Restaurant review: Graze @ Rochester Park, Singapore

Update: Graze @ Rochester Park has permanently closed

As soon as you hear the word 'Graze', you would probably imagine a herd of cows leisurely chowing down grass amidst lush green surroundings. Well, replace cows with humans and grass with brunch and viola! you might as well be teleported to this restaurant 😄 

Graze is located in a charming pre-war, colonial-style black and white house in Rochester Park, near Holland Village and offers a new concept in contemporary dining where people can hang out for an extended periods of time, experiencing modern Australian cuisine in a friendly and relaxed environment. The grassy lawns of Graze’s gardens and the fresh, airy ambiance of the colonial-style house adds to the allure of this restaurant. 

It was my first time in Rochester Park even though it is a stone's throw away from my workplace. I have been to the popular food enclaves in this part of the city like Holland Village and Dempsey Hill plenty of times but never to Rochester Park. My first thoughts as I entered the narrow, quiet, picturesque street leading up to the series of charming white colonial-style restaurants were - "why haven't I been here before....it's so lovely!" I was supposed to be meeting three of my girlfriends for brunch on a Saturday morning (very Carrie Bradshaw-esque, minus the alcohol) and we were scheduled to reach there by 11:30am. Since I was the first one to reach the venue, I had plenty of photo ops as you can see. 

The restaurant features a downstairs chic dining room and it also has an elegant and rustic upper level with a DJ booth, bisazza mosaic tiles bar and an outdoor terrace overlooking the garden.

I sat myself at a table in the outside lounge under a fan and even though it was a hot, sunny day, at no point did it feel warm or uncomfortable.

There is a large outdoor screen for al fresco movies which are played in the evenings during dinner.

The restaurant also has a water feature running through the length of the large space which serves as a koi pond.

The all-day Sunday brunch treats include classic treats such as Graze’s big breakfast choices - the cast iron pan for meat lovers or vegetarians, the enormous brunch platter, breakfast bruschetta, banana pancakes, hamburgers, eggs benedict, healthy options, brunch cocktails and a range of desserts. The barbecue menu is also available during lunch on Sundays.

Note: The descriptions of each item below has been directly borrowed from the Graze menu. 

Once my friends arrived, we immediately ordered some hot drinks. I had an inkling of coming down with a cold that morning so I desperately needed some hot refreshing tea.

Art tea beauty of the East ($6)

An intricately wound bundle of Jasmine green tea leaves which bloom open when immersed in hot water revealing an exquisite work of art. A hint of nuttiness on the top with a sweet floral jasmine finish. For the green tea, the staff gladly provide you with an additional cup of hot water if you request for it.

Lime ginger green tea ($6)

A blend of green tea, lemongrass, organic lemon myrtle and lemon peels. Refreshing and enlivening, it contains anti-bacterial properties and aids in digestion. As an added bonus, it has reduced caffeine content.

Latte ($6)
Hot, frothy and comforting. It comes without added sugar but you can help yourself with either white or brown sugar cubes.

While ordering the food, we each ordered four completely different dishes from the brunch menu which was good for me to take pictures.

Omelette ($20)
You have a simply presented dish consisting of a fluffy omelette baked with sausage, peppers and feta, garnished with chives with a roasted tomato on the side. 

Signature cast iron pan ($25)
Fried egg, roasted potatoes, sautéed mushrooms, grilled tomato, baked beans and crushed avocado. This is the vegetarian version whereas the classic version features cumberland sausage and bacon. This dish consisted of all my favourite things and was delicious and satisfying.  

My only gripe with this dish was that the crushed avocado was a tad too lemony for my preference. 

Breakfast bruschetta ($18)

A well presented and well-balanced dish consisting of slow cooked egg, bacon, crushed avocado, tomato, feta, balsamic vinaigrette.

Brunch platter ($28)
For those with a humongous appetite!

The brunch platter had a mini pancake stack, bircher muesli, fruit salad, poached eggs, shaved ham, sausage, bacon and fruit brioche. Served with honey and butter on the side. I tried the bircher muesli and it was delicious. It was creamy and had a lovely hint of cinnamon. I never expect muesli of all things to evoke such a positive reaction from me.

Fun fact: Bircher muesli was the brainchild of a Swiss doctor by the name of Dr Bircher-Benner.

Graze: Brunch with style

We had an absolutely fantastic time with each others company, enjoying the delicious food amidst the peaceful surroundings. The food at Graze is good, the portion size is decent and the service efficient. The prices may be considered slightly steep for brunch ranging from $26 to $40 dollars per person. I have heard that dinner is a more pricey affair so be warned. But having said that, if you prefer al fresco dining to being stuck inside a crowded, stuffy restaurant, this IS the place for you. 

Graze is a hidden gem that is the perfect place for a leisurely brunch and I for one will definitely be going back with the hubster in tow. I would recommend this place for couples, friends & families. 

My rating for this restaurant is 

Graze
Address:

4 Rochester Park
Singapore 139215

Contact:
Tel: (65) 6775 9000
Fax: (65) 6775 9001
E-mail: info@graze.sg
Website: www.graze.sg

Opening hours:
With effect from 15 July, Graze opening hours will be changed to,

Dinner and alfresco lounge
Friday to Sunday: 6.30 pm to 11 pm
(Last order at 10.30 pm)

Breakfast/Brunch
Saturday & Sunday
9:30 am to 4 pm
(Last order at 3 pm)

Closed from Monday to Thursday



Cheers,

Megha

This is not a sponsored review. The comments and opinions in this post are solely my own.