We love Estate for three reasons: it serves an impressive Western and Asian spread, features one of the most beautiful dining spaces on our list, and is close to the shopping haven that is Orchard Road.

We had the time of our life scoring freshly shucked oysters and vibrant prawns at the cold station. 

A short line formed, though, as we were here during the weekends. But the wait was well worth it, as the seafood was fresh!

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Estate (@estaterestaurant)

The team also agreed that the black truffle roasted duck was the star of the Sunday brunch show (if you exclude the free-flowing champagne). The dish’s tender texture and savory taste are things we’d love to return to.

But we think we can’t go back that easily, as Estate’s Sunday brunch is on the pricey side. We just couldn’t pass up the free-flowing champagne inclusion, so we opted for it.

We recommend choosing this buffet option for really special occasions and only when you have enough money.

That said, the weekday buffets have lower rates if you’re on a budget. However, we heard that the brunch and dinner spreads during these days are smaller. 

We also think that Estate’s pasta and other meat dishes need to improve, as we found them a bit bland (and hard to chew at times). 

Make sure you arrive with a ready stomach (not empty, just prepared) if you’re planning to visit Colony, as the spread here is massive. Even we, a team of foodies, didn’t manage to taste everything.

Served by seven open kitchens, the dishes here range from your favorite laksa to your homey baguette—with many delectables in between. 

We tried to consume as many dishes as we can and ended up loving the uber-fresh sashimi from the cold station. Luck was on our side, the dish was limited for the day!

The lobsters, prawns, and crabs were fresh, too, so we think that seafood lovers will thoroughly enjoy dining here.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Mark Chua (@theshutterwhale)

Photo by @theshutterwhale 

Other standout dishes for us are the ever-popular salted egg chicken wings, green pepper-crusted beef ribs, seared salmon, and the adventurous Colony laksa.

Booking a seat can be difficult at times, though, given the resto’s fame. We had to move our dinner to a different date, as the place was booked out for months!

We also heard from returning customers that the seafood station tends to close earlier than the last buffet order. 

We observed the same thing when we visited, so thank goodness we lined up at the cold station early!

We found Atrium’s rates attractive when we checked the restaurant prices on Eatigo. The place is hard to pass up, as it offers a 50% discount! 

Fortunately, we managed to book seats when celebrity chef Siti Mastura was in the house. 

Together with Executive Chef Chua, their expertise made an epic combination, delivering a delectable Malay spread. We particularly loved the aromatic and spicy lamb rendang.

The regular spread was decent, too. Local and Western food was available, though we noticed that the local dishes were more prominent when we visited.

As we’re used to eating Singaporean fare, only a few excited our tastebuds such as the pratas and laksa. All other dishes were average, but at least they filled our stomachs.

That said, we think tourists who want to sample Singaporean cuisine for the first time will enjoy their time tasting the selection here.

Also, the seafood was fresh, especially the scallops, which we agreed was a plus, as most of us love a taste of the ocean.

We also recommend coming early especially if you’re coming with family on a weekend or holiday, as the dining spot has few parking slots.

Hai Tien Lo can be quite on the pricey side, but we forgot about the damage done to our wallets when we tasted the resto’s premium dim sum.

At $73, we got to refill our plates with the dish without limit, plus we got to taste several of the famed restaurant’s signature dishes.

Among the dim sum options, we agreed among ourselves that nothing can ever top the fluffy and saucy black truffle char siew bao. 

Among the other dishes on the menu, the mini Buddha Jumps Over The Wall and roasted pig shoulder were standouts as well.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Hai Tien Lo (@haitienlo)

On top of the authentic Cantonese fare, we loved the exquisite plating and the whole vibe of the place. Both exuded elegance.

That said, we think the price is high for the dim sum buffet spread. Moreover, we spied expensive prices in the restaurant’s a la carte and set menus. 

Service was also a bit slow when we visited (but not to the point of annoying, thankfully). But given the resto’s price point, we hope they could improve on the wait staff’s efficiency and promptness.

Though not as extensive as hotel buffets, Permata’s spread was no less memorable, thanks to the restaurant’s unique take on Southeast Asian fare.

The featured fusion Nusantaran cuisine here certainly delighted us. The experience managed to surprise our tastebuds even though we’re so used to Malayan fare.

We loved most the beef rendang, rawon risotto, and lamb rack. The meaty selection’s tenderness and rich seasoning were filling treats to the tummy.

Also, they were a pleasant reminder of our local cuisine’s vast potential.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Permata (@permata.singapore)

The place is gorgeous, too. Our anticipation was amped up when we entered the resto because of the elegant marble interiors!

That said, you might feel that something is missing if you’re used to international-style buffets. We did, at least from the beginning, but we soon forgot about it thanks to the gastronomic adventure Permata offered.

Know that the place has limited parking slots, which could be a hassle if you arrive late.

Also, booking can be rather challenging at times. The resto tends to prioritize companies, hence limiting the seats available to other guests.