Chara Brasserie @ Mercure ICON Singapore City Centre - Mediterranean-Asian Buffet with 4 Rotating Menus

Chara Brasserie is an all-day dining restaurant of the new Mercure ICON Singapore City Centre. Offering a Mediterranean Asian theme buffet, the menu lineup took on inspiration from different countries each day of the week. There are four menus in rotation each week. Be enticed by more than 100 varieties, from classic flavours to modern takes on familiar dishes.

Australian Angus Beef Prime Rib 3.8/5

Seabass 4.5/5

Spice Marinated Whole Baby Lamb Rotisserie 4.5/5

On Friday and Saturday, the Live Rotisserie Station will be fully charged with beautifully roasted meats. As the theme is Mediterranean and Asia Pacific, lamb rotisseries and roast carving stations will take centre stage. The star of this station is the Spice Marinated Whole Baby Lamb Rotisserie (for dinner), alongside other hearty roasts such as Australian Angus Beef Prime Rib and Roasted Chicken.

DIY Chicken Kebab 3/5

There is also an interactive DIY Kebab Station that lets you put together your own kebab. Although the chicken was a tad dry, the creamy hummus made up for the texture.

Seafood on Ice 4.5/5

The Seafood on Ice station brimmed with chilled clams, poached sea prawns, mussels, flower crabs, lobsters, crayfish, and oysters. The oysters were quite exceptional, and a variety of sauces complemented them.

Japanese Okonomiyaki 4.5/5

Korean Tteobokki 3/5

One standout dish from the buffet is the Japanese Okonomiyaki. It's a delightful blend of shredded cabbage, dough, whole egg, and oysters, resulting in a light and satisfying texture. The final touch of sauce and mayonnaise binds the savoury ingredients together with a contrasting sweet and creamy flavour. I reckoned the Korean Tteobokki needed a bit more sauce.

Sashimi 3.8/5

I appreciate the individually plated Sashimi from the Japanese station. You can also find aburi chirashi dons with free-flowing ikura, ebiko, and tobiko.

Chilli Crab 4/5

Black Pepper Crayfish 4/5

Local favourites and flavours are included as well. Both Black Pepper Crayfish and Chilli Crab were being snapped up really fast. Kung Po Smoked Chilli Prawns were an interesting rendition.

Prata Puff and Dahl Curry 4/5

Hand - Skewered Ariff Satay 4/5

Although the Prata Puff and Dahl Curry were a tad oily, they were exceptionally moreish. For the hand-skewered Ariff Satay, I suggest enjoying it early in your meal as they are limited in numbers.

Assorted Kuehs 4.5/5

The Dessert Station was decadent, with a wide range of Nyonya kueh, mini tarts, cupcakes, mini cakes, puddings, and even waffles, served with soft-serve gelato. I tried every single kueh, and they were really delicious!

To celebrate its grand launch, Chara Brasserie is offering an opening special of 25% off the prices of its buffet menu, valid daily until 31 May 2024

Chara Brasserie Buffet Lineup - Flavours From Across the World Four Rotating Menus.
Monday and Tuesday - Flavours of the Mediterranean and Southeast Asia, with the hot stations firing up to cook seafood - focused specialties.
Wednesday and Thursday - Mediterranean with Japanese flair
Friday and Saturday - Mediterranean and Asia Pacific, with lamb rotisseries and roast carving stations set up.
Sunday - An international Mediterranean buffet serving up all three menus from across the week.

Photos and words by Si An. A girl who is allured by travelling, loves the feel of freedom, smell of the rain and the aroma of fine coffee and food.


