Capturing the festive spirit of Singapore’s birthday, Grand Copthorne Waterfront’s buffet line Food Capital introduces a one-month Heritage Festival theme buffet (1 Aug – 31 Aug) to whet diners’ appetites with local food, dishing out Asian delights like laksa, satay, tandoori chicken, ngoh heong (five-spice meat roll) as well as the international cuisine spread. The gastronomic journey doesn’t stop on savoury food alone: there are unlimited durians (1 Aug – 16 Aug) served outside the premise. Decked out with lounge chairs and canopy, it was quite a surreal experience eating freshly-opened durians along Singapore River with a view of expensive condominiums and skyscrapers from afar.

Food Capital houses plenty of food stations. There are the classic sashimi and sushi bar; rotisserie station which has grilled beef and Australian ribeye; tandoor station serving tandoori chicken and fresh naan baked in the oven; and extensive seafood selection such as snow crab leg, chilled tiger prawns, oysters and mussels.

As a person who loves Japanese food, my attention gravitated to the Japanese station right away. The tuna, salmon and mackerel are freshly sliced and they are light and succulent. There are also the assorted sushi, maki and California rolls which go quickly.

Moving on to the Heritage Festival theme line-up. Food Capital has created a mini version of the famous Golden Pillow for diners to sample without feeling too guilty. The waistline-friendly chicken curry in a bun is flavourful and surprisingly not spicy, the texture more to the smooth, creamy side. I was told to consume it quickly before the curry was absorbed into the bun.

Nothing much to complain about the ngoh heong and stir-fried noodles. Presented with a modern appeal, the meat rolls are meaty with a satisfying crunch, and the chili paste amps up the savoury edge of the meat. The noodles are springy but slightly dry.

Now for their signature laksa, which is quite intense. The creamy broth possesses a pleasant coconut sweetness with a hint of spiciness that lingers and slowly grows on the tongue. It may be salty to some, but the broth is just right for me. The cockles and fish cakes, having absorbed the essence of the broth, burst with umami goodness. Depending on your guilty pleasure, or blood pressure, you can opt for a smaller or larger portion.

Saving up space for dessert, we had XO durians al fresco with a picturesque view of Singapore River. There was absolutely no smell of the durians when we reached the pavilion where the servers de-shelled the durians, but it has bitter, soft fleshy meat. If you are not a fan of the King of the fruit, you can grab a few rambutans or mangosteens instead. No one is an outcast here.

Summing up, Food Capital offers a beautiful environment and ambiance to dine. The local-themed buffet line-up for the Heritage Festival is thoughtfully crafted and well-proportionate without competing with the international spread. Nevertheless, it would be better if free-flow durians are available throughout the 1-month period to attract true-blue Singaporeans who enjoys their pungent fruit, instead of being available from 1-16 Aug only.

Buffet Lunch Price (Adult)
Sundays to Fridays: $64++
Saturdays: $66.60++

Buffet Dinner (Adult) – Includes Free Flow Durians
Monday to Thursdays: $76++
Friday to Sundays: $84++

Durians are available for dinner from 1 to 16 August 2018 only.

Ambience/Decor: 8/10
Price/Value: 6/10
Food: 7/10

You may be interested in…
–Ginger at Parkroyal Hotel, Beach Road: The Wonders of Pincers
–Cafe 2000 at M Hotel: Seafood & BBQ Buffet on Fridays and Saturdays
–One Ninety, Four Seasons Hotel: Fantastic Semi-Buffet With a Choice of Entree
–Seasonal Tastes, The Westin, Asia Square: Seafood Indulgence Buffet

Written by Alexius Chua. Alexius cannot live without his fix of morning coffee. When he is not daydreaming, he visits cafés, pats dogs, and watches movies. An eager traveler, he cannot wait for the next adventure, and aims to lead a happy and meaningful life.