Don’t know where to go for your next buffet fix? Here’s a list I received in my email. Hope it helps when you have ran out of ideas!

Food lovers … hold your breath!

Lunch buffets

1. For lunch buffet below $20, Geek Terminal at Market Street (http://www.geekterminal.com/) @ $13.90 per pax - think it’s best for those working in Raffles Place & who want a light lunch.

2. For lunch buffet between $20 to $30, Carnivore at Vivocity (http://www.carnivore.com.sg/Outlets/vivo.asp) @ $28++ per pax - good for meat-eaters & those working in Vivocity vicinity.

3. For lunch buffet above $30, Carousel at Royal Plaza on Scotts (http://dining.royalplaza.com.sg/) @ $39++ per pax - for those who can afford a leisurely lunch with international spread on a weekday at Orchard Road.

Dinner buffets

1. Below $20, Bombay Cafe Express at Suntec City Mall (http://www.bombaycafe.com.sg/) @ $14.90++ per pax - not sure if the buffet’s only available on Friday nights since that was what the programme showed. There’s also another Bombay Cafe around Tanjong Katong area. >> $9.90 on weekday, ok, included some Chinese dishes among the Indian dishes offered. Serves naan too. (value for money.)

2. Between $20 to $30, Harbour City Restaurant at PSA Building (http://www.harbourcity.com.sg/) @ $27.80++ per pax, only on weeknights - ala carte buffet menu of 48 dishes but subject to minimum of 4 pax to enjoy the buffet. This buffet does really look like a great-value for money, but provided you don’t mind travelling to the rather remote location. I had only tried the dim sum lunch once & a long time ago, but it seemed very popular with working crowd around there

3. Above $30, MELT - The World Cafe at Mandarin Oriental (http://www.mandarinoriental.com/singapore/dining/MELT/) @ $70++ per pax, only on weeknights - add $25++ to enjoy free flow of alcohol.

Dim sum buffets

1. Below $20, Lao Beijing at Plaza Singapura (http://www.tunglok.com/laobeijing/laobeijing_menus.html) @ $10.20++ per pax – only for high tea on weekdays, 3 to 5pm. For weekends & PHs, the price increases to $15.80++, but the spread has slightly more choices as well. Check out their website for the full high tea menus. It’s worth a try if you like lots of Chinese carbs.

2. Between $20 to $30, Peach Blossom at Marina Mandarin (http://www.meritus-hotels.com/hotelresort/marinamandarin/dining/peachblossom.htm) @ $28.80++ per pax, served between 11.30am to 2.30pm, only on weekends & PHs - ala carte buffet menu of over 26 dishes. I haven’t tried it but am really tempted by the display of fried cornflake beancurds, deep fried enoki mushroom parcels and black glutinous rice with pumpkin paste dessert last night.

3. Above $30, Hai Tien Lo at Pan Pacific (http://www.panpacific.com/en/singapore/restaurants_bars/Hai_Tien_Lo.html) @ $58++ per pax, between 11.30am to 2.30pm, only on weekends & PHs – the spread looked good, but 4 out of 5 tasters on the programme commented that the price was a little too high for dim sum, which I tend to agree, what’s more with the recession looming over our heads now.

Breakfast buffets

1. Below $20, Bistro Delifrance at various locations (http://www.delifrance.com.sg/)@ $9.90++ per pax – only on Fridays to Sundays & PHs, 8 to 10.30am. Check their website for the various bistro locations & under ‘Promotions & Hot Deals’ for the breakfast buffet details. Not sure why the flyer on the website indicated that we can have the bakery buffet breakfast at $7.95 and will need to add $3 for an additional hot meal, which was different from what was telecasted last evening, showing unlimited helpings to both their hot & bakery items. Perhaps different bistro have different menus or the flyer is outdated? Did anybody know which outlet they showcased last night?

2. Between $20 to $30, Cafe Brio’s at Grand Copthorne Waterfront Hotel (http://www.millenniumhotels.com.sg/grandcopthornewaterfront/restaurant/index.html) @ $29.00++ per pax, served between 6.30 to 10.30am, on all days –the spread seemed very international, probably good for those staying nearby. I found the mention of dining al fresco alongside the Singapore River rather funny since the view is more like of a big canal, nothing spectacular.

