Cafe In Orchard With Laksa Linguine, Coconut Cocktail And More

RATIO Café + GastroBar at ION Orchard

Opened by F&B automation startup ROSS Digital, RATIO Coffee + GastroBar is making waves in town for its robotic cafe. Apart from the wow factor of the coffee, the food is also extraordinarily mind blowing.

I don’t usually frequent cafes, so when I was presented with the opportunity to review RATIO Cafe + GastroBar in ION OrchardI wasted no time in catching my colleague.

Food at RATIO Café + GastroBar

Sweet potato fries have been growing in popularity lately, so we decided to see how RATIO Cafe + GastroBar’s Sweet Potato Fries with Sour Plum Powder ($9.90) got away with it. Coated in a hearty amount of sour plum powder, the sweet potato fries were dangerously addictive.

My colleague and I loved the tasty contrast between the sour plum powder and the sweet crispy fries. This dish is an excellent appetizer that is suitable for vegetarians.

Browsing through the main items on the menu, I was immediately drawn to the Seafood Laksa Cream Linguine ($26.90). I like my laksa to be spicy, creamy and thick, so I had high expectations for this fusion dish. When the seafood laksa cream linguine was served, the scent of the laksa leaf instantly hit my nose.

The linguine strands were particularly moist – a bit like mee pok – and nicely coated in the creamy laksa sauce. I would have preferred the sauce to be spicier, but this rendition was already miles ahead of other pasta laksa I’ve had.

The seafood Laksa cream linguine is the most expensive item on the menu. But for the premium you pay, you get a whole tiger prawn, a generous amount of squid and mussels, and a dollop of tobiko.

Apart from the mussels, which I found a little too pasty, all the seafood was fresh and added a sweetness to the dish. Needless to say, I was very impressed with the pasta laksa here at RATIO Cafe + GastroBar.

My colleague wanted to have the Truffled Angel Hair with Tiger Prawns ($24.90), so we ordered that too. The dish is served with two large tiger prawns topped with a tangy herb emulsion. Cooked to a perfect al dente, the angel hair was also well seasoned.

I usually find the addition of tobiko to pasta frivolous, but in this case the tobiko just seemed really appropriate. Not only did it leave a bite, but it further accentuated the umami profile of the dish.

The truffle notes weren’t too overpowering either, which made my colleague keep swallowing it.

We also tasted the Shitake Stuffed Chicken Thigh Roulade ($22.50)which was accompanied by sautéed eggplant and broccoli.

Made from chicken thigh, the roulade was moist and tender. I loved the shiitake mushrooms, which carried a crisp, inviting herbal scent. The sautéed eggplant was also stellar and gave a richness that tied the whole dish together.

My only complaint with the shitake stuffed chicken thigh roulade was the sauce, which my colleague and I found a bit salty.

All coffee at RATIO Cafe + GastroBar is made by their special robotic barista—The Super Manualwhich looks like something straight out of a science fiction movie.

Expertly calibrated by Tiong Hoe Specialty Coffee, every cup of coffee is guaranteed to be delicious, from espresso extraction to latte art. We tried the Piccolo Latte ($5) and Coffee Latte ($5.50)-both were delicious.

Considering we were in a gastrobar, that would be a sin not drink at work. With 10 different cocktails, each with a catchy name, we had our hands full choosing our drinks. We finally went with Once upon a time the I(O)N Orchard ($18) and Life is a Beach ($18)which are the signatures of the bar.

The first is a gin-based cocktail with a pronounced floral nose that was created especially for RATIO Cafe + GastroBar. Flavored with a dash of rose syrup, the cocktail is enlivened by morello cherry gin and lemon juice.

The drink that stole my heart, however, was the cheeky-named Life’s a Beach. It almost feels like you’ve been transported to a tropical resort, with the cocktail being served in a coconut shell. ]

Made with mango and coconut water slushie, the drink is further flavored with the addition of ginger blossom. You can customize how much tequila you want in the cocktail: whether you want to keep it pristine or completely blast it in five shots.

Atmosphere at the RATIO Café + GastroBar

Filled with a mosaic floor, vintage posters and a neon sign “我。自在” which roughly translates to “Me”. Freedom”, RATIO Cafe + GastroBar rocks a retro-futuristic theme. Whether you’re relaxing in their comfortable seats or dining at the round tables, the cafe is sure to bring out the party mood in you any time of the day.

After having left Orchard MRT Station, simply go to Basement 1 of ION Orchard to locate the cafe. Although the RATIO Cafe + GastroBar can accommodate up to 80 people, it can be difficult to find an empty table during meals due to its popularity.

The verdict

It’s true that items here at RATIO Cafe + GastroBar can be a bit pricey. But given its prime location in Orchard, the steep price tag is somewhat justified for a date night.

For what it’s worth, the drinks and food are all beautifully plated to give you the best shots for the gram. Those who visit the cafe for the first time should definitely try Laksa’s Creamy Seafood Linguini, while relaxing with a Life’s a Beach.

For more cafe recommendations with great coffee and Instagram-worthy food, check out our lists on the best cafes in the world. East and West.

Address: 2 Orchard Turn, #B1-12, ION Orchard, Singapore 238801
Opening hours: Every day from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Website
RATIO Cafe + GastroBar is not a halal certified restaurant.

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Photos taken by Kong Zu Yi.
It was a media tasting at RATIO Cafe + GastroBar.