Chara Brasserie
Mercure ICON Singapore City Centre
8 Club Street
#02 - 01
Singapore 069472
Tel: +65 8826 8585
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Nearest MRT: Telok Ayer (DT Line), Chinatown (DT, NE Line)

Opening Hours:
Breakfast: 6.30am -10.30am
Lunch: 11.30am to 3pm
Dinner: 6pm to 10pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Telok Ayer MRT station. Take Exit A. Turn left and walk down Cross Street. Turn left onto Club Street. Walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]

2) Alight at Chinatown MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk straight down Pagoda Street to North Bridge Road. Cross the road and walk to Mohd Ali Lane. Walk down Mohd Ali Lane. Walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]

Berlin65 @ Stanley Street - Serving Up an Authentic Experience from the Understated, Unassuming and 'Underground' City of Berlin

Nestled in the heart of Telok Ayer, Berlin65 stands out as a unique establishment that celebrates Berlin's multicultural food scene. With a fusion of German classics, Asian street food, and Middle-Eastern dishes, dining here promises a convivial experience. Co-founded by Chef Stephan Zoisl, currently leading Chef's Table by Chef Stephan in Singapore, and Lorenz Raich, Group Executive Chef at Brtzeit, Berlin65 offers a diverse and authentic experience of Berline food.

Watermelon & Cherry Tomatoes Salad 4.2/5

To start, the Watermelon & Cherry Tomatoes Salad ($18) presents a refreshing medley of diced watermelon, cherry tomatoes, sliced onions, basil, mint, and parsley. The addition of feta cheese adds a touch of saltiness, while a vibrant drizzle of olive oil and lemon ties it all together, creating a harmonious blend of flavours.

Konigsberger Kopse 4/5

For a hearty and homely dish, the Konigsberger Kopse ($16) delights with tender veal and beef meatballs bathed in a traditional white roux infused with tangy capers.

Simit Bread 4/5

A first-time encounter with Simit Bread ($4.50) reveals a Turkish delight dusted with sesame, perfectly paired with a spicy tomato dip. Its soft and chewy texture, reminiscent of a bagel, makes for a delightful indulgence.

Currywurst 4.2/5

No Berlin experience is complete without the iconic Currywurst ($16), featuring plump pork sausages smothered in a rich, homemade sauce of German-style curry powder, tomato paste, and ketchup — an absolute treat for sausage lovers.

The Banh Mi 3.5/5

The 1972 Berlin Original 3/5

The Doner Kebab, a beloved street food in Berlin, takes centre stage in the Banh Mi ($18) and The 1972 Berlin Original ($18). The well-marinated chicken, cooked on a vertical rotisserie, is sandwiched between pita bread, complemented by an assortment of vegetables. While both versions impress, the Banh Mi stands out with its piquant flavors comprising pate, pickles, sriracha, and coriander.

Adana Kebab - Mixed Beef & Lamb 3.5/5

Another highlight is the Adana Kebab ($26), featuring mixed beef and lamb hand-minced meat shaped onto skewers and grilled to perfection. Served with fragrant basmati rice, shredded onions, and pickles, the lamb variant steals the show with its juicy tenderness.

Berliner 4.2/5

To round off the meal, the Berliner ($8) offers a classic German donut experience with a choice of indulgent fillings such as vanilla bean custard, strawberry jam, or apricot jam. Dusted with a generous sprinkle of powdered sugar, this sweet treat is the perfect ending to a satisfying journey to the streets of Berlin.

Note: This is an invited tasting.


Berlin65
30 Stanley Street
Singapore 068739
Tel: +65 9788 4230
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Nearest MRT: Telok Ayer (DT Line), Tanjong Pagar (EW Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon-Sat: 11:30am - 11pm
(Closed on Sun)

Direction:

1) Alight at Tanjong Pagar MRT station. Take Exit G. Walk along the covered walkway until the junction of Mccallum Street and Telok Ayer Street. Turn right onto Mccallum Street and then left onto Stanley Street. Journey time is about 5 minutes. [Map]

2) Alight at Telok Ayer MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk to junction of Telok Ayer Street and Upper Cross Street. Turn left onto Telok Ayer Street. Turn left again onto Boon Tat Street and make a right onto Stanley Street. Walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]

