Roast & Coffee - Retro Garden 1968's — Restaurant in Johor

During our recent family trip to Johor Bahru, we were on the hunt for a place that would satisfy our craving for both western and local cuisine for breakfast. After researching recommendations on Google Maps and local social media sites, we stumbled upon Roast & Coffee – Retro Garden and decided to give it a try.

Arriving on a Saturday, we were met with a queue of approximately 50 meters in front of the restaurant. Fortunately, the line moved swiftly due to the establishment's spacious layout, occupying two shop lots on the ground floor and the first floor. However, it is worth noting that the steps leading to the first floor are quite steep, which may pose difficulties for senior citizens or individuals with mobility issues.

Upon settling in at the first-floor seating area, we observed that the majority of patrons—over 90%—were Singaporeans. Intrigued, we proceeded to order a selection of their "Top 10 Best Review" dishes, including Salted Egg French Toast, Chwee Kueh, Salted Egg Chicken Kampung Fried Rice, Mee Siam, Chicken Chop with Thai Sauce, and Fish & Chips. For dessert, we indulged in their highly recommended Cendol, complemented by refreshing choices of iced coffee and Cham C.

Let's delve into the food review. The Salted Egg French Toast lacked the distinctive flavor of salted egg, leaving it rather bland. The Chwee Kueh had sufficient condiments but lacked the punch and fell flat with only a subtle hint of chili. Similarly, the Kampung Fried Rice failed to capture the authentic taste of traditional Malay-style fried rice commonly found in other eateries—a disappointing outcome. The Mee Siam also lacked the robust flavors one would expect, seemingly missing key ingredients. Fortunately, the Chicken Chop boasted the right flavors, but it failed to offer any unique wow factor. As for the Fish & Chips, they were decent, with the chips standing out as of good quality.

On the beverage front, the ice coffee and Iced Cham proved to be standout choices, showcasing distinct flavors of well-roasted coffee and high-quality tea leaves. However, the greatest disappointment came in the form of the Cendol. It failed to capture the essence of either Nyonya or Mamak-style Cendol. For a true representation of this beloved dessert, I would recommend a visit to PD Famous Cendol in Port Dickson, where one can experience the authentic taste.

Contemplating the reasons behind the restaurant's consistent popularity despite its culinary shortcomings, it occurred to me that the majority of patrons were Singaporeans. In Singapore, eateries often prioritize the presentation of food, often placing taste and flavor as secondary considerations. Establishments that prioritize taste and flavor above aesthetics often attract larger crowds in Singapore.

In conclusion, I personally viewed that Roast & Coffee – Retro Garden may have adopted and catered to a section of the Singaporean market vising Johor Bahru. The establishment excels in various aspects, such as offering a wide selection of choices, providing great service, and presenting dishes beautifully. However, the missing wow factor in terms of taste and flavor is a letdown. Taking these factors into account, I would rate this...

More than 10 times since causeway opened up after covid. The toast and coffee is just so good. This time my party and I shared the food shown in the pictures. Honestly, none of the food disappointed us. Everything was great. Laksa's gravy is nice and thick. The lemak-ness is just right. Fried Fish soup is soothing. The milky taste is not too heavy while the hot soup calms the body. Fried fish meats are good and fresh. Curry chicken is lovely as well. Paired perfectly well with the buns that came with it. We even ordered a bowl of white rice to drench the curry in. Chicken are tender and moist. Otah is value for money, the amount of fish meat in it is visible and quite alot. Size of it has decreased from rectangular to small square. Chwee kueh is one their signature dishes but they do not serve it too early in the morning. Only about 9am when the stocks arrive. Had this on my 1st visit and now the 2nd. Definitely a must order. The chilli and black sauce really complimented the salty chai por on the kueh itself. My personal fav drink is their ice cham. A good mix of both coffee and tea. Just remember to ask for less sugar. Salted egg chicken fried rice is lovely. The thick salted egg sauce goes well with the flavourful rice and great that the sauce wasnt overpowering. Deep fried siew mai was a no-go for me. Did not enjoy and did not finish it. Egg mee siam is nice, the sambal is slightly sweet though. Kinda reminded me of SG's sambal. This version still good, can eat. Prawn egg fried rice is yummy! Do order and try. The fried rice is served with a few pieces of deshelled prawns and topped both ebiko and crispy rice. The crispy rice adds an extra crunch to the wok-hei fried rice. Made the dish really yummy indeed. Nasi lemak has a fragrant white lemak rice. I ordered mine with boneless thigh fried chicken. Fried chicken freshly fried, hot and crispy. Lovely sambal and anchovies to go along. Nasi beryani with chicken rendang. The rendang is good, not watery and thickness just right. Can taste the spices. Chicken is tender, thigh was given. Really enjoyed the fluffy basmati rice. Small pieces of char kway with kaya is superb delicious. Recommended to get it as a side. Dry ban mian is quite nice. Enjoyed the sauce with the thick ban mian. Very good bite with vegetables, ikan bilis and fishballs. Soup ban mian is good too. Many ingredients served together with it. Soup really tasty. Char kway teow is good with wok hei. Not very heavy on the wok hei but still good enough. Served with 2 prawns which can be consumed entirely together with the shell. Fried beehoon is quite ok. Fragrant and served with fish cake slices. Lots of egg added into the frying as well. I think it will definitely go well with their curry.

Shop is located very near the famous banana cake shop....

Conveniently situated along the bustling Jalan Tan Hiok Nee, just a stone’s throw away (15-minute walk) from the Johor Bahru Checkpoint, Roast & Coffee enjoys a prime location that makes it easily accessible to both Malaysians and Singaporeans alike. Its strategic location near the Singapore border makes it an ideal spot for those looking to indulge in delicious kopitiam-style brews and cuisine before or after crossing the border.

Tiga Rasa (Toast) – RM3.90 - 3/5 As the name “Tiga Rasa” suggests, this toast brings together three distinct tastes – butter, peanut butter, and kaya (coconut jam) – for a flavour-packed experience. I was excited to try it, expecting a perfect balance of sweet, salty, and nutty notes that would harmoniously complement each other. However, upon tasting it, I found that the peanut butter was overpowering, and the kaya spread was not sufficiently generous to balance it out.

Chee Cheong Fun – RM4.90 - 4/5 The Chee Cheong Fun may not win any culinary art plating contests, but its taste makes up for its unassuming appearance. When the dish arrived, I couldn’t help but notice that it looked like a messy plate of rice noodle rolls simply thrown together.

Nasi Lemak with Rendang Chicken – RM11.90 - 3/5 Their rendition of Nasi Lemak leaned towards the oilier side, with a fair amount of chili oil from the sambal. While it didn’t necessarily affect the taste, it did make the dish slightly less enjoyable for me. Nevertheless, the sambal was still commendable, albeit not quite up to the standards of the likes of Village Park Nasi Lemak in Selangor.

In conclusion, Roast & Coffee in Johor Bahru offers an affordable dining option with a cozy ambiance and air-conditioned comfort. While their food selection is diverse, the taste of their dishes is considered average at best. It’s a place I would consider dropping by if I happened to be in the area, but would not be one that I would deliberately pay a visit to.

It’s worth noting that just opposite Roast & Coffee, there’s a famous banana cake stall called Hiap Joo Bakery & Biscuit Factory. This bakery is known for its delicious banana cakes, which are definitely worth a try if you’re in...