On a lookout for restaurants in quaint heritage architecture surrounded by lush greenery? I know I do, and I found out that besides the famous Dempsey Hill and Botanic Gardens, there is also Rochester Park, which is like a Dempsey Hill in Buona Vista. This area is like a perfect respite from the city buzz, lots of foliages and the buildings there are mainly bungalows, which are distinctive and have a certain charm to them.
Gary's is one of the 2-storey restaurants housed in these bungalows, and its interior is so beautiful, especially the mezzanine balcony that takes my breath away. With the good service and awesome food, dining at the balcony really feels like a pure enjoyment in life. And the way the staffs celebrate birthdays is absolutely impressive, eye-catching while still classy. The reveal on details will come later.
Set lunches here come at a nice price of $38 ~ $58, but I decide to go for à ala carte since quite a number of items in there are too tempting for me to skip in favour for set lunch.
Red Prawn Tartare is a luxurious treat full of umami. The diced raw red prawns is so creamy and sweet, complementing the buttery, briny goodness of the uni. The caviar and ikura introduces refreshing, intense essence of the ocean to uplift the creaminess. I love this so much.
Pan Seared Foie Gras is so perfectly prepared. The thin seared crust holds within it a rich, buttery, almost jelly-like core. The taste is so sublime. It tastes even better with the onion chutney, the sweet pear, tangy aged balsamic and dashes of rock salt.
Iberico Pork Jowl is very well-cooked, being super tender and juicy. It has a gamey flavour that will transform into a rich taste when slathered with the sweet, refreshing carrot puree. It tastes delicious when paired with the carrot puree.
The Lava Cake really holds lots of lava in its centre. The moment I scoop out a piece of the cake from the side, the lava start oozing out. This is so decadently good. And pistachio ice-cream actually goes better with lava cake than the usual vanilla one.
The main floor of the restaurant is posh and modern, and the mezzanine balcony embraces the nature while still having the comforts of an air-conditioned environment. Both are great for dates and gathering. I love the balcony so so much that I'm so glad I arrived earlier than other guests to take some great pictures of the place. The balcony area is full house a little past noon on a Friday afternoon.
The service is very meticulous, professional, warm and friendly. And the ladies are full of smiles. The way they celebrate special occasions for patrons is so unique and definitely worth a visit here just for this. I saw them serving the dessert on a very huge stylish rectangular platform to a couple nearby. And then, they light up the candle that burns like a sparkle! The sparkle looks so pretty. They even take photos and print one out for the couple. I'm really impressed.
This is definitely one place that worth a visit just to pamper oneself and the loved ones with lovely ambience and great food, or to have a special celebration. I want to go there again to submerge in the idyllic atmosphere with lots of greenery and try other food items that look very promising.
Thoughts: Beautiful Experience