Tiffin Room @ Raffles Hotel Singapore - Unveils A Refreshed Menu With An Expanded Selection Of North Indian Dishes

Tiffin Room at Raffles Hotel Singapore has recently unveiled a refreshed menu with an expanded selection of North Indian dishes put together by award-winning Chef de Cuisine Kuldeep Negi. Helming Tiffin Room's kitchen for over a decade, Chef Kuldeep continues to draw inspiration from the royal culinary heritage of the Maharajas and his travels through various regions of North India. From the new menu, you get to enjoy a diverse range of chaats, appetisers and mains that identify with the warm and rich flavours of Tiffin Room.

You can opt for the customisable Mera Dabba (my box in Hindhi) Experience, an elevated set meal that comprises a selection of appetisers and main courses presented in an iconic four-tiered custom-made copper tiffin box. The set meal is complemented with delicately flavoured rice, tandoori bread, chutneys and pickles.

Aloo Dal Tikki Chaat 4.5/5

We started with a hearty street snack Aloo Dal Tikki Chaat. Dressed in a mouth-watering blend of mint chutney, yoghurt, tamarind and spices, these crispy potato and yellow lentil patties burst with piquant and zesty flavours.

Achari Macchi Kebab 4/5

Murgh Jaitun Seekh 3.5/5

From the non-vegetarian appetisers, we tried Achari Macchi Kebab featuring uniformly moist pieces of spiced tandoori-grilled grouper fillets laced with a hint of smokey flavour. On the other hand, the Murgh Jaitun Seekh is a very spiced-forward grilled minced chicken mixture of green olives, cheddar cheese, saffron, and spices.

Gucchi Methi Mattar Malai 5/5

For the mains, both the vegetarian dishes were superb, especially the lesser-known Gucchi Methi Mattar Malai - a creamy and cheesy morel mushroom curry accented with sharp flavours of fenugreek leaves and a blend of spices. Traditionally, white button mushrooms are used, but I thought using these morel mushrooms was brilliant. The creamy curry clings to each of the honeycomb caps of the mushroom, akin to how spiral pasta binds with the sauce. Hence you will get the full flavours of the curry each time you bite into the mushroom.

Aloo Gobhi 5/5

The other vegetarian main is one of Mera Dabba staples - Aloo Gobhi, a classic cauliflower and potato delight. Every floret and potato chunk was tender and soft, fully flavoured by a blended yoghurt, garlic, and masala onion gravy.

Balti Gosht 3/5

Kadhai Prawn 4/5

The other two mains were Kadhai Prawns and Balti Gosht. The prawn curry was bright and robust with coriander seeds and onion-tomato masala. There were slices of bell peppers in the curry, which also punctuated the curry with some fruity sweetness. The latter was a curry of lamb leg cubes flavoured with brown onion, tomato, and spices. Again, the curry was good, but the lamb leg cubes were a tad dry.

Malpua with Rabri 4/5

For desserts, we had the Malpua with Rabri, a pancake originating from India. It had a dense and enjoyable chewy texture topped with condensed milk and mixed nuts for an added crunch. Best to go with a cup of masala tea.

Kulfi Falooda

The other dessert is interesting - Kulfi Falooda, featuring a homemade cardamon-infused Indian ice cream assembled with vermicelli noodles, rose syrup and mixed nuts. Eating the chilled vermicelli noodles was reminiscent of having a bowl of refreshing shredded grass jelly dessert. The nuts soaked in the mixture gave a contrasting chewy texture to the dessert. A rather odd combination, but it works!

These vegetarian and non-vegetarian North Indian delicacies and selected dishes are available for delivery or takeaway on Raffles Grab & Go.

Photograph and written by Si An. A girl who is allured by travelling, loves the feel of freedom, smell of the rain and the aroma of fine coffee and food.


