[Review] Mediterranean-Asian Buffet at Chara Brasserie @ Mecure ICON Singapore City Centre – 25% Off Opening Promotion from just $58 to $78 per pax

alvinology

May 19

Embark on a culinary adventure around the world at Chara Brasserie, the latest Mediterranean-Asian buffet restaurant to land in Singapore, nestled in the brand new Mercure ICON Singapore City Centre.

Buffet spread at Chara Brasserie

To keep the menu fresh and different for hotel guests and diners, the restaurant unveils a themed buffet inspired by different countries each day, with four rotating menus in a week. Dive into a world of vibrant flavours as the entire buffet lineup transforms daily, presenting unique twists on familiar favourites across more than 100 varieties of classic and signature global flavours.

We were invited for a dinner tasting on a Friday evening and were able to sample most of the highlight dishes presented in their menu.

Chara Brasserie Buffet Lineup

Flavours From Across the World

Chara Brasserie promises a world tour with four rotating menus:

Monday and Tuesday: Flavours of the Mediterranean and Southeast Asia, featuring seafood-focused specialties.
Wednesday and Thursday: A blend of Mediterranean and Japanese cuisines with live tempura frying and maki rolling.
Friday and Saturday: Mediterranean and Asia Pacific delights with lamb rotisseries and roast carving stations.
Sunday: An international Mediterranean buffet combining all the best dishes from the week.

Whole Baby Lamb Rotisserie

From Friday to Sunday, enjoy a Spice Marinated Whole Baby Lamb Rotisserie, with tender grilled lamb sliced straight from the spit. An interactive DIY Kebab Station allows guests to customise your own kebabs.

The Seafood on Ice station offers an array of chilled clams, prawns, mussels, crabs, lobsters, crayfish, and oysters. We were delighted to spot the China-style "little lobsters" or crayfish marinated in garlic and mala seasonings. The latter are a delight to slowly deshell and enjoy, knocking back a few drinks along the way while chatting with friends.

Cold seafood station

Surprised to see these China-style "little lobsters", crayfish marinated in garlic and mala seasoning - love these

The highlight for us was the Japanese Station featuring sashimi, sushi, and aburi chirashi dons with free-flowing ikura, ebiko, and tobiko.

Unlike the Japanese Stations at most other hotel buffets, Chara Brasserie did not just stuck to offering the standard sushi and sashimi, but upped their game by offering a variety of other Japanese delights, some of which you can order a la carte from the chefs.

Signature donburi bowl

Generous portions of sashimi

Sushi with sesame coat

An interesting signature fusion dish would be the mala unagi sushi - perfect for those who love spicy food:

Live Rotisserie Station

The Live Rotisserie Station offers bold and flavourful meats, including Australian Angus beef prime rib and roasted chicken. Hot mains from Live Stations include tempura, scallion pancakes, okonomiyaki, quesadillas, tteokbokki, lobster bisque, and hot bowl noodles of the day.

Roasted chicken and more

Tteokbokki and seafood paella

Steamed fish

Okonomiyaki

Local Flavours and Desserts

Black pepper crayfish

Local specialties include prata puff and curry, black pepper crayfish, salted egg jumbo Tiger prawns, and chili crab.

Chili crab

The dessert selection features Nyonya kueh, mini tarts, cupcakes, cakes, puddings, and daily rotating treats like dorayaki, waffles, and croffles, served with soft-serve gelato.

Cupcakes

Nonya kueh

Assorted cheeses

Salad selection

DIY Pita station

Self-serve drinks and juices

Opening Promotion

To celebrate its grand launch, Chara Brasserie offers an opening special of 25% off the buffet menu, valid daily until 31 May 2024. The prices are extremely attractive, with Sunday buffet breakfast starting from just $32++ per pax and regular buffets starting from just $58++ for weekday lunches.