Plate (Carlton City Hotel): Singapore Buffet Review

“A Cool Respite in the CBD”

plate restaurant  carlton city

One of the new cool kid on the block, Plate, the in-house restaurant of Carlton City Hotel Singapore, made an unassuming entrance right in the fridge of the Central Business District and Tanjong Pagar neighbourhood.

Executive Chef at Carlton City Hotel Singapore, Chef Fong Chee Chung, offer an refreshing interpretation on buffet – an approach that is welcoming and relaxing, differentiating themselves from the standard business hotel, putting quality over quantity, with a touch of style.

Plate is tuck up on the 3rd floor of Carlton City Hotel, surrounded by lush greenery as well as a pool view.  The stylish restaurant offers a relaxed and unpretentious atmosphere to buffet dining, certainly a cool respite to the busyness of  the Central Business District.

plate carlton city buffet

Unlike other established buffets, there is a certain calm and relaxed feel in this restaurant.  You won’t feel hurried as you are transported away from the bustle of the city, with an inviting setting to prompt you to pick up a plate and dine.

In this peaceful setting, the particularly attentive staffs making their rounds to top up my wine glass certainly helped making me feel looked after.  If you paused and listen, you can hear people’s engaging conversations, while enjoying their dinner and time goes past really quickly – a hallmark of a successful dining venue.

Seafood selection | Plate, Carlton City Hotel Singapore

Fresh Seafood, in my opinion, is the main draw.  This Friday-only weekly buffet’s cold bar is filled up with freshly Shucked Oysters,  Green Mussels, Tiger Prawns, Snow Crab Claws, Assorted Clams, Half Shelled Scallops, Baby Lobsters and Cray Fish.

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plate carlton city sushi sashimi

There is also a small selection Tempura, Sushi and Sashimi, I am rather pleased to find local interpretation of sushi – lady’s finger sushi!

Boston Lobster (Chilli Crab Sauce)| Plate, Carlton City Hotel Singapore

plate carlton city thermidor lobster

One of the highlights is the complimentary serve of one whole Boston Lobster (Thermidor-style or Chilli Crab Sauce) for every two adult diners.

Baked Herb Marinated Whole Salmon | Plate, Carlton City Hotel Singapore

The second highlight would most definitely be the Baked Herb Marinated Whole Salmon. It is an impressive fish, and a nutritious superfood to boot.

plate laksa

A ‘live’ station, serve a bowl of a la minute Singapore-style Laksa that is delightfully executed and is my personal favourite dish of the night.

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The first litmus test to a good ‘Wok’ dishes is the ‘Wok Hei’.  Both a Hokkien Mee and Salted Fish Fried Rice are good classics ‘Wok’ dishes that are a good introduction for any foreign guest to one of our Singaporean Hawkers’ favourite.

Sambal Chilli | Plate, Carlton City Hotel Singapore

The second litmus test is the Sambal Chilli, it definitely well-made and lift the soul of the ‘Wok’ dishes to a satisfying level.

Satays | Plate, Carlton City Hotel Singapore

Another ‘live’ station of Satay, that are as good as they look. Be quick though, if you blink, you have to wait a few more minutes for the next batch.  Great teamwork in the kitchen, as they are able to replenish the food fairly quickly.

Spare Ribs | Plate, Carlton City Hotel Singapore

There are close to a dozen of Asian dishes such as Wok-fried Spare Ribs with Black Beans, to contemporary Western mains such as Braised Beef Cheek in Port Wine and Baked Seafood Thermidor are also available.

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Last but not least, the dessert stations are decent with a half-metre tall chocolate fountain, an assortment of after-meal delights like Strawberries with Port Wine Sabayon, bread pudding, assorted cakes, ice-creams and fresh fruits.

After dinner, you may also head to the 29th floor to have a scenic drink at Graffiti Sky Bar.

graffiti carlton city hotel

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graffiti sky bar mojitos

Graffiti Sky Bar on level 29 rooftop offers a cool view of southern Singapore, with a selection of 10 different Mojito flavours (at $9.5++ per glass or $39 per jug) and probably one of the best Veuve Clicquot champagne deals in town- a great price of $89++ a bottle during Fridays and Saturdays, from 5pm-11pm only until 30th September 2014!

If you need a respite from the crowd or a hideout in the sky, you now know where to go – Cheers!

Overall, Plate at Carlton City Hotel offers a buffet venue that can please most group diners, with an array of decent dishes that are popular, like the fresh and baked seafood, and a good selection of Asian and Singaporean hawker’s ‘Wok’ delights to keep things local. The option to top up for free flow of alcohol drinks will surely please both the discerning teetotaler palate.

Do note that the dinner buffet at Plate is only held every Friday evening, 6.30pm – 10pm.

Seafood and Wok Friday Buffet Dinner: $62++ per adult, with an additional $22++ per adult for free flow of beer and house pour wines, $6++ per person for free flow of soda and juices.

Child (7 to 12 years old): $30++ per child, additional $6++ for free flow of soda and juices.

Expected Damage: $70 – $95 per pax

Plate:  1 Gopeng Street
 (Carlton City Hotel), Singapore 078862 | Tel: 6632 8922 | Website

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