Tiffin Room
Raffles Hotel
1 Beach Road
Singapore 189673
Tel: +65 63371886
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Nearest MRT: City Hall (EW Line, NS Line)

Opening Hours:
Lunch: 12pm - 145pm
Dinner: 630pm - 845pm

Direction:
1) Alight at City Hall MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk to Junction of North Bridge Road and Bras Basah Road. Cross the road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]

2) Alight at Esplanade MRT station. Take Exit F. Cross the road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 3 minutes. [Map]

Estate @ Hilton Singapore Orchard - Experience An Elevated Buffet Selection

Hilton Singapore Orchard has recently opened on 24 February 2022, located in the hearts of Orchard. Following the opening is the launch of the hotel's residential all-day dining restaurant on level five, Estate, inspired by the heritage of Orchard Road’s early years. The all-day dining buffet restaurant showcases culinary experiences and flavours from around the world while elevating familiar regional favourites that resonate with local residents.

Central to Estate's dining experience is the residential-style open kitchens that set the stage for a live display of culinary showmanship. The team, led by Director of Culinary Vijayakant Shanmugam, whips up tantalising dishes a la minute in full view of guests.

Kickstart the feast with cold cut appetisers - Coppa Ham, Salami, Air-dried Beef, and Prosciutto de Parma. or Salads such as the Greek salad with feta cheese, wardorf salad.

The Seafood on ice features a fresh selection, such as the Tiger Prawns, Black Mussels, Clams and Scallops in Shell.

Don't miss signature dishes from the Wok, Fry & Premium Kitchen featuring signatures like the Estate Black Truffle Roasted Duck. The meat is incredibly tender and flavourful. It is served with a drizzle of truffle plum sauce and soy honey glaze, complementing the savoury meat. The Black Truffle Roasted Duck is best paired with a piping hot bowl of flavourful Signature Peking Duck Consomme.

The Grill Kitchen features a selection of Asian-inspired skewers, including the Beef Kebab, Kurobuta Pork Teriyaki, Wagyu Kofta, and Black Miso Chicken.

Not to be missed are the Asian favourites - Singapore XO Hokkien Mee, Carrot Cake with Chinese Sausage, and the Steamed Glutinous Rice with Chinese Sausage, and Crispy Cheong Fun with Soft Shell Chilli Crab.

The Cantonese Style Wagyu Beef Noodle is one of my favourite dishes. The non-oily broth had a distinct beefy taste, noodles were al dente to bite, and the wagyu beef meat was tender and flavourful.

The Squid Ink Homemade Gluten-Free Tagliatelle with Octopus Confit from the Noodle & Wrap Kitchen is also delicious, with a rich, briny flavour.

There is also a Dim sum station which offers a small selection of dim sum - Siew Mai, Har Gow, Lotus Paste Pau and Chicken Char Siew Pau.

End the feast on a sweet note with desserts such as the Rainbow Kueh, Kueh Lapis or the Original Cheesecake.

There is also a beautiful range of masterfully handcrafted desserts by beloved Executive Pastry Chef Cindy Khoo, such as the Marsala Wine Tiramisu, Champagne Raspberry Gelee, Torch Citron Tarte, and Mango Infused Jasmine Gateaux.

Lunch: $62++ (Mon to Thu) and $70++ (Fri to Sun)
Dinner: $82++ (Sun to Thu) and $99++ (Fri & Sat)

Child aged 12 years old and below dines at 50% off adult price and for child aged 5 years old and below dines on complimentary.

Photos and words by Crystal. A girl who likes to eat, photograph, and write about food, and dreams about travelling around the world one day. Note: This is an invited tasting.


Estate
Hilton Singapore Orchard
333 Orchard Road
Singapore 238867
Tel: +65 67374411
Website
Nearest MRT: Somerset (NS Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 630am - 10pm
Breakfast: 630am – 1030am
Lunch: 12pm – 230pm
Dinner: 630pm – 10pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Somerset MRT station. Take Exit B. Walk to ground level. Turn left onto Orchard Road. Walk down Orchard Road. Cross the road and walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]