Bei Shan Chuan Spicy Steamboat Restaurant - Vivo City

I was at Vivocity on saturday and happened to see this banner placed near the escalator stating buffet steamboat for only $13.90++ with DBS cards (UP $16.90 on weekdays and $18.90++ on weekends).

Well, I decided to explore this steamboat restaurant. It took me about 15minutes to find the restaurant as it was located one corner at the 3rd level. As you know, Vivocity is SO Big.. I had a hard time looking for the restaurant until I smell the fragrant of the steamboat near Daiso. I traced the smell and finally I found the restaurant! I reached the restaurant before 5 pm and it was not packed with people yet. I found a good spot where I can enjoy eating my steamboat and at the same time admire the scenery outside.

To my surprise, I was quite disappointed with their varieties as there weren't much choices to choose. They don't even have meat balls. Food replenishment were slow too. Service was not good either.

I saw one of their male staff shouting at a customer in mandarin," Boss, Do you know you are blocking my way? How do you expect me to go over when you stand there?" The customer just replied, "Oh, I am so sorry." If the person he shouted at was me, I would definitely make a complain to their manager. I finished my meal around 6.30pm and when I was about to eat ice-cream, they had NO MORE ICE-CREAM. When I asked for a refill, they told me they had ran out of ice-cream for the day. How could it be possible when it was just only 6.30pm? The crowds were still queuing and filling into the restaurants.

Although Bei Shan Chuan Spicy Steamboat really have a lot to improve, they still have their plus point. The food were fresh and prawns were of reasonable size. Soup base was quite okay. The temperature of the aircon was also good to have steamboat, because I did not sweat while eating the steamboat. Keke... but i heard the aircon will be turned off after 9.30pm. Overall, I give this restaurant a 3 stars for ambience, 2 stars for food and 1 star for service. Would I consider to go back to this place again?Maybe, if they still have the promotion.

Name: Bei Shan Chuan Spicy Steam Boat Restaurant

Address: Vivo City #03-07 ( Beside Daiso, hiding at one corner)

Telephone: 6222 3880

**Please note that it is not one DBS card per bill to enjoy the promo. It is one dbs card per pax. You have to show them your cards to them. Weird and stupid, right? But it is their rules.

River City Restaurants

The Starling Group of Restaurants (formerly ODS Nagasakiya Group) - Dragon Gate; Orient Ocean; River City was established since 1975. This is another alacarte buffet where you can enjoy irresistable chinese cuisine at a cheap price. Basically, they have 3 restaurants serving Alacarte Buffet. They are Dragon Gate, Orient Ocean and River City. You can enjoy a one time serving of Shark Fins and unlimited servings of Oat Prawns, Scallop, Fish, Meats etc... Restaurants like Orient Ocean is only charging $23.80++ per pax where you have a choices of 50 items and River city is only charging $22.90++ where you have a choices of 50 items. Check out their website for more information.

Name: Dragon Gate Restaurant

Address: 1 Maritime Square #04-01 HarbourFront Centre(Next to HarbourFront MRT)

Telephone: (65) 6278 0288

Fax: (65) 6278 6080

Buffet Dinner: 6.30pm -10.30pm (Last Order: 9.30pm)

Name: Orient Ocean Restaurant

Address: 401 Havelock Road 3rd Floor Hotel Miramar

Telephone: (65) 6736 3677

Fax: (65) 6738 8637

Buffet Dinner: 6.30pm -10.30pm (Last Order: 9.30pm)

Name: River City Restaurant

Address: 5 Coleman Street #04-02 Excelsior Hotel(Near City Hall MRT)

Telephone: (65) 6339 9969

Fax: (65) 6339 9952

Buffet Dinner: 6.30pm -10.30pm (Last Order: 9.30pm)

All the above mentioned buffet have to be minimum of 2 adults except the Promo B of Dragon Gate. For more information about their buffets, please check out their website at http://www.rivercity.com.sg/

Mapo Doufu Restaurant 麻婆豆腐饭庄 (Thomson)

This is my 3rd time to Mapo Doufu Restaurant 麻婆豆腐饭庄 at Thomson. One of the reason I go back there is because of their deep fried pumpkin. In terms of comparing them to those steamboat in Marina Square, it is far much more better. They serve out the food through the alacarte menu and you can have unlimited orders hence it is definitely cleaner than those steamboats which you paid about $12 per head. Some of my friends actually like their appetizer as they serve pig ears, sweet and sour cucumber. If I don't remember wrongly, they have more than 60 dishes for you to choose ranging from seafood, meat and vegetables. If you eat beef, you would definitely like their thin slice beef where you enjoy the dipping into their Mala Soup. As expected, some of the food they served are not fresh enough but overall most of the food are still acceptable. Paying $20/pax for the varieties and cleanliness, I think it is still worth it.

Name:Mapo Doufu Restaurant 麻婆豆腐饭庄 (Thomson)
Address: 2 Sin Ming Road #01-01/02 Sin Ming Plaza
Telephone: 6455 9981
Price: About $20/pax
Must Tries: Slice Beef, Deep Fried Pumpkin Cake(Make sure they serve hot), Pig Ear.
Rating: 3.5 stars for food, 2.5 stars for ambience (a bit too noisy)

Cafe Brio's at Grand Copthorne Waterfront Hotel

This is my second time to Cafe Brio's. The first time I went was on a weekday and it was quite sometime back with a Buy 1 Get 1 Free Promotion. This time round the spread was slightly different and perhaps it was because due to saturday and the price we are paying was also different because the Buy 1 Get 1 Free promotion was over. Anyway, all of us enjoyed the buffet spread. It was a combination of western, japanese and chinese food. The favourite among the guests were Oysters, Scallops, Soft Shell crabs, Squid, BBQ Giant Prawns, Steaks, Sushis and many more. As I am not a fan of Oysters, I ate the prawns and crabs.... Yummy... they were very fresh. Cakes was one of my hot favourite.

