Melt Cafe at Mandarin Oriental: buffet review

Mar 23, 2023 | Dining in Hotels, Food

Above image: entrance to Melt Cafe at Mandarin Oriental

Melt Cafe at Mandarin Oriental

This review at Melt Cafe features their lunch buffet. At that time, holders of OCBC, UOB, DBS, Citibank and American Express credit cards were entitled to a 15% discount. So I went solo and used my Amex for this one.

This is a bit of #throwback post…. in the sense that quite some time has passed since I dined at Melt Cafe at Mandarin Oriental Singapore.

And by the time one gets the time to blog about an experience… the hotel then announces renovation plans, rendering the dining experience obsolete. Ah wells.

Melt Cafe at Mandarin Oriental

Anyway, I still decided to write about the post.

One, because it is one of the best hotel buffets I’ve had in Singapore.

And two, just because a place has closed down – temporarily or permanent, it doesn’t matter – it doesn’t make the dining experience any less valid.

Seating Area

Seafood on Ice

Like any good hotel buffet, there has to be a section of seafood on ice. 

Seafood on Ice

During pre-covid19 times, Melt Cafe would pile oysters and small lobsters on the ice too. But these days, with inflation and all, it looks like the hotel has adopted a more rationing-style approach. 

Oysters and Lobster

While people could still have as much as they wanted, it does take considerably more effort now.

Salad and Appetizers

While I don’t know a single person who goes to a buffet pretending to be healthy, it’s always nice to have good salad options.  

DIY salad section

Pasta Salad, Roasted Potato Salad, Quinoa Salad, Smoked Chicken Salad

There were also cold cuts of meat. 

Selection of Cold Cuts

Wash it all down with freshly squeezed juice. I love how colourful the set up is. 

Freshly squeezed juice

Or pretend that your appertizer is a giant bread basket. 

Bread Section

The sushi section was also insanely popular. 

Japanese section: assortment of nigiri sushi

The sashimi section also suffered from over-popularity. Thankfully, the staff were quick to refill and could keep up with the diners’ voracious appetites. 

Sashimi

And of course, an obligatory fruit section.

Fresh Fruits

Local and International Mains

If you love Indian cuisine, Melt Cafe has one of the best (if not THE BEST) Indian cuisine selections within a hotel buffet.

Indian: huge selection of curry

Naan is made fresh on-site.

Naan in progress

Here’s the crunchy…
And here’s the spicy.

So very fragrant

There’s more curry, of the non-Indian variety. Such as Japanese curry, our typical local chicken curry, and crab/seafood curry.

Non-Indian Curries (traditionally at least)

There was just so much food in this place. The options for main dishes alone were numerous on a crazy level.

Hot Dishes

There were local chinese stir-fried options. 

Local Chinese Main Dishes

Seriously, plan your stomach space. It is too easy here, to get caught in enjoying whatever you’re drooling at in that moment – only to realise later, that there are so many more dishes to try.

More hot dishes

It is like the hot dish items can never end. 

Western Options

Favourite main dish of the day – personally, that’s the roasted lamb. The meat was so tender, and super well roasted. Totally complimenting in taste with a sauce on the side, the whole thing was gorgeous. In fact, if the the very slight gamey smell of lamb bothers you, get more sauce – it will help to masks some of that gamey aftertaste.

Roasted Lamb

Or, for those who really can’t stand the smell / taste of lamb, or don’t take it on religious grounds, there is an equally gorgeous Roast Chicken option. 

Roasted Chicken

Desserts

The highlight of the day, especially for kids: a chocolate fondue fountain. 

Chocolate Fondue Fountain

And the range of things to dip in the fountain: marshmallows and fruit.

Fondue dippings (e.g. fruit, marshmallow) and additions (e.g. chocolate sprinkles)

At this buffet, one really MUST save space for dessert. There’s a reason why it’s called ‘sweet-endings’ – leaving this place without having dessert feels like a crime.

Malay Kuih Dessert Display

Western desserts

Dessert Corridor

So cute and adorable!

Assorted cookies section

If you’re into fancy cheeses, the cheese section does not disappoint.

Gourmet Cheese Platter

Overall Thoughts

Service here was excellent and the staff were both proficient and friendly. The range of food items and their presentations exceeded all expectations. 
I’m really sad that the Mandarin Oriental hotel will undergo renovation, and when it reopens in Septeber 2023, Melt Cafe is reported to be replaced with something else. 

We’ll see what happens when the time comes. stay tuned.

Discount with OCBC / UOB / DBS / Citibank / AMEX

 

Note: At the time of dining, the following credit cards gave diners 15% off: OCBC, UOB, DBS, Citibank, and American Express. 

Melt Cafe review: Lunch Buffet

– Lunch = $61.00 for x1 adult

– 15% discount with a qualifying credit card (I used amex) = minus -$9.15

– Sub-total: $51.85

– 10% Service Charge: $6.10

– 7% GST: $4.06  (Note: at the time of dining in, it was before the GST increase of 2023. Do note that dining in Singapore for 2023 will incur an 8% GST). 

Total: $62.00

 

American Express Platinum Charge Card (Image source: American Express)

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