends.
The meat is satisfactorily tender, minus the gamey smell often associated with lamb. I felt that they could have been a little more generous with the fresh mint sauce.
Also, a bed of luscious mashed potatoes would have been more appealing than run-off-the-meal potato wedges.
Hokkien Pasta with Jumbo Prawns ($15)
A definite highlight of the menu is the Hokkien Pasta with Jumbo Prawns, scoring the highest points amongst all the dishes we had. Jasper and I almost got into a cutlery-fight for the last strand of pasta!
Thank goodness we went with our guts and ordered this as opposed to the Chef’s Recommendation, the Mee Goreng Pasta, which I am also curious to try.
The Hokkien Pasta is marvellously infused with a flavourful stock, well executed with a full variety of Asian flavours.
I call this dish an elevated (or ‘atas’) version of our local Hokkien Mee –with pasta replacing the alkaline-laden yellow noodles that contain a disturbing amount of food colouring and preservatives.
Desserts
Warm Brownie served with ice cream ($7)
What I loved most about dessert at Gardenasia is unfortunately not what that comes out of their oven, but what goes with the lead –premium Haagen-Dazs ice cream. I enjoyed the warm brownie, but the ice cream more. It’s a personal inclination to polish off anything that bears the Haagen-Dazs label.
Rich Chocolate Souffle served with vanilla ice cream ($7)
The Rich Chocolate Soufflé looks and tastes more like a “Chocolate Lava Cake” rather than a Soufflé. Molten chocolate oozed out as we dug in.
Gardenasia makes the perfect location for proposals, solemnisations and wedding ceremonies.
“No two gardens are the same, and no two days are the same in one garden, which is why each experience created by Gardenasia is just as exceptional as the next. Nature never goes out-of-style with Gardenasia’s 99-year-old heritage, timeless in its every creation.” –Gardenasia
The bistro is pet-friendly. We met a blissful couple who brought their friendly paw pals for brunch in the villa.
A visit to Gardenasia is a recommended stop-off in Kranji countryside.
A suggested itinerary would be:
- Head to PoisonIvy for breakfast or brunch
- Take a stroll around the Bollywood Veggies Farm
- Go on an educational tour at the Goat Farm
- Spend the day getting in touch with agriculture, horticulture and fisheries
- Conclude at Gardenasia Bistro for lunch or dinner, relax and unwind, and laze the day away.
Visit http://www.kranjicountryside.com/ for more information about the Kranji Countryside.
Thanks Chef Jason Ong from Torte for introducing to us this beautiful hidden find!
Gardenasia Bistro
http://www.gardenasia.com
Tel: (general)
(weddings)
Fax:
Email:
Opening hours:
Monday & Tuesday: CLOSED
Wednesday & Thursday: 11am – 6pm
Friday & Saturday: 11am – 11pm
Sunday & Public Holidays: 10am – 6pm