3. Above $30, Olive Tree Restaurant at Intercontinental Singapore ( http://www.singapore.intercontinental.com/dining/olivetree.asp) @ $36.00++ per pax, between 6 to 10.30am, on weekends & PHs – the spread actually didn’t seem as international as Café Brio’s, but is definitely more high end. They have an egg station that will freshly cook your eggs in whatever style you want, which is the norm for 4 stars hotel establishments and above. And boy, am I impressed with their selection of fresh tea leaves that are served in actual tea pots rather than cups to individual customers. The pan fried beef and cheese selection looks really yummy too. So if I’m to choose between Café Brio’s & Olive Tree, I’ll rather pay a bit more & go for the latter. After a most satisfying breakfast, we can then walk off our food by shopping to our fill at Bugis Junction.

High tea buffets

1. Below $20, Chilli Padi Nonya Café at North Bridge Commercial Complex $8.80+ per pax. The high tea buffet is served on all days of the weeks, 2.30pm to 5.30pm, and I think it’s $7.80+ on weekdays, add a dollar for weekends. I was salivating over the spread on tv last night, especially the nonya kuehs, kueh pie ti, chwee kueh & chilled sago with gula melaka. Seems like they rotate their daily menus, thus you may get your favorites on certain days. The spread may not be huge but it’s definitely worth a try for that price. For your information, North Bridge Commercial Complex is just opposite Bugis Junction.

2. Between $20 to $30, Ellenborough Market Café at Swissotel Merchant Court (http://www.swissotel.com/EN/Destinations/Singapore/Swissotel+Merchant+Court/HOTEL+HOME/Gallery/Dining/Ellenborough+Market+Cafe.htm) @ $28.00++ per pax, served between 3.30pm to 5.30pm, only on weekends and PHs – needless be much said about this popular buffet with Singaporeans. It’s got a reasonably good spread, just don’t expect very nice ambience as I tend to think the café is always overcrowded. The cold chempedak dessert did look very tempting though.

3. Above $30, Tea Lounge at The Regent Singapore ( http://www.regenthotels.com/hotels/risin/dinings) @ $36.00++ per pax, served between 1.30pm to 5.30pm on weekends – this is a classic English tea buffet, probably more suitable for ladies of leisure or bunch of girls meeting up for a get-together or couples wanting a quiet afternoon to cosy up to each other. Can you imagine a bunch of guys or big families gathering at this place? I think that explained why Terence Cao kept going over to join the other 2 female tasters last night since it would be a bit awkward for him to sit alone and sample English tea. Anyway, interesting items to try include the Yuzu tarlet, cherry trifle and macarons.

Steamboat buffets

1. Zheng Fa Steamboat - Less Than 20 @ $18.90++, on weekdays. I was surprised by the indoor decor as it really didn’t look very nice outside.
I found the uniforms of the staff rather corny, but overall, I wouldn’t mind patronising this place with my family or a big bunch of friends so that we can share food & try everything. The desserts really looked interesting, and I am impressed by the fact that they don’t only offer steamboat, but also grill/bbq & teppanyaki, & at such low price. I bet this place is going to get swamped from now onwards, & I regret not trying it before the telecast.

2. Chongqing Steamboat @ Tanglin Mall - Less than 30 @ $29.90++ on weekdays & $30.90++ on weekends. Website:http://www.chinesefeasts.com.sg/restaurants.html. The restaurant is more correctly known as The Magic of Chongqing Hot Pot, & you can find the extensive menu on the website above. I like their sauces a lot, and all the 1-serving Jing Chuan Dian Xin items are worth a try. The 8-treasure tea served is a bonus as it really aided digestion of food.

3. The Buffet @ M Hotel - Above 30 @ $38++ on weekdays. Website: http://www.millenniumhotels.com.sg/mhotelsingapore/restaurant/theBuffet.html. The hotpot buffet showcased last night is really impressive, but I think more suited for seafood lovers since they focus their themes around seafood. I salivated over the drunken prawns cooked on the spot & mushroom varieties & chinese herbs that you can add all you want to your soup, and of course, the durian pengat.

