From The Straits Times    |


SEAFOOD NIGHT AT SEASONAL TASTES
The Westin Singapore, Asia Square Tower 2, 12 Marina View, tel: 6922-6968. $78++ for adults, $39++ for kids aged four to 12. Every Fri, 6-10pm.
A great location, stunning city skyline, prompt, friendly service, and a warm, welcoming space make Seafood Night extremely popular. It was fully booked on the Friday night we were there – so be sure to make a reservation.

WHAT’S HOT:
* The fresh seafood table. So appetising, with cascading piles of sweet lobsters, crab claws, prawns, clams and super-fresh oysters.  
* Cooked dishes. The ones that wowed us: the Wild Rice with Seafood, laksa (rich, coconut-y and savoury), Baked Snapper (so fresh), and crispy tempura with salted egg yolk sauce.
* Almost all of the desserts. We liked the cherry trifle, chocolate mousse (light and fluffy with a good cocoa hit), and lychee chocolate balls. But props go to the avocado and dark chocolate gelato – smooth and creamy, but light enough for seconds, or thirds, if you wish.

WHAT’S NOT:
* Some salads were disappointing – the fish skin salad was soggy and salty; the oriental roasted duck salad had a good smokiness but was also too salty.
* We found the barbecue station lacking in consistency – our first round of grilled squid and scallops was chewy and tough, but the second was just right. – Cheryl Leong, consumer & lifestyle writer


WEEKEND BRUNCH WITH PASSION AT CATALUNYA
The Fullerton Pavilion, 82 Collyer Quay, tel: 6534-0886. $98++ for adults, $40++ for kids aged four to nine, with a free flow of juices; add $48++ for free flow of alcohol, coffee and tea. Every Sat and Sun, and on Aug 7, 12.30-3.30pm.
Having a weekend brunch at this Spanish restaurant housed in a floating glass dome between One Fullerton and The Fullerton Bay Hotel is akin to attending a dining event – it’s a feast for both the belly and the senses.

WHAT’S HOT:
* The food isn’t your done-to-death buffet. You get a slew of traditional Spanish tapas and dishes, from salads to fish, a charcuterie (including mortadella and iberico hams), and cheese.
* Marinated hamachi with ponzu sauce. This was a hit – fresh, tangy and with a richness inherent in yellowtail fish, it’s several notches up from the usual salmon sashimi free-for-all.
* Steak tartare. A bold addition, as the raw minced-beef dish, seasoned with shallots, capers, pickles and chives, is practically unheard of at a buffet.
* Salads. Every one is worth a second tasting: There’s caprese (mozzarella with tomatoes and basil), arugula salad, a chicken salad, asparagus, and a roasted potato salad.
* Deconstructed Spanish omelette. Instead of a fried omelette with potatoes, it’s served in three layers, in a martini glass, starting with a caramelised onion at the bottom, followed by egg yolk cooked at 60 deg C, and topped with a creamy potato foam. We spooned up every last bit.
* Segovian Suckling Pig. The big highlight of brunch to stay for. It’s presented to the dining room with pomp (and the breaking of plates).

WHAT’S NOT:
* The signature mains, like the catch of the day and seafood paella, were wanting. The fish was over-salted while the paella was burnt. But even if you skipped these dishes, there’s plenty to eat and enjoy.
* This isn’t the place to dine at if you prefer quiet conversation over a meal with the family. We had to shout above the music and other diners’ chatter. – Penelope Chan, editor


SEAFOOD FROM THE HEART AT THE KITCHEN TABLE
W Hotel, 21 Ocean Way, tel: 6808-7268. $85++ for adults, $42.50++ for kids aged three to 12; add $28++ for two hours of free flow beer. Fri-Sun, 6-11.30pm.
This tie-up with Australian celebrity chef Peter Kuruvita, known for his sustainable seafood practices and seafood-based, Indian-inspired dishes, sees intriguing fusion creations that bring out the taste of the fresh catches perfectly.

WHAT’S HOT:
* The seafood bar. Sweet lobster and crab claws, fresh, succulent prawns, creamy oysters, mussels and even sea snails, along with generous cuts of tuna and salmon sashimi.
* Tartare salad and scallop ceviche. Packed in little mason jars, they were full of fresh briny flavours.
* Crayfish Tandoori. We loved this! The crayfish was succulent and well-marinated in smoky Indian spices.
* Chilli Crab Fondue. A fun novelty, although it could have been spicier.
* Seafood pasta. Fresh, light and nicely al dente – choose your ingredients and they’re cooked a la minute.
* Dessert. It was a highlight, to our surprise. The Banana Pudding and Coffee Panna Cotta were smooth, sweet and lip-smackingly good.

