It has long been known that Melt Café serves one of the most delightful Indian fare as part of their international buffet selection. This May, they are extending their victory variety to include novel Indian dishes that will only be available until the end of the month.
Located in Mandarin Oriental Hotel, Melt Café’s cheery open-kitchen atmosphere is a stark contrast from the faintly lit, lux interior of the hotel – a peculiar parallel experience with the food, where a good part of the international fare seems to have lost some glory in the face of the ad-hoc Indian nosh — and with good reason.
Themed “Flavours of India”, the selection boasts a mix of Northern and Southern Indian cuisine, from biryanis and curries to kebabs and sweets. With spices as a staple in Indian cooking, the flavours can range from mild to acquired taste – a similar range that you can expect here. Yet unlike the uncanny fiery spice that accompanies Indian food, the heat level is kept low to a manageable degree, allowing diners with all levels of spicy thresholds to thoroughly enjoy.
For an authentic start, visit the food stand serving popular Indian street snacks – Bombay Bhelpuri and Pani Puri. Set up to emulate the “street-food” ambience, the Bombay Behlpuri is reminiscent of kacang puteh served in a shell papadum, while the Pani Puri – liquid tamarind chutney poured into a semolina ball – tasted like a palate cleanser, appropriate for the robust flavours ahead.
The meat selection included butter chicken, fried fish, kebabs and even mud crabs. Unfortunately, most tasted a tad dry and salty. This is perhaps the unfortunate result of Melt’s approach to a ‘lid-less’ buffet line, where a lid could help in retaining moisture.
Folly aside, the lamb dishes were exceptional. Unlike the typical overcooked and chewy texture we often get with lamb, the Lamb Chop Adreki and Lamb stew were commendably melt-in-your-mouth tender.
And who could possibly forget that sight to behold of a Lamb Biryani – a massive succulent whole lamb perched gloriously atop a golden bed of fluffy biryani rice. As one of Chef’s Santosh’s personal favourites, this masterpiece is evidently the climax of the kitchen’s repertoire and the taste-test verdict? Well what you see is what you get. The spices were mild and balanced, complementing the flavourful meat just right. There was even this unexpected home-cooked feel to boot.
Now if you aren’t quite the carnivore, fret not for vegetarian options are aplenty, such as the Mutter ki Shammi, Tandoori Aloo (potato stuffed with cottage cheese, dry fruits and mixed vegetables), Paneer Pasanda (stuffed paneef sandwiches in a creamy onion and tomato-based gravy) and Baingen Mirchi Ka Salan (eggplant gravy made with peanuts). Literally a mouthful, these vegetarian options do not compromise on flavour.
A must-try is the Mutter Ki Shami (kebab of finely minced green pea and lentil) – a dish underwhelming in appearance, but overwhelming in expectation.
Desserts-wise, I suggest skipping the Indian choices and filling your calorie quota with Melt’s signature sweets. The crowd pleasers are their live crepe station and Chocolate Crunch Gateaux, which by the way had to be replenished three times in the span of just over an hour.
While their line-up of Indian food this time around is indeed palatable, I’m still not entirely convinced that the special selection on its own justifies a visit to Melt Café. If anything, I would be just as satisfied paying for their usual variety and getting my money’s worth stuffing myself silly at their fresh seafood counter.
Naantheless, Melt Café’s buffet is definitely one worth that special splurge. And, if you do so happen to drop by during one of such ad-hoc heritage feasts, loosen those pants and pile up your plate, because there’s no other good buffet to get that bang for your buck.
The special Flavours Of India selection is available together with Melt Cafe’s usual buffet fare during lunch and dinner from 16 to 31 May 2016.
Lunch buffet is priced at S$62++ per person (Monday to Saturday), whereas dinner buffet is priced at S$78++ per person (Sunday to Wednesday) or S$8++ per person, inclusive of barbecue selections (Thursday to Saturday). Sunday brunch will remain as the usual international selection, priced at S$98++ per person inclusive of free flow of juices and soft drinks and S$158++ per person inclusive of free flow of champagne, wines, beer, juices and soft drinks.
Melt Cafe
Mandarin Oriental Singapore
5 Raffles Ave, Marina Square
Singapore 039797
Tel: + 65 6885 3500
Email: [email protected]