Name: Cafe Brio's

Address

Grand Copthorne Waterfront Hotel Singapore

392 Havelock Road Singapore 169663

Telephone: (65) 6233-1100

Website:http://www.millenniumhotels.com.sg/grandcopthornewaterfront/restaurant/index.html

Operating Hours:

Monday to Saturday

Breakfast 06:30 AM - 10:30AM

Lunch Noon - 02:30 PM

Dinner 06:30 PM - 10:30PM

Snack 02:30 PM - 06:30 PM 10:30 PM - 11:30 PM

Sunday

Breakfast 06:30 AM - 10:30AM

Brunch Noon - 03.00PM

Dinner 06:30 PM - 10:30PM

Snack 02:30 PM - 06:30 PM 10:30 PM - 11:30 PM

Price Guide

Adult/Child Pricing (between 5 and 12 yrs)

Breakfast

American

$29.00/$14.50

Continental

$20.00/$13.50

Buffet Lunch

$39.00/$19.50

Buffet Dinner

$44.00/$22.00 (Sun - Thurs) $46.00/$23.00 (Fri & Sat)

A la Carte

Main Course $12.50 - $32.50

Dessert $7.50 - $9.50

Sunday Brunch

Brunch only $68.00/$25.00

With Champagne/Wine/Beer $82.00

(Price maybe subjected to changes without any prior notice)

Overall Rating: 3.8 stars

My Hot Favourite: BBQ Prawns, Crabs, Chocolate Cakes, Strawberries Shortcakes and Calamaris.

Craving For Meat?(Canivore Brazillian Churrascaria)

Are you a meat lover? Churrascaria is Portuguese for barbecue restaurant. Their friendly knife-welding passadors (meat waiters) move around the tables, carving the succulent meats from large skewers onto your plates. This is actually a Eat All You Can Buffet Style. They have over 15 hot and cold salads and appetizers including Feijoada, a classic stew of black beans, pork trimmings and sausages, beef, lamb, chicken, fish, pork and condiments.

They also offered 10% Discount on Amex card holders(valid until 31st Dec 2008).

Name: Canivore Brazillian Churrascaria
Website: http://www.canivore.com.sg/
Email: canivore@starworth.com.sg
Address: 1 Harbour Front Walk, #01-161/162, Singapore 098585 (Vivo City)
30 Victoria Street, #01-29A, CHIJMES, Singapore 187996 (Chjmes)
Telephone: 6376 9939 (Vivo City) 6334 9332 (Chijmes)

Operating Hours : Sunday to Wednesday: 11.00am to 1.00am
Thursday to Saturday: 11.00am to 2.00am

Average Price per pax: $46-$50

Overall, I feel that if you are a meat lover, you may like this. I was eating heartily initially but got a bit sick of the meat towards the end. It is best accompanied with a glass of red wine while you are eating. When you reach home, make sure you drink some tea to digest your food and clear up some oil inside your stomach.

Rating: 3.5 for food, 3.5 ambience.

Eat All You Can Taiwan Porridge at Quality Hotel

If you are looking for a supper buffet at less than $10. You may like to visit this Eat All You Can Taiwan Porridge around 10.30pm - 12.30am. However, I would suggest all of you to reach there earlier than 10.30pm to queue up. Just like the teochew porridge you eat outside, they have fish, chicken, steamed sotong, eggs, salted vegetable etc... At the same time, you can enjoy the music of the live band from the bar next door.

Name: Quality Hotel Singapore

Address: 201 Balestier Road Singapore 329926

Telephone: 6359 6856

Fax: 6255 0988

Website: www.qualityhotel.com.sg

Operating Hours:

Asia Rice Lunch Buffet (11.30am- 2.30pm)

(Mon - Thurs)

$11.80 Adult

$6.80 Child

(Fri, Sat,Sun, Eve of PH &PH)

$13.80 Adult

$9.80 Child

All You Can Eat Taiwan Porridge Dinner Buffet (6.00pm to 10.00pm)

(Mon-Thurs)

$10.80 Adult

$6.80 Child

(Fri, Sat, Sun, Eve of PH & PH)

$12.80 Adult

$9.80 Child

Super Supper Buffet (10.30pm to 12.30am)

(Mon-Thurs)

$8.80 /Adult or Child

(Fri, Sat, Sun, Eve of PH & PH)

$9.80 /Adult or Child

Overall, I think the supper buffet is cheap. Although nothing fanciful but it is definitely suitable for people who got craving on buffets at night.

Rating: 3.5 for ambience, 3.5 for food.

Japanese Buffets

1) Minori Dining & Sake Bar
Address: 81 Clemenceau Ave #03-15/16
(UE Square Shopping Mall)
Singapore 239917
Tel: 6737 3353
Opening Hours: Lunch (11.30am-2.30pm)
Dinner (6pm - 10.30 pm)
(Closed on Monday)
Charges: $28 sgd per pax ( Exclude GST)
Website: http: http://www.minori.com.sg/

This newly opened japanese restaurant offers alacarte buffet menu where you can enjoy a harvest of more than 120 items of sashimi, sushi, tempura, summiyaki and teppanyaki. One thing i love the most about this restaurant is their freshly cut sashimi, octopus and paper steamboat. Although just opened, this restaurant has already start to gain some popularity among japanese food lovers. Best of all, i heard that this restaurant is endorsed by well-known celebrity Moses Lim.

In all, i would rate them 4 stars out of 5.