Stretch your dollar with these
fabulous all-you-can-eat buffets. By Baey Shi Chen
and Theresa Tarpey
While many are cutting expenses in
these tight times, there’s no reason to cut down on how much you
eat. Get maximum mileage from your dough by checking out the best
buffets in town.
Ellenborough Market
Cafe
G/F, Swissotel Merchant Court, 20 Merchant Court,
6239-1847/8.
The setting: The ground-floor café overlooks the
Singapore River, with an outdoor dining terrace which is ideal for
watching the world go by.
The scene: With décor influenced by our local
heritage, this café exudes an old-world charm, accentuated by
polished rattan chairs and old-fashioned, white marble
tables.
The crowd: Ellenborough is a favorite haunt of the
lunchtime throng comprising corporate professionals, families, and
lunching ladies.
The spread: Expect a wide variety of international
cuisine and superb local dishes. Signature dishes include the
steamed seabass in broad bean paste and the wok-fried slipper
lobster in black bean sauce. The café is also famous for its
selection of authentic Peranakan fare dreamt up by in-house Nonya
chef Shirley Tay—think ayam buah keluak, babi pongteh and kueh pie
tee, paired with freshly made sambal sauces. The yummy desserts
include perennial favorites such as green bean soup, pulot hitam
and the café’s famous durian pengat, a heavenly creamy dessert made
of the finest D-24 durians. And oh, check out the Peranakan kueh
dadar, chocolate fondue and delicious cakes too.
The damage: The prices are pretty reasonable.
Lunch is priced at $29 on weekdays; and $31 on weekends. Dinner
costs $36 from Mon-Thu and $38 from Fri-Sun.
Perfect for: A hearty meal with family and
friends. Its proximity to Clarke Quay also means that avid clubbers
hit the dance floors there to work off the meal.
Garuda Padang
Cuisine
#02-01 Cairnhill Place, 15 Cairnhill Rd., 6735-4111.
The setting: Classy Garuda from the folks at Tung
Lok Restaurant is the only franchise serving up authentic Padang
cuisine outside Indonesia. They’ve taken canteen dining to the next
level, ritzing up the à la carte buffet experience with an
all-white, uber modern furnishings.
The scene: With its simple and refined décor, this
place is the epitome of elegant buffet dining on the cheap. Its
location away from the main part of Orchard guarantees hours of
undisturbed grazing.
The crowd: Over lunch, corporate types prevail. In
the evenings, though, the place is packed with a much better mix of
customers. Indonesian families can be spotted here at any time of
the day.
The spread: Indonesian soul food is the order of
the day. Aromatic ingredients meld together to create a large
variety of traditional Padang favorites. In line with the concept
of chic buffet dining, guests point at desired dishes and then
return to their table to await service. The beef rendang is braised
to perfection—tender and well-balanced in terms of creaminess,
texture and spice. The fried kampung chicken iss all about the
yellow ginger and herb floss—which doesn’t taste anything like
ginger, but damn is it tasty! And did we mention the lamb rack in
curry? It’s to-die-for, fall-off-the-bone tender. As for veggie
delights, the eggplant in sambal—smothered in chili-sardine
sauce—is piquant and soft.
The damage: The à la carte buffet will set you
back $18 for lunch and $20 for dinner. We know what you’re
thinking, “It’s good but so is the auntie-run Padang stall near
work.” This is what we have to say to that: Student sets go for $6
which includes rice, meat, veggies, tempe and egg. They’ve also got
an early bird special (11am-noon, 5:30-6:30pm), which is $5 for a
bento set and includes rice, choice of meat, veggie and
tempe.
Perfect for: Those aiming to please a client,
mother-in-law, friend or tourist with scrumptious Padang eats in a
swanky, peaceful setting.
Hibiki
Cuppage Terrace, 21 Cuppage Rd., 6736-0326.
The setting: Nestled among alfresco eateries, bars
and a spa in newly revamped Cuppage Terrace, Hibiki (one of two
branches opened by Apex-Pal International) is tasteful and
minimalist Japanese in terms of layout and style. Beige wood
paneling, leather-upholstered seating and simple lines create a
soothing atmosphere.
The scene: The feel is sleek, toned-down izakaya.
Whether dining or just sipping a cool beverage, this is a place to
get some quality chill time.