Dessert buffets

1. Below $20, Mingles at Velocity (Novena Square) – ice cream buffet @ $14.90++ per pax, available for high tea everyday. The buffet offers 24 flavours of New Zealand Natural ice cream, with unlimited waffles (not served whole but in small slices) & 1 drink per customer. It may be too much to eat just ice cream unless you are a true-blue ice cream fan, so a suggestion is to go for their set lunches or dinners, which will give you main course, drink & dessert/soup. I tried this place a couple of times, & rather enjoyed their sausages & rosti.
However, this place is definitely not meant for hanging out or big crowds.

2. Between $20 to $30, The Rose Veranda at Shangri-La Hotel - dessert buffet @ $28++ per pax, available between 3 to 6pm on weekdays.http://www.shangri-la.com/en/property/singapore/shangrila/dining/restaurant/roseveranda. I actually think this is the most worthy of the lot showcased last night, & would love to give it a try when I can find time to take the afternoon off from work & have a leisurely high tea with my friends or other half.
Being a female & tea drinker, I love the rose patterned crockery & am amazed by the 102 varieties of tea available. Apparently, they also serve tea cocktails, which are chargeable. Temptations include the crème brulee, mango & mint minestrone, lemongrass & chocolate mousse topped with crunchy chocolate balls, durian cake & chocolate fondue. They also have a selection of hot items for this buffet, which is great for those who are not die hard dessert fans.

3. Above $30, The Courtyard at Fullerton Hotel – chocolate buffet @ $38++ per pax, available Thur through Sat nights.http://www.fullertonhotel.com/swf/main.html#/dining/thecourtyard/. Well, another well known buffet, so I’m not going to say too much. I have never tried it since I don’t fancy gorging myself on chocolate, not that I don’t love chocolate, but I just don’t wish to run at the sight of chocolate for a long time after that. The only items that caught my attention last night are the lychee tiramisu and white chocolate soup.

Brunch buffets

1. Below $20, Penang Place Restaurant at International Business Park – not exactly brunch buffet but more like lunch buffet @ $19.80++ per pax, available daily from 11.30am to 2pm except on Sundays when they close – http://www.penangplace.com/. I tried this before, & have to say that I really enjoyed the spread. It is always very crowded though, so you definitely need to make reservations, even on weekdays. You can refer to the website for the buffet items.

2. Between $20 to $30, The Pearl River Palace Restaurant at Suntec City Convention Centre Level 3 – ala carte Cantonese lunch buffet @ $28++ per pax, available between 11.30am to 2.30pm on weekends.
Being such a traditional Chinese establishment, they do not have their own website. It seems like a good central venue for family get-together makan sessions on weekends with the usual Chinese restaurant fare, tim sum selection & desserts, & as usual, being able to shop after a heavy makan session is a plus point.

3. Above $30, Checkers Brasserie at Hilton Singapore – Sunday champagne buffet @ $160++ per pax, available from 12pm to 3pm. Without free flow champagne, it’s $70++ per adult & $25++ per child. http://www1.hilton.com/en_US/hi/hotel/SINHITW-Hilton-Singapore-hotel/dining.do;jsessionid=17BE3DCE5A2E6071BC2B21DAF1E7FCAB.etc73#2. It sounds crazy to pay that kind of $$ for champagne plus lunch, especially when the atmosphere isn’t exactly leisurely or relaxed with a kids’ corner on the same premises. It also seemed so crowded and noisy in the show but if you have the cash to spare, can try for the seafood, western hot entrees like roast beef, foie gras (WOW!) & Yorkshire pudding, Indian cuisine like lamb kebabs & naans, Chinese selection like crepes with Peking duck and of course desserts.

Valid from Aug to October 2009!

My top recommendation for your Ramen fix! Located at CENTRAL, this restaurant is small, and there is always a long queue during peak hours. My longest wait was 1 hour and it is always worth it!

Firstly, the place was nice and cosy. Service was good and fast. The ramen texture was great, really springy and the soup was what steals the limelight. There are 3 soup base to choose from- 1) Muratama (chicken soup), 2) Karashi (spicy chicken soup), 3) Aka (with Nuts). I always go for the spicy one. A standard bowl of the ramen for $12 consists of 2 slices of char siew (don’t expect it to be enormous though), spring onions and seaweed. Add ons don’t come cheap- just a few slices more of char siew cost $4, an egg (the runny york, salty kind) for $1, seaweed $1, and even spring onions cost $1 as well. The price is a tad bit steep, but it’s absolutely worth it! My definite add on is the egg. And, when I feel rich, I’d go for the char siew as well. You can top up your noodles for $1, but that doesn’t come with soup, so you gotta make sure you still have soup left in your bowl! There is not much variety on the menu, but the quality of the food is really worth it all. A friend of mine once said, “you don’t know real ramen until you’ve been to marutama”. That is oh-so-true!