WHAT’S NOT:
* Some of the baked fish were overcooked and dry.
* Although the seafood is fresh, the general variety of the buffet is pretty small for the price you’re paying. – Cheryl


INTERACTIVE KITCHEN AT ESCAPE RESTAURANT & LOUNGE
One Farrer Hotel & Spa, 1 Farrer Park Station Road, tel: 6705-7828. For the month of August: $50++ for adults, $25++ for kids aged five to 12. Children under five dine free. Daily dinner buffet, 6-10pm.
The spread at this five-star hotel, which opened in September last year, is wide, so there’s something for the pickiest kid and most discerning adult.

WHAT’S HOT:
* Seafood. For the cold seafood spread, there are lobsters, a variety of crabs (mud, spanner, stone and Alaskan) and prawns, alongside mussels and oysters, and a good selection of freshly sliced salmon, tuna, yellowtail and sea bream sashimi.
* Local fare. This was impressive too: chicken rice (with a satisfyingly fiery chilli sauce), laksa, rojak, roasted meats (although the char siew and roasted pork could be less dry) and local soups, curries and Peranakan dishes.
* Great mains. We liked the well-stewed Beef Brisket and Tendon, and the Chilli Crab, with its creamy gravy with a sweet and spicy punch. The Prawn Tandoori, infused with flavourful spices and cucumber raita, was the perfect accompaniment to the warm naan.
* Sumptuous desserts. Kids will love the chocolate fondue fountain, four flavours of ice cream and the party of desserts ranging from chocolate mousse to red velvet cake.

WHAT’S NOT:
* A better selection of cheese would be the icing to our indulgent meal. – Lim Tsiao Hui, deputy editor


HONG KONG DIM SUM A LA CARTE BRUNCH AT PEONY JADE RESTAURANT
Keppel Club, 10 Bukit Chermin Road, tel: 6276-9138. $31.80++ for adults, $19.80++ for kids aged six to 10. Daily, 11am-2.30pm. For SG50, every third diner enjoys 50 per cent off, from now until the end of August.
The value-for-money, quality dim sum, as well as a selection of a la carte fare, will make it worth
your while (and cab fare, if you don’t drive) getting there.

WHAT’S HOT:
* The prawn dim sum. The har gow (well-made, with a lovely, thin skin), siew mai, cheong fun and Deep Fried Prawn Roll with Banana and Sesame with Mayonnaise, were all generously stuffed with big, fresh, juicy prawns.
* A la carte picks. The Szechuan-style Stir-fried French Bean with Crispy Dried Shrimps, and Wok-fried Mien Xien Noodle with Seafood were delicious and well-cooked. Portions were generous enough.
* Hot and chilled desserts. We tried the Chilled ‘Handrolled’ Rice Flour Strip (mee tai mak) in Icy Gula Melaka Syrup, an interesting concept that paid off. The refreshing gula melaka syrup took the floury edge off the noodles.

WHAT’S NOT:
* Liu sha bao. While infused with a fragrant pandan aroma, it could do with slightly more filling.  
* Expect to wait anywhere from 15-25min for your food, especially if the restaurant’s crowded. – Cheryl


INTERNATIONAL DINNER BUFFET AT EDGE
Pan Pacific Singapore, Marina Square, 7 Raffles Boulevard, tel: 6826-8240. $68++ for adults, $34++ for kids (Sun and Mon); $78++ for adults, $39++ for kids (Tue); $88++ for adults, $44++ for kids (Wed and Thu); $78++ for adults, $39++ for kids (Fri & Sat); 6.30-10.30pm.
With seven ‘live’ stations serving cuisines such as Thai, Chinese, Indian and Japanese, Edge lives up to its reputation of being one of the most extensive buffets in Singapore.

WHAT’S HOT:
* Standout cooked dishes. The hearty seafood gratin, with generous chunks of fish and shellfish, and the salmon, seared to perfection.
* Meats. Succulent sausages, pork collar, leg of lamb and roasted duck.
* Dessert counter. The truffles, in flavours like pandan and raspberry, and homemade, gluten-free soft chocolates, were incredibly moreish – a refreshing change from the standard chocolate fondue fountains and cakes. We loved the ice cream, which came in flavours like calamansi, white chocolate and raspberry – a sweet end to a satisfying meal.

WHAT’S NOT:
* Skip the salad counter. It’s a very small and unexciting selection.
* The seafood station was a tad wanting. While there were super-plump and juicy scallops (bigger than any we’ve seen!), the prawns and oysters could have been fresher. – Delle Chan, features writer

This article was originally published in Simply Her August 2015.