North and West

Samy's Curry

An old-school Singapore institution in an open-air colonial building, serving rice and curries on real banana leaves as ceiling fans whir. Waiters walk around with buckets of curry very cheap and take orders for tandoori, fish head curry and other treats which can be more expensive. No air-con, no reservations, no alcohol.

Thasevi Food

The original place for roti paratha Indian-style bread with curry dip, although the size of the portions has shrunk as their fame has grown. Still, most serves clock in at less than $2, and you can sample unorthodox variants like banana paratha or ice cream paratha, complete with whipped cream and chocolate sauce. Try the chicken murtabak and the Indian rojak. Halal.

Yan Kee Food Stall

A local legend for Chinese-style curry fish head $14/17 small/large, the gravy is good to the last drop.

Joo Siah Bak Kut Teh

One of Singapore's best-known joints for bak kut teh lit. "pork bone tea", a peppery pork rib broth. Two bowls, rice and a serve of mui choy veggies will set you back $9.10; add in $0.50 for some you tiow fritters from the shop next door to dip in your soup. Open from Tuesday to Saturday 8 AM to 8 PM, and to 3 PM only on Sunday.

Lim Seng Lee Duck Rice

Well-regarded specialist restaurant serving up tender boneless duck with their special sauce; be sure to order some "spare parts", their name for liver and gizzard. Prices above average but worth it.

Marina Bistro

In the Raffles Marina at the extreme west of Singapore right next to Second Link bridge to Malaysia, offers very competent Singaporean and Western food. Try the excellent beef satay. Open to non-members for lunch and dinner daily; to get there, take exit 25 from the AYE, immediately before the Tuas checkpoint.

Tucked away in Bishan Park and best known for serving brunch every day until 5 PM, after which you can move over to the bar and get sozzled on Oz wines. The menu also features soups, salads, pastas and other cafe food. Indoor and outdoor seating with great tropical views.

Vegetarian cuisine in the quiet green setting of Bishan Park.

Tucked away in rural Lim Chu Kang, this exuberantly colorful bistro with air-con and alfresco seating draws crowds on weekends with simple local dishes, made from fruits and vegetables grown on their backyard organic farm. The menu changes regularly, but favorites include their nasi lemak coconut rice, banana curry, desserts like kueh kosui coconut-brown sugar cake and home-brewed teas. Kids can romp around the farm, while adults can pick up organic fruits, veggies and herbs to go. All meat is halal, but the restaurant is not certified.

Zi Yean Food Centre

Locally famed outdoor coffee shop serving up Cantonese dishes like mui choy chicken stuffed with pickled veggies, prawns wrapped in tofu skin and deep-fried, kangkong with century eggs, and abalone with chicken a steal at $5/plate. Prices generally reasonable but some dishes can be expensive. Open for lunch and dinner, closed alternate Wednesdays.

Colbar

Stuck in the past and proud of it, this low-key eatery started life as a canteen for British soldiers, and fare like ox liver with peas and chips still figure prominently on the menu. Recently relocated complete with original building out of the way of an expressway, but still very popular. Try the famous curries if British grub isn't to your taste, and don't expect any frills like air-con.

Fairly decent pizza and pasta in a very attractive setting in the lush greenery of Labrador Park.

Casa Verde

Located right at the entrance of the Visitor Centre, offers a mixed menu of local and Italian food at slightly elevated prices, but this is still by far the cheapest and most casual place to eat in the Gardens. The best pick here is the large wood-fired pizzas from $20.

Located on the National University of Singapore Bukit Timah campus at the edge of the Gardens in a charming late colonial bungalow. The menu is pan-Chinese, the house special being Beijing duck $4 per portion or $68 for the whole duck, a northern Chinese dish not often seen in Singapore. All in all, competent but not out of the ordinary, and there's a small price premium for the location.

Borgo

Small Italian eatery specializing in Tuscan charcoal grills. The pastas are also excellent, but pizzas are mediocre. Reasonably priced and very popular, so book ahead, especially on weekends.

On Singapore's northern coast, the restaurant is housed in a old colonial-style bungalow that is believed to have been built around 1910, and has sea views towards Johor. Both Western and Chinese food is served. Best reached by taxi.

Part of the "Les Amis" group of restaurants and situated in a restored 1920s residence in the Gardens. The food is mostly French with some other European dishes thrown in and many given a little Asian twist, but given the very high prices the quality is a little wobbly. There is a superb wine list and a very helpful sommelier on hand to answer questions. The views of the garden are gorgeous. Enter through the Corner House Gate and follow signs to Au Jardin/EJH Corner House the name of the building which houses the restaurant. Reservations recommended.