I love buffets, especially the ones at nice hotels because the service is almost always wonderful and the wait staff are efficient in clearing plates from your table so that there would constantly be room for more plates. I was quite keen to check out the seafood buffet at Greenhouse, the lobby restaurant at The Ritz-Carlton, Millenia Singapore. It had remained in my “list of places to check out” for the longest time.
We were a party of six and got a table by the window, which was nice and near to the buffet spread. One thing I noted was that there were many pyramidal stacks of chocolate balls on displayed, with each chocolate wrapped in red cellophane. Specially arranged for Christmas, I presume.
For a seafood buffet, I thought the seafood spread was rather limited. I didn’t spot any lobster or crayfish at all whereas there were quite a number of meat dishes. For now I would simply let the pictures do the talking.
The fish was my favourite. Very flavourful!
I confess, I really do not know how to get crab meat out of their shells and pincers.
Huge ass prawns. Too bad they weren’t peeled though. I’m so lazy!
My favourite part of the buffet turned out to be the desserts. There was a delectable selection of cakes. The tiramisu was my favourite, as well as this white chocolate and coffee cake. Isn’t that an awesome combination?
The ice cream was a disappointment though. All the flavours ran out quickly and a long period of time lapsed before the ice cream was finally replenished. There was also no chocolate fondue or fountain available.
But the biggest disappointment of all was the service. Our glasses were rarely filled even though there were so many waitstaff walking about. The young waiter in charge of our table hardly ever appeared. The floor manager (since he’s the only one in a suit) was constantly tending to another party of six next to us while conveniently bypassing our table the entire time. Probably if we were a bunch of caucasians or middle-aged people in suits we wouldn’t have received such silent treatment.
For a world-class hotel such service standards is certainly unacceptable. But having said that, the last time I went to the chihuly lounge at the same hotel, the service was excellent.
Anyhoo, those of you who are looking for an excellent seafood buffet with a wider variety and more efficient service, you would be better off at Cafébiz in Traders Hotel or the Town Restaurant at Fullerton Hotel. Give Greenhouse a miss!
I do retain some nice words for the hotel though. Loved the Christmas tree, the giant red Christmas balls and candy canes. Sweet!
The Ritz-Carlton, Millenia Singapore
7 Raffles Avenue, Level 3
Singapore 039799
Tel: +65 6337 8888 | Website
$43+++
Buffet rating:
Service:
Jan 6, 2007
28
Wow!
I’m impressed you made it passed the tree… I would have been gnawing on it’s tasty goodies all night.
The desserts sound delightful, especially since i find that part of buffets are severely lacking. Oh yeah, if you weren’t given the proper utensils to negotiate the tricky job of eating crab without being a complete savage, its another minus point for the staff there. I may be mortally allergic to crab, but even I know that there is special cutlery that you should have gotten. No chocolate fondue fountain? *gasp*
Sad but true, how even in the most unlikely of places, the staff make value judgments of their customers, placing skin colour and attire as a denominator of who deserves better service and who they can afford to ignore (like those girls who work at designer shops, and look down their nose at people who walk in, even though they can’t afford a damn thing in there) ooh.. that was bitchy. Forgive me :)
But at a place like the Ritz, you think they would know better. All the same, at least the food was good right ;) YUM! Reading your blog is severely affecting my convictions toward my diet hahaha.
Keep em coming!
Jan 6, 2007
3472
Hey chocoholic (in rehab, really?),
You are right! They didn’t provide any utensils for the crabs. Don’t you need some kind of special pliers for that? What crappy service!
Some days I feel lucky to have my own blog so that I can make known both the good and the lousy restaurants.
Oh, love your bitchy little rant by the way! Hahaha :D
Jan 6, 2007
5
You know what Veron? It’s a mistake to read your blog at an hour like this!
Makes me hungry!! Aww….
Now I’m feeling ashamed of those food photographs that I put up on my post… ^_^
Jan 6, 2007
28
:D
Don’t laugh, it was pretty bad a few years back! I went a whole month where all I ate was chocolate! Seriously… Those were dark days hehe. Dark, milk and white days too..
