Chef Johanne Siy has launched Árō, her debut restaurant, at 15 Mohamed Sultan Road. The new restaurant presents an ingredient-led 12-serving tasting menu priced at $268++ per person.
Árō – a labour of love
The name Árō stems from the Latin arō, meaning to cultivate, and áro, which translates to love in the chef’s hometown dialect. And in her own explanation: “When you put these together, you get labour
of love. Which is what this whole endeavor is.”
Chef Johanne Siy was born in the coastal province of Pangasinan in the Philippines. She previously trained at global establishments including Le Bernardin, Café Boulud, Restaurant André, Noma, Relæ, and Fäviken. However, rather than adhering to a specific regional style, Siy classifies her culinary approach as “Creator’s cuisine,” focusing directly on raw materials and producer stories.
Ingredients dictate the menu
In practice, the menu highlights several under-utilised Southeast Asian and global ingredients. For example, the Stingless Bee Honey snack features rare native kelulut honey served on an edible flower over a cheese cracker. Additionally, the dish pairs a fresh sample with a two-year aged honey served in a handcrafted ceramic pot.
Meanwhile, another course incorporates aligue, a rich river crab fat from the Philippines, served inside a tart shell with spanner crab, green apple, guava cheong, lime zest, and cardamom. Furthermore, the Pili course combines a custard of wild-foraged pili nut milk with raw pili nuts, jamón, fried capers, egg yolk sauce, and Kaviari Ossetra caviar. For the seaweed course, Siy integrates gamet, a purple seaweed from Ilocos, alongside wakame, ayunori, sea lettuce, hijiki, and a Gillardeau oyster. Finally, before dessert, diners are introduced to Asín Tibuok, an artisanal Filipino sea salt produced via a 500-year-old traditional process.
Designed to feel more like a home than a restaurant
The venue uses physical design to emphasize craftsmanship and guest connection. Designed in collaboration with Keiji Ashizawa Design, the 26-seat space features furniture manufactured by Japanese maker Karimoku Case. In terms of layout, the interior includes a 10-seat open chef’s counter, two dining tables for four guests, and a private dining room that accommodates eight people. Materials such as natural walnut, rattan, travertine, and custom woven metal mesh are integrated throughout the dining room. The space is designed to feel more like a home than a restaurant.
Árō operates strictly on a reservation-only policy. Walk-in guests are not catered to. Currently, it only offers a 12-serving tasting menu at $268++ per person.
Árō
15 Mohamed Sultan Road
Singapore 238964
Tel: +65 6290 6195
Opening Hours:
Friday – Monday: 12noon – 3pm | 6pm – 10pm
Thursday: 6pm – 10pm
Closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
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