Whoever looked upon the hard shells of a lobster and decided to grill them with copious amounts of butter (is that Paula Deen I see?), I thank you. No other seafood can have me perking up from my seat in anticipation. When Melt Cafe at Mandarin Oriental announced their Lobster Bonanza buffet, I asked myself if I was dreaming. At S$75/person (weekday) or S$85/person (weekend), you could drown yourself in as many of these sweet crustaceans in a variety of cuisine styles till you drop into a food coma.
Whether you love them freshly poached, grilled, or, in a glorious bisque, Melt Cafe has got you covered. There is even a “chilli crab” version with fried man-tous on the side. If you are tight on stomach space, go straight for the Pan-Roasted Marron Lobster in Garlic and Tarragon. There is butter in there, for sure, but the focus is the succulent lobster flesh made even more irresistible by the aroma of herbs. Another must-have is the Boston Lobster Cocktail Salad, where you will find thick chunks of that sweet flesh matched with the refreshing crunch of tangerines, onions and olives.
There is also a live station serving up piping hot bowls of Singapore Lobster Laksa, topped with quail egg and shredded cucumbers. The soup is on the blander side and could use a whole lot more of that sambal chilli. What is more worth your time is the Lobster Fried Rice with Ground Sambal Paste. The light spice is just enough to keep you coming back for another mouthful. Top the rice up with a grilled lobster tail, or add a crunch with some fried fish skin.
This is all served along with their usual quality fare of fresh oysters (which are huge), curries, grilled vegetables and stir-fry. Mix and match your ideal lobster dinner, and just have a ball of a night with a glass of white. Those who are more adventurous can give the Lobster Bloody Mary a try (Warning: approach with caution).
Lobster Bonanza will be available for dinner at Melt Café from 7 to 21 February 2017 excluding Valentine’s Day. The dinner buffet is priced at $75 per person (Sunday to Thursday) or $85 per person, (Friday and Saturday) inclusive of free flow of juices.