The crowd: It can be quite corporate but being
just off Orchard, tourists and expats frequent the place often as
well.
The spread: This restaurant has an à la carte
buffet which comprises a menu which includes all the usual suspects
(sushi, noodles, tempura, sumiyaki) and that is available for
groups of four or more. Come with a big appetite as portions are
far from skimpy. Start off with the green salad with citrus-miso
dressing, a platter sashimi and California maki (a bit mayo heavy).
Next, treat your taste buds to some deeper flavors, such as the
light and crispy assorted vegetable tempura and the grilled bacon
wrapped cherry tomato, baby asparagus and enoki mushroom sumimaki
skewers.
The damage: For Japanese food, $20.90 for lunch
and $26.90 for dinner isn’t too shabby. Something else we love is
Hibiki’s fee for food wastage. If you’ve eaten at Sakae Sushi or
any of Apex-Internationals restaurants before, this is not news to
you. At $5 per 100 grams wasted food, it definitely helps stop your
eyes getting bigger than your stomach.
Perfect for: Those looking for a stellar place to
chill after hours with workmates. You can start inside with a meal
and then move it out for your evening drinks.
MELT the World Cafe
4/F, The Mandarin Oriental Singapore, 5 Raffles Ave.,
6885-3082.
The setting: The vibrant, dramatic setting conveys
the idea of dining as theater as the chefs display their skills at
live stations.
The scene: With rich colors and exotic decor, the
café has a stylish and cosmopolitan look.
The crowd: The café is a hit with working
professionals for weekday lunches, but come evening and weekends,
the place is popular with families. There’s a kids’ room furnished
with toys and a special buffet for families with young
children.
The spread: True to its concept of being a melting
pot of international cuisines, the café offers an eclectic array of
food from various cultures, such as premium sushi from Japan,
tandooris from India and seafood from Thailand. The dessert
selection is undoubtedly the best part, and you will feel like
you’re literally lost in a candy store as you browse sweets and
goodies that are to-die-for. With delectable options like the
chocolate pudding with a warm gooey center and freshly-made waffles
topped with ice-cream, chantilly cream and fresh jams, you will be
utterly spoiled for choice.
The damage: The priciest of the lot, lunch here
will set you back $54. Dinner is priced at $65 from Sun-Wed, and
$70 from Thu-Sat.
Perfect for: Working professionals looking to pack in an exciting
lunch.
Oscar’s Café &
Terrace
G/F, Conrad Centennial Singapore, 2 Temasek Blvd.,
6432-7481.
The setting: Pristine and tastefully furnished,
the café has an indoor and alfresco dining area.
The scene: Decorated with a contemporary feel, the
café is tranquil and elegant.
The crowd: The café is popular with business
associates. On weekends, it also attracts families and yuppies
looking for long conversations and great food.
The spread: With the kitchen helmed by
award-winning chefs, the café’s unique international menu wows with
its sheer variety. Just the salad bar alone offers up to 30 salads,
with an equally wide array of condiments. Try the Caesar salad that
is specially mixed for you in a barrel of cheese for added flavor,
and whet your appetite with numerous quality cheeses. Head on to
the crustacean station for fresh Boston lobsters and Sri Lankan
crab; then chow down on the international main courses. A must-try
is the soup and noodle bar that offers a selection of tasty Asian
broths like tom yum, bah kut teh and prawn noodle soup—with a wide
variety of noodles and condiments to choose from. Lastly, no
self-respecting dessert fan should give the dessert bar a miss.
Featuring authentic cookies from around the world and a
mind-boggling array of pastries, ice-cream, sweets and tapas-style
desserts, you won’t know where to begin. There is even a “Hot-Iron”
station with chefs on hand to prepare delectable waffles and
crumpets. For those looking for a truly indulgent weekend, try
Oscar’s Amazing Graze Sunday Brunch, which offers free flow
champagne while local sensation Maya Nova serenades you with
soothing jazz hits.
The damage: Prices are average by buffet
standards. Lunch is priced at $45 from Mon-Sat. Dinner costs $53
from Sun-Wed; and $65 from Thu-Sat. The Amazing Graze Sunday Brunch
comes up to $138.
Perfect for: Business associates looking to close
deals over power lunches in an elegant setting or those looking for
a reprieve from the mad rush of lunch hour. It’s also an ideal for
gatherings with family and friends on weekends.