Viio Gastropub @ 520 Balestier
“What’s for lunch?” is a common phrase we hear everyday at work. But when you're living in a confined city like Singapore, it can be overwhelming to choose from an endless list of places to dine. One thing I always ask myself however — can I get a decent quality lunch below $12 in central Singapore?
Viio Gastropub, helmed by Chef Ronald Li, is a fairly new establishment nestled in the heart of Balestier, portraying itself as an upscale casual dining eatery. We were excited to taste the weekday lunch set menu ($9.90++ net) that comes with a soup of the day and house greens.
Donburi bowls have been flooding the lunch scene of late with many variations offered in this city. I must say that this BBQ Pork Ribs Donburi served with seasonal vegetables like broccolini and pickles with an onsen egg, was absolutely fantastic! The pork ribs were cooked to perfection and the meat just melted in my mouth. Chef Richard has nailed the perfect flavour combination in this beautiful rice bowl.
Next we had a Linguini Carbonara coated with bacon and an onsen egg. The genius element of this Asian-style pasta dish is the bacon diced into small bits, then tossed into the linguini with just the right amount of cream added to it. I must admit, even though i'm not an avid fan of bacon the balance of flavours is spot on. This is a dish you must order when coming to Viio Gastropub.
Moving on, we tried the Duo Wagyu Beef Slider and chips. If you are considering a lighter lunch, this would be a good option. But I felt that the meat was a little dry and the sauce was soaked up in the bun. To avoid this, perhaps the dressing could have been layered between the tomato and cheese instead.
If you are still craving for something sweet after your set lunch, consider the Viio Banana Split ($12). This beautifully plated dish is, I dare say, one of the best deconstructed banana split dishes I have tasted in a long time. Definitely a pleasant surprise at the very end.
On a side note, Viio Gastropub serves up craft beers on tap such as Pasteur Street/ Passion Fruit (Wheat Ale), Rooster Blonde (Ale), Heart of Darkness/Excited Magpie (Irish stout) and much more.
Overall, we had a great dining experience that is affordable and appetising, cooked using quality ingredients. If you are around the Balestier area, do head over for an awesome meal with great service! Lunch is served from 11:30am - 2:30pm on weekdays.
Viio Gastropub
520 Balestier Road #01-01
VIIO@Balestier, 329853
Operating Hours
Monday - Saturday : 11:30am -11pm
Closed on Sundays