However, with the prices, please dont expect a fine dining experience. Its pretty much a eat and go kind of restaurant (I guess we gotta spare a thought for the long queue outside!).

Address:
6 Eu Tong Sen Street

#03-90/91 The Central

Singapore 059817

Tel: 6534 8077

TS Ratings:

This japanese restaurant was much talked about in the papers, and with the convincing long queues, I decided to visit. Surprisingly, the wait was pretty short. There were around 15 groups infront of me but I queued for barely 15 minutes.

However, the food was really kind of disappointed. I was expecting it to be much better, after all the rave. I ordered Ebi-mayo, Shio Seafood Ramen, and Shoyu Taro Ramen. All were too salty for me. Extremely salty, so much so that I couldn’t finish the food. At one point, I felt like I was eating plain salt. Even my partner, who loves everything extra savoury, finds the food a tad bit too salty. He loves it though, as anything-salty goes for him.

The ramen texture itself was pretty good though, and thats really all about it. The quantity wasn’t something to rave about as well. Price wise, it was an average to $13-$20 for a bowl of ramen. They had a 10% discount for Citibank card holders.

Doesn’t hurt to try this restaurant out I guess, but of cos, I dont highly recommend it for people who have light tastebuds.

*I apologise for the poor resolution of the photos! I forgot my trusty camera that day!

2 Orchard Turn
#B3-25 ION Orchard

Tel: 6509 9394

TS Ratings:

This restaurant is great for people who want to get away from the city buzz (like me). Its something like Dempsey Hill, but definitely less crowded. Located along Tanglin Road (amid the embassies), its a little walk uphill if you are dropping off at the bus stop along the road.  Otherwise, it’d be good to drive, there’s free parking (and ample,at that)! Outdoor sitting allows a greenery view, great for nature lovers. Very pleasant and peaceful.  It kinda makes you forget you’re in busy Singapore.

I was there for brunch and I immediately fell in love with their menu. I settled for an Eggs Benny which was simply irresistible. Its a waffle with corn,syrup and a delicious yellow runny egg. It was a little rich though, so it might be a good idea to share (but I believe guys with a hearty appetite like Donovan might enjoy it alone!). My partner ordered a British Brekkie which seemed pretty normal to me with sausages, toasted bread and a sunny side up. He totally enjoyed it though. The highlight had got to be the Cinnamon Roll. It simply beats any other cinnamon-related pastry I’ve ever tried. It was so crispy yet soft. The sugar wasn’t too much, and the raisins went oh-so-well with it. It’s definitely a must-try! At $5 for a rather big piece, it just can’t get any cheaper. I tried their potato wedges (apparently, it wasn’t on the menu but my partner was just trying his luck) and it was awfully good and not too expensive. I ordered their latte as well and the foam came in a little heart shape. Perfect for girls who love little things like that Their coffee was very rich, and I guess it’d be perfect for coffee lovers who need that little boost at the start of their day. I enjoyed their mint lemonade too. It was too sour for my partner, but it worked well for me. Very refreshing for a hot day! Oh, and I understand that their sugar syrup was home-made

Entrance!

Menu

Oozing out! Heavenly!

British Brekkie

Cinnamon Pecan Roll

Wedges

Mint Lemonade

cafe latte

I am looking forward to more trips there, to try every single thing on their menu. I have never been there for dinner, but I reckon it would be good as well. Just blogging this makes me really hungry now!

Price wise, I would say its reasonable for their quality and quantity.

