Nelayan: Extravagant Saturday Brunch Buffet With Free-Flow Wines & Champagne Just An Hour Away In Bintan

Situated just an hour from Singapore, Bintan Lagoon Resort occupies a lavish 300-hectare space, and is the go-to destination for many seeking a retreat.

There’s a wide range of activities to choose from here, with two world-renowned 18-hole golf courses as well as water sports like kayaking and windsurfing.

Boasting 450 rooms, suites and villas, the resort also offers a luxurious Jazzy Brunch Buffet (IDR688,000++ Brunch only, IDR888,000++ Brunch with free-flow wines, IDR1,288,000++ Brunch with free-flow champagnes and wines) at their Nelayan restaurant.

Facing the sea, we were given the choice of seating at the outdoor al fresco dining area, or indoors with the comfort of the air-conditioning. It was a rather sunny day so we opted for the latter.

The buffet offers an extensive spread spanning various cuisines, with some of the dishes including sushi and beef steak.

We were served a large seafood platter as an appetiser once seated. The seafood at Nelayan is flown in daily from all over the world, ensuring the quality and freshness of ingredients served.

The Seafood Platter contained Alaskan King Crab, mussels and other shellfish. I thought the dish was a good choice as it reflected the restaurant’s proximity to the sea — this is definitely something that seafood aficionados will enjoy!

The Alaskan King Crab had already been cracked, so all I had to do was to pull the firm meat out of its shell. The meat was succulent and slightly brininess, but with a splash of lemon juice, the natural sweetness of crab meat was elevated. The lemon juice also had the added effect of giving a sour tingle which was rather refreshing.

There were a variety of main courses and soups to choose from, all of which were included in Nelayan’s buffet. We got the Herb Crusted Rack Of Lamb which came with a side of yellow lentils. The herby crust had an aromatic earthiness that permeated the slab of lamb meat.

They use rosemary in the herb mix which added another layer of complexity to the profile of the dish. The floral notes from the rosemary, in particular, prevented the meat from becoming overly gamey.

The lamb itself was juicy and succulent, cooked to a perfect medium rare. I was pleasantly surprised at the tenderness of the meat — the level of marbling was reminiscent of premium-grade beef and melted easily in my mouth.

Each bite was packed with punchy flavour, to the point that I would have enjoyed the meat even without the sauce.

Moving on, we tried Nelayan’s take on the Lontong Medan which I had high hopes for — after all, Bintan Lagoon Resort is located in Indonesia.

The dish was topped with loads of peanuts and fried anchovies which had a savoury crunchiness. The broth was creamy and milky, with a pronounced and rich coconut flavour which I felt was quite refreshing.

From the complex taste of the broth, it was clear that many spices were used. In particular, star anise stood out with its intense, earthy flavour.

I personally recommend going for the spicy version of the dish as the sambal here had a delightful, fiery kick. It was also a tad sweet, which elevated the milder flavours of the dish.

The lontong was unlike any others I’ve had. The soft and fluffy texture of the lontong soaked up the broth, resulting in a mini flavour bomb in my mouth.

While the majority of the buffet was great, I felt that there was still room for improvement in some dishes, like the sashimi.

The sashimi did not live up to my expectations in terms of freshness, with the salmon sashimi, in particular, lacking a firm bite.

The Lobster Bisque that was part of the a la carte selection in the buffet also let me down, as the flavours were quite one dimensional. The saltiness of the dish unfortunately overpowered any other component present, to the point where I could barely taste the freshness of the ingredients used.

That being said, Nelayan is a definite go-to if you are ever in Bintan. It offers the perfect setting to unwind, with the soothing sound of crashing waves and balmy sea breeze.

The Jazzy Brunch Buffet at Nelayan is priced at IDR688,000++ (Brunch only), IDR888,000++ (Brunch with free flow of wines) and IDR1,288,000++ (Brunch with free flow of champagne and wines).

Alternatively, you can opt for their Jazz-Capade Package (IDR 2,000,000/pax, minimum 2 persons), that comes with a 2D1N stay at the deluxe room, two-