Re Crab, yes you’re supposed to get claw crackers, which usually incorporate scissors too, and a tiny 2 pronged fork to get at the good stuff, so you don’t end up sticking your fingers in, or trying to suck it out lol. what a sight.
You could make a fortune being a restaurant critic mate. I would totally buy your book hehe
Jan 6, 2007
3472
Hey Dating Specialist Kloudiia,
You know what? Even I am feeling hungry too! Which is rather odd considering the buffet wasn’t good.
Jan 6, 2007
3472
Hey chocoholic_in_rehab (I’ll take your word for it),
Wow! For someone who’s totally allergic to shellfish you sure know how to eat a crab! One of these days I’m gonna eat one all by myself.
Jan 6, 2007
17
hey, if they are worth their salt in service, they would prob find this blog and work on it.. i expect alot more from ritz, esp if u noe their service motto. “Ladies and Gentlemen serving Ladies and Gentlemen”
Jan 6, 2007
3472
Oh yeah you are right! That motto sounds so familiar now. If I remember correctly, they were one of the top ten employers in Singapore last year too.
Jan 6, 2007
Hi again, and Happy 2007…
My 2c for when I went to the Greenhouse (lunch buffet): Unimpressed with their sashimi (tuna wasn’t fresh at all), selection of dishes was mediocre, lobster bisque was without any lobster (even at the bottom), constantly unreplenished sushi.
Like I said, mediocre, for such a classy hotel. At least the dessert and chocolate selection was superb: fantastic creme brulee infused with Pandan, and oh-so-decadent handmade chocolates (these were real stunners).
Have you ever been to ‘The Line’ at the Shangri-La? Has all the stuff I’m sure you’ll swooooon over! Chocolate fondue fountain (a big one), very modern dining concept, great FRESH seafood – lots of scallops, prawns, mussels, oysters but NO lobster or crayfish (in all fairness, these ARE expensive – if there’s a buffet with one, do let me know). Anyway, the Shangri-La’s buffet totally owns the Ritz and the Intercontinental restaurants (both in Bkk and Singapore)! (Disclaimer: This comparison specifically against Ritz and Intercon because their supposed to be the ‘Pantheon’ of lushness, which is evidently nonsense based on their buffet)
Jan 6, 2007
3472
Hey Kyo,
Haven’t been to The Line yet, but I’m gonna. As for lobster and crayfish, the seafood buffet at cafebiz in traders hotel and the town restaurant at fullerton hotel offered BOTH of these!
In addition, straits cafe at hotel rendezvous had crayfish too when we were there for their seafood christmas dinner.
So, it is pretty common for restaurants to offer lobster and crayfish in their seafood buffets. I’m quite surprised that for such posh hotels, neither Shangri-La or the Ritz-Carlton does.
I guess this is another thing to look out for before going for more seafood buffets in future — make sure they have these!
Jan 7, 2007
1
they do provide the claw cracker but only when guests request for it. :)
they usually have a ‘staple’ dish of crayfish (if not lobster) during non-festival sessions. for the 2006 christmas spread, i have to admit that it was not well presented.
don’t let a one-time visit ruin your impression of the ritz.
Jan 25, 2007
1
Great picture. I like the interior design very much.
Jan 30, 2007
6
I’m regretted to have read this post. It makes my stomach buzz!
Jul 14, 2007
6
Hello Veron!
Since you’ve been to both GreenHouse and Chihuly, i think you should give their western restaurant a shot as well. It’s called Snappers and it has excellent service PLUS one of their best dishes are the Baked Black Cod and Tiramisu with Hazlemut Biscotti.
Definitely a place you should try soon! And one of RC’s best kept secret since its so well hidden by the pool :D
Lookin forward to a post on Snappers soon i hope!
Aug 1, 2010
1
We went for the Asian seafood lunch buffet yesterday. I was very disappointed at the selection. There were very few main dishes and live stations.The salad,rice and dishes, soups were very mediocre in standard. The food was not replenished fast enough. Even the fruit section ran out of fruit.We were shocked at this.The dessert section was not big enough. I don’t think I’ll come here again and i most definitely would not recommend my friends to come here. The service was average. The waiters did not come to replenish our coffee.We had to signal them to come again and again.