Reservations are HIGHLY recommended, because I always see a sneaking queue whenever I am there. I understand that they are always fully booked at least a week in advance, so please do book early to avoid disappointment! Singapore needs more restaurants like this! Stay tuned for my dinner update! And in case you can’t wait, here’s the restaurant’s info:

www.spruce.com.sg

Trading Hours

Lunch: M-F 10.30am – 2.30pm

(Last Food Order 2.15pm)

Bakery, Tea and Coffee: M-Su 2.30pm – 5.30pm

Dinner: M-Su 5.30pm – 10.30pm

(Last Food Order 10.15pm)

Brunch: Sat & Sun 8.30am – 2.30pm
(Last Food Order 2.15)

P: 6836 5528 F: 6836 5527

320 Tanglin Road, Phoenix Park 247980

For information regarding the development of Spruce, please visit

http://www.sprucechef.blogspot.com

Yours Truly,

Veron,

TS.

TS Ratings:

This is the best place for Black Pepper Crabs. I’ve never eaten such great crabs in my life. As the comment from Mediacorp goes, “Even if you have to claw your way to this seafood restaurant, the crabs here are worth it”. So totally true. It is certainly a heaven for everyone, crab lovers or not.

Located at 180 Yio Chu Kang Road (near Serangoon Chomp Chomp), its a little out of the way, but it was really crowded. We had a little difficulty locating the place though.

Every dish which we had was great, but the Black Pepper Crabs (their speciality) stole the limelight. Its really tasty and spicy, and the black pepper sauce is really rich. The crabs are totally fresh. I have never eaten such tender meat before. My 5 cousins who were with me all agreed its the best we ever eaten!

We ordered dao miao, tou fu with minced meat, fried you tiao with prawn paste, mee goreng (which is spicy and good), and chilli crab. It costed the 6 of us around $180, and its really worth it considering the top food quality and superb service. As we were celebrating a birthday, the staff actually dimmed the lights,  played a birthday song, and served us ice water and plates for the cake. They were really thoughtful and we had a fantastic dining experience.

In conclusion, this is a MUST GO!!!!!

Venue: 180 Yio Chu Kang Road Singapore 545628

www.houseofseafood.com.sg

Tel: 62827180

This is the place to go for the following reasons:

- extremely large pizza

- fantastic pasta

- great ambience (al fresco sitting), which makes you forget you are in singapore.

- excellent service

They have a wide variety of choices for pizza and pasta, which makes one totally spoiled for choice. Thank god the waitresses are really friendly and helpful. Their pizza comes in 3 different sizes. Medium, Large and X-Large. I guess their large one is good enough for 2, and you can actually choose a mixture of 2 different types of pizza. The X-Large one will probably give you a shock. It is definitely much bigger than any another pizza I’ve ever seen in Singapore. A normal 2 seater table is definitely not enough for it.

For appetizer, I had Portobello Mushroom ($17). It was so yummy, I couldnt have enough of it. It appears like its 1 huge mushroom deep fried. There’s a really unique taste to it and I believe Yogi (the mushroom lover) will love it tons. It is a must try!

I ordered Suprema & Prima for my large pizza ($22). It is the best pizza I’ve eaten in Singapore. The crust is super thin and crispy. The toppings are generous and tasty.

For pasta, I had a Vongole (clams in white wine sauce, $21). Its cooked aglio olio style and its great for me, because it ain’t too salty or oily. In other words, its perfect.

So, what can I say? This place is definitely one of the best restaurants I’ve been to. I totally enjoyed the dining experience, i almost thought i was on yet another resort getaway. Although a tad bit remote, it gets really crowded on weekends. Customers are mostly caucasians, and advance booking is advised.

TS, lets go one day!

6 Greenwood Avenue
Singapore 289195

64656556

12.00pm to 10.30am Daily

Directions: Along Dunearn Road, after Nanyang Girls’ High School and Raffles Girls’ Primary School, turn left into Hillcrest Road,  straight ahead, you would see Greenwood Avenue and a string of restaurants. Pepperoni Pizzeria is located on the extreme right end. It is just a short walk (5 mins) if you alight at the bus stop along Dunearn Road.

Deliciously,

TS

I recommend this restaurant for affordable Korean food! Unlike other higher end Korean restaurants, this place does not offer the traditional Korean BBQ. This restaurant is separated into 2 sections. The main one is bigger, with an LCD screen showing a Korean drama. The smaller one is located outside, with only a few seats.

As usual, the food comes with free side dishes (banchan). At other Korean restaurants that I’ve been to, they serve each customer 1 portion of the banchan. Here, though, they serve only 1 portion for the 2 of us. However, since its free top-up, one doesn’t really mind that, right?

