Located next to Zhong Shan Mall in Balestier is a modern and casual diner, Viio Gastropub. Viio Gastropub is helmed by Chef Ronald Li, who has an impressive history working with different high-end restaurants and hotels.
Chef Ronald Li started off his career in 2007 at the Four Seasons Hotel’s One-Ninety Restaurant. He then moved on to Restaurant Andre before becoming head chef at Viio Gastropub.
Opened November 2018, the restaurant has a relaxed contemporary decor with a large event space as well as a 20-person dining area for a private meal.
We went down to try out some of their lunch and dinner menu items. We started off with the Spaghetti Aglio Olio With Prawn (S$9.90++) which also came with a soup of the day and house greens.
Right off the bat, I could smell the fragrant garlic bits infused into each strand of spaghetti. Chef Ronald Li tosses the spaghetti in a homemade prawn and olive oil mixture which gave them an aromatic scent.
The spaghetti was topped with sweet small shrimps with a crunchy texture. I really enjoyed the little bits of shrimps in every mouthful as it felt like mini balls of sweetness. The Aglio Olio was only mildly spicy, which I enjoyed because it did not overpower the delicate sweet flavours of the prawns.
However, I felt that the pasta was just a little overcooked. I would have preferred it if the pasta had a slightly chewy texture to it. With that being said, for just S$9.90++, it’s rather value-for-money.
We also had the Duo Wagyu Beef Slider And Chips (S$16.90++) which came with a side of fries. The buttery toasted buns went well with the succulent and tender beef patty.
I really appreciated how the beef patties were thick, with juice oozing out of the meat as I bit into the burger.
The sliders were also layered with a slice of oyster mushroom and a piece of pickle, adding some crunch. I really liked the salty hint from the pickles, as it helps to remove the greasiness from the beef. The layer of melted cheese helped to hold everything together.
I was really fond of the crispy cajun salt fries, especially the seasoning on the fries which was sweet with mellow spiciness at the end.
I would recommend a beer such as the Loose Rivet Beer (S$17++) to go along with this heavy and greasy dish. With citrusy and fruity characteristics of tropical fruits, the beer is very easy to drink and helps to cut through the oil.
Subsequently, we tried the Kimchi-Glazed Pork Ribs (S$19++) that has been braised for 12-14 hours and finished off on the grill, smoked with applewood chips.
As a result, the pork ribs fell off the bone easily without even having to use a knife. The meat wss tender with a perfect ratio of fat-to-lean-meat ratio, and simply melted in my mouth.
The pork ribs are coated with a sweet and spicy barbecue sauce which accentuated the sweetness of the pork ribs. I really enjoyed the pork ribs, but I could not actually taste any kimchi flavours.
We also had the Pan Seared Foie Gras (S$18++), presented as two bite-sized foie gras on a toast. The bread was toasted until it has a golden crust, and they spread a thin layer of berry jam over it.
The foie gras rests on the bread, with a blob of caviar and gold leaves on top.
With each mouthful, the buttery foie gras coated the inside of my mouth. I could also taste the saltiness from the caviar, which provided a contrast to the slightly gamey foie gras flavours.
The crunchy toast and sweet berry jam helps to cut through the rich and creamy foie gras, rounding off the entire dish.
Viio Gastropub is a modern cafe in a neighbourhood environment, and the lunch deals are extremely worth it for the people working around the Balestier area.
I’d definitely recommend everyone to come down to try Chef Ronald Li’s interpretation of French cuisine with an Asian take.
Expected Damage: S$10 – S$30 per pax
Price: $
Our Rating: 5 / 5
Viio Gastropub
520 Balestier Road, #01-01, Singapore 329853
Viio Gastropub
520 Balestier Road, #01-01, Singapore 329853