The Line @ Shangri-La Singapore - Modern Vietnamese Pop-Up By LILY.S Till 29 Sept With 30% Off Buffet

LILY.S, a modern Vietnamese restaurant, has taken over one of the buffet stations at The Line, Shangri-La, until 29 September. Every Thursday to Sunday, guests can enjoy a rotating menu of Vietnamese dishes in addition to the usual international buffet spread.

A special promotion also offers diners 30% off when paying with GRAB Dine-Out, making the buffet price start at $68++ per adult before the discount.

During our dinner visit, we sampled traditional Vietnamese dishes such as Hanoi Buncha and Vietnamese Beef Pho, the latter being freshly prepared at a live station.

A selection of skewers and fried items were also available, with the crunchy Yam & Carrot Roll and the pan-fried Meat Patties standing out as our picks.

Moving to the international buffet, we particularly enjoyed the fresh sashimi options, including salmon, scallops, and amaebi. However, the shellfish offerings paled in comparison in both their freshness and sweetness.

The Carving Station was particularly popular among the hot stations, serving up Roasted Australian 100-day Grain-fed Angus Prime Rib with Red Wine Jus.

Other hot stations included a variety of Western Mains, Asian Dishes, an Indian Station, and a Noodle Station.

My dining companion and I were both impressed by the line-up of Desserts. They offer a wide range of items and deliver on taste.

We highly recommend saving room for their ice creams and sorbets, which are rich in flavours without being too sweet.

Standout options included the creamy Durian and Strawberry ice cream, especially when paired with the freshly made Mochi Waffle.

Other dessert options included the Mini Fruit Tartlet, Uji Matcha Tiramisu, Raspberry Coconut Mousse, and a delightful selection of nonya kueh, such as Ondeh Ondeh, Rainbow Lapis, Ubi Bingka, and Kueh Salat.

Photos and words by Jo. A girl who loves her Mala (麻辣) at Da La (大辣), discovering hidden food gems and a good cup of matcha latte. Note: This is an invited tasting.


The Line Restaurant
22 Orange Grove Road
Singapore 258350
Tel: +65 6213 4398
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Nearest MRT: Stevens MRT (DT, TE Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 12pm - 2.30pm, 6pm - 9.30pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Orchard MRT station. Take Exit 4. Walk towards Wheellock Place via ION. Exit Wheellock Place and turn left towards Liat Tower. Cross the road at the traffic light junction and turn left towards Royal Thai Embassy. Walk down to the end of Orchard Road. Turn right onto Orange Grove Road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 23 minutes.[Map]

UNA @ The Alkaff Mansion - New Menu Introducing Spain’s Finest Rubia Gallega Beef

UNA at The Alkaff Mansion celebrates its 10th anniversary with a new menu co-conceptualised by Chef Diego Grimberg, Culinary Advisor and Head Chef of the Michelin-starred Hofmann Restaurant in Spain, and Chef Tom Kung, UNA's Executive Chef. A key highlight of this menu is the revamped selection of Asado grilled meats, with UNA being the first restaurant in Singapore to introduce Spain's prized Rubia Gallega beef.

Cinco Jotas “5J” Jamon Iberico 4/5

Pan Con Tomate 3/5

The menu still offers the restaurant's signature tapas, including the renowned Cinco Jotas "5J" Jamon Iberico ($46), made from Spain's finest 48-month acorn-fed 5J Iberico pork. It pairs beautifully with the crisp Toasted Crystal Bread, Pan Con Tomate ($7/2 pcs; $12/4 pcs), served with fresh tomato purée.

Gazpachuelo De Gambas Roja 3/5

The Gazpachuelo De Gambas Roja features Red Prawn Tartare, which has a delightful mouthfeel with creaminess from the avocado. The cherry slices atop punctuated the tartare with welcoming sweet-tart notes. While the gazpacho was rich in crustacean flavour, I personally prefer the original non-meat version.

Pulpo a La Parrilla 4/5

The Pulpo a La Parrilla ($36) presents a smoky grilled octopus, artfully paired with baby potatoes and purple vitelotte potato and complemented by red pepper and cilantro sauce.

Mariscos Paella 4.5/5

For the main course, we tried the Mariscos Paella ($62/$82), which impressed me with its robust umami flavour, packed with red sea prawns, fresh clams, and black mussels. The dish had a generous amount of soccarat, adding a smoky flavour and extra bite. A squeeze of lemon juice would have elevated the dish even further.

Rubia Galicia Gold 4.8/5

The Asado grilling technique, deeply rooted in Spanish culinary tradition, infuses meats with a charcoal fragrance, enhancing their natural flavours. The star of the menu is the Rubia Galicia Gold - Costillas A La Parrilla ($138), a prime rib served with fricando sauce, pumpkin purée, and oyster mushrooms. Known for its exceptional flavour and marbling, the Rubia Galicia Gold's slow grilling over an open fire renders its fat into a tantalising smoky crust, contrasting with its succulent texture and releasing robust flavours.

Asado Moralejo Lamb 5/5

Alongside the Rubia Gallega beef, the menu features other premium meats, such as the newly approved milk-fed Moralejo Lamb in Singapore, also prepared with the Asado grill method. The Asado Moralejo Lamb ($46) with Cauliflower was incredibly tender and flavorful, with minimal gaminess, perfectly complemented by the buttery and creamy cauliflower purée.

Crèma Catalana 2.5/5

Turrón de Almendras 2.8/5

For dessert, the Crèma Catalana ($16), a Spanish crème brûlée torched with a charcoal-scorched plate, was unfortunately rather cloying, and the method didn't significantly enhance the taste. The Turrón de Almendras ($22), an almond nougat cake served with raspberry sorbet, offered an interesting flavour reminiscent of egg yolk custard, though the hazelnut streusel tasted a bit off.

To celebrate the launch of UNA's new menu, American Express cardholders will enjoy 20% off items on the à la carte menu from 16 August 2024 to 15 September 2024.

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.


UNA
The Alkaff Mansion
10 Telok Blangah Green
Singapore 109178
Tel: +65 8126 8844
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Nearest MRT: Telok Blangah (CC Line)

Opening Hours:
Tue-Fri: 12pm - 230pm, 6pm - 1030pm
Sun: 6pm - 1030pm
(Closed on Mon, Sat)

Direction:
1) Alight at Telok Blangah MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk to bus stop opposite Telok Blangah MRT station (Stop ID 14169). Take bus number 176. Alight 2 stops later. Walk down Henderson Road. Turn left onto Telok Blangah Green. Walk to destination. Journey time about 20 minutes. [Map]

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]

Epicure Brunch @ Grand Copthorne Waterfront Hotel - Indulge in Buffet Spread from 15 Live Stations Spanned Across the Hotel’s 3 Restaurants

The Epicure Brunch Buffet at Grand Copthorne Waterfront Hotel boasts 15 live buffet stations spread across the hotel's three restaurants, promising a delightful array of options to suit every diner's palate.

Epicure Brunch 4.2/5

Held every Sunday from 12pm to 3pm, this brunch offers a diverse range of cuisines. From Food Capital, indulge in fresh seafood-on-ice; SanSara serves up traditional North Indian dishes, while Riverside Terrace, the hotel's newest addition, specialises in Josper grill creations like Wagyu ribeye and foie gras.

Prices for the buffet are as follow:
- $128++ for adults, $64++ for children aged 6-11
- Includes unlimited non-alcoholic beverages such as mocktails, juices and soft drinks.

- $158++ for adults
- Includes unlimited alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages such as prosecco, wine, beer, juices and soft drinks

- $188++ for adults
- Includes additional Veuve Clicquot Champagne

Seafood-on-ice

The Seafood-on-ice station was a popular choice among many diners as their first stop. It showcased a tower of fresh snow crab legs, scallops, mussels, clams, tiger prawns, lobsters, and more.

Seafood-on-ice

Our top two favourites among these options were the sweet and meaty snow crab legs and the briny oysters.

Cheese Table

The Cheese Table had a good number of options, with sides of nuts, dried fruits, and crackers to pair with them.

Smoked Salmon and Ham Cuts

Next to the Cheese Table, a spread of Smoked Salmon and Ham Cuts awaits. I enjoyed the various cuts of ham, and the smoked salmon came in several flavours.

Salad

For something lighter, look for the Salad Corner, which offers Idaho Potato and Mushroom, Mixed Seafood Salad, Mediterranean Quinoa Salad, and the option to make your own with their homemade dressings.

Bread Table

Bread lovers can find all types of bread at the Bread Table.

Carved Meats

Among the Carved Meats, expect Herb Marinated Prime Rib, Pork Rib, Barbecue Veal Rib and more.

Hot Food

Apart from the generous meat offerings, there was also a significant selection of other hot foods, including Grilled Vegetables, Sauteed Fish, and even the iconic combination of Fried Mantou and Singapore chilli crab. The Chilli Crab carried a good amount of fragrance and heat.

Hot Food

Another popular station among diners was the Grilled Scallops and plated Pan-Fried Foie Gras. Definitely give the latter a try! The buttery Foie Gras was topped with a tangy-sweet fruit sauce and raspberry sorbet.

Live Noodle Station

The chefs at the Live Noodle Station will prepare your Laksa or Prawn Noodles fresh upon request. There were also various boiled soups on the side.

Josper Grill Station

Grab the wooden pegs at your table to make your order at the Josper Grill Station. Dishes cooked a la minute include prawns and tender Mediterranean Octopus. After you order, they will be thoughtfully sent to your table.

Josper Grill Station

At the same station, I look forward to the well-seasoned Australian Lamb Rack, Wagyu Ribeye, and Roasted Chicken.

Crab Ravioli

Make sure that you do not miss out on the far end of the buffet line. Here, you can enjoy Pizzas, Truffle Fries, Tapas, and freshly cooked Pasta. We opted for the creamy Crab Ravioli.

North Indian Delicacies

At a surprise corner, explore quality North Indian Delicacies presented by the team of the new SanSara. From Lamb Bhuna Gosht to Dum Ke Murgh, get them to pair with a side of naan, roti or paratha, all fresh from the tandoor.

Dessert

Save some stomach space for Dessert from their exciting range. There was a Strawberry Chocolate Fondue, Cakes, Croffles, and Ice Cream — to name a few. If you had to pick, I would recommend checking out the Artisanal Chocolate counter. I especially adored the chocolates with tea-based flavours.

The Epicure Brunch buffet menu is rotational and subject to change.

Photos and words by Jo. A girl who loves her Mala (麻辣) at Da La (大辣), discovering hidden food gems and a good cup of matcha latte. Note: This is an invited tasting.


Grand Copthorne Waterfront Hotel Singapore
392 Havelock Road
Level 1
Singapore 169663
Tel: +65 6233 1338
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Nearest MRT: Havelock MRT (TE Line)

Opening Hours:
Sunday: 12pm - 3pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Havelock MRT station. Take Exit 4. Turn left and walk to the traffic junction of Havelock Road and Kim Seng Road. Cross the road. Turn left onto Kim Seng Road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 6 minutes. [Map]