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New Buffet Town to tempt foodies

by Shirley Lee

inSing.com - 22 September 2011 12:11 PM | Updated 23 Sep 2011

A new buffet concept has opened at the basement of Raffles City. And it’s tempting us with its wide spread of over 300 items including freshly shucked oysters and other seafood, colourful assortment of sashimi and counters upon counters proffering everything from terriyaki, tempura, pizza, local favourites, grills to cakes and ice creams.

Aptly named Buffet Town, the restaurant takes over its previous tenant Shiokudo! and features a similar cash-less dining concept; in this case, just pay at the entrance and eat-all-you-can! Once inside, diners get to pick their table and move freely around the various food stations in this spacious eatery.

Fresh seafood

Lured by the sumptuous looking spread, we found ourselves behind a long queue of eager diners one Tuesday afternoon (hint: make reservations if you don’t want to wait in line for too long). Once inside, it’s apparent what the hot favourites are. Diners were returning to their tables with plates after plates of poached crayfish, prawns and sushi and sashimi of salmon, tuna and swordfish, which were all very fresh.

The grill and teriyaki stations were also equally popular and at the latter, you get to pick from a variety of fresh meat like chicken, beef or pork and vegetables and have the chef cook them for you on the spot. We enjoyed the teriyaki dish but hoped the chef had gone easy on the sauce - ours was drenched in a salty brown sauce which made our vegetables and mushrooms soggy. However, we were quite pleased with the tempura and found ourselves going back to the station a few times for the lightly battered prawns, sweet potatoes and other vegetables.

If you’re taking your family there, they’re likely to also enjoy the local food stations which had dishes such as chicken rice, rojak, satay, carrot cake and laksa. Served in small portions, the laksa broth, thick with aromatic coconut milk, was both authentic and delicious.

Besides desserts such as ice creams, cakes and jello, Buffet Town also includes in the buffet meal a variety of drinks from soft drinks to tea and coffee and homemade soya bean milk.

Selection of assorted cakes

For the price of $23.80 for adult on weekday lunch, we’re quite pleased with the variety of the spread and quality of the food on the whole. Oyster lovers should note that freshly shucked oysters are only available during dinner (weekday dinner: $33.80) and on both weekend lunch and dinner ($28.80; $38.80 respectively), as are special dishes such as chilli or black pepper crab.

So, next time a buffet craving strikes, don’t just think of the usual hotel variety!

Buffet Town

#B1-44E, Raffles City, 252 North Bridge Road

Tel: 68373793

Opening hours: Daily: 11am-3pm (Last order at 2:30pm); 6pm-10:30pm (Last order at 9:30pm)