Their Dolsot Bibimbap (Hot bowl mixed rice) is tasty. Its a popular Korean dish. However, their egg is sunny side up, which is different from the usual raw runny one.  You are supposed to mix the rice together with their given sauce before eating.

I also tried their Pork with rice (I can’t remember the Korean language for that). Its definitely meant for people who strong taste buds, because the red sauce is a little heavy.

So, for affordable and decent korean food, this is definitely the place. Its crowded during lunch hour since there are many offices near by and in that building itself. Otherwise, its a really quiet and cosy place.

12 Gopeng St

#01-12 ICON Village

(beside Tanjong Pagar MRT)

Tel: 6327 7761

이별 (byebye),

TS

I’ve often heard good reviews of The Prime Society at Dempsey, and so, I decided to check it out. Located among the numerous restaurants there (at the main carpark), I thought it was going to be a breeze to locate it. However, I had to drive around the carpark several times before i could locate it. That’s because it doesn’t have a grand and catchy entrance. In fact, its a pretty modest one.

Everything is different once you step inside though. It has posh settings, with a bar in the middle, and a cooking area at the end of the restaurant. I recommend Al-fresco sitting, because it overlooks a field, and it has a more relaxing feel to it.

They are famous for their fresh and tender steaks. I ordered lemon salt & pepper calamari ($12), fillet mignon ($32 for 160g) and flame grilled ribs ($25 for half a rack, $38 for full). Calamari was only so-so to me, but the fillet mignon was great! I had medium rare, and it was juicy and tender. The ribs were absolutely yummy as well. Both main course come with fries, small potatoes, vegetables. They ain’t exactly generous with their serving, so for big eaters (like don!), you’d definitely not go well with the small portions. I ordered small ones for all, by the way.

Their service was a little over-enthusiastic, coming over to take my order every minute when i had a hard time deciding what kind of steak i wanted. In addition, the price is quite steep. Be prepared to spend approximately $50 per person for small quantity of food. Overall, it was a pretty decent fine dining experience for me.

10 Dempsey Road, #01-20.
Tel: 6474-7427

with love,

TS

The Dead Fish Tower Inn was my most memorable meal during my recent trip to Siem Reap, Cambodia. Absolutely unique! Alas, my camera went dead before i could snap pictures of my food =( Prior to the trip, my companion read many reports of this popular inn, and we knew we just had to check it out.

The name itself was interesting enough to lure us in. In addition, at the entrance, there was a convincing signboard stating - “Don’t serve dog, cat, rat or w(o)rm!”

The interior of this restaurant is spacious. However, the excessive use of tiny stairs and the dim lights made it a little hard for us to navigate our way around. On the ground level, there was even a little crocodile pit with the sign, “Don’t play with them, they run faster than you”. This restaurant sure has a sense of humor!

There was also a live band playing, as well as dance performances to entertain you while you dine on the second level. Tables are low, and you sit on mats. A really relaxing feel, good for a chill out evening with your friends.

Okay, here comes the main part - the food was mainly Thai, Khmer, and Western. It is highly advisable not to visit during important days of Cambodia, such as the Election Day, which unfortunately happened to me. Their Election Day was like Singapore’s Chinese New Year, during which shops are mostly closed. This also meant that we had limited menus to choose from. I had their set meal consisting of Amok fish, stir-fry cabbages,sweet and sour chicken and sticky rice (a staple of Thai food). It was only moderate, but their Amok Fish (traditional Khmer dish) is a must try! It’s something you definitely don’t get in Singapore. I ended up eating Amok Fish most of the time during my trip! Their free desert (some cakey thing which wasn’t even in the menu) was a total disaster.  It was almost stale, and there was even a small insect on the plate. The Americans next to us had western food, french fries and all, and it looked pretty normal to me. I suggest having their Thai / Khmer food instead, since you’re at Cambodia.

I love the way they delivered our food - by a pulley system! The chefs were at ground level, and after preparing my food on a tray, they tied a rope around it, rang a bell, and the waiters/waitresses on the second level started pulling it up. It was a really innovative idea.

The cost of my meal was around US$7. Pretty expensive going by the standards in Cambodia. For the ambience and architecture, I guess its worth a visit if you visit Siem Reap.

Here’s the address, its in the heart of the city. Ask around and you won’t miss it!