Halia at Botanical Gardens

[jpatokal]

We ended up going for a Christmas dinner at Halia, and while (as expected) it wasn't very Christmasy, it was an excellent restaurant in an amazing location. The verandah outside, within a view of the floodlit jungle all around, was especially nice. It wasn't cheap either -- count on $100/head for a full meal with drinks -- but definitely worth it for a special occasion.

The hard part is getting there, we had to drive around and make a couple of calls before we found our way. The entrance is on the 'wrong' side of the gardens, so you have to park/get dropped off at the Tyersall Ave entrance (sign says "Ginger Garden"), and then walk a short distance into the Gardens to find it; the first signs/map for the restaurant are only visible on foot.

[jimmie]

Been there once with my date, nice ambience, feels admist a forest. Must agree food not very cheap but it goes with the fantastic ambience created.

Anytime better than places with good food - no ambience 8)

[bumi]

we had christmas dinner at halia in 2003 and it was as excellent as you described. unfortunately eating lunch there yesterday with family visiting from overseas we received the worst service we've ever received in a restaurant in singapore. we were seated and brought menus promptly and were then ignored for 30 minutes. finally we ordered drinks from someone who seemed to be writing down our order word for word.

15 minutes later we had our drinks, though the order was incorrect. this took 5-10 minutes to correct. after we had been there an hour the food came. one meal was wrong and was sent back. a full ten minutes later the same incorrect dish was brought back. at no time were we apologised to. it was appalling. we finally left and did not pay, and one of us never got their lunch.

on our way out, we met a man who was storming back to the restaurant...they had returned the wrong credit card to him after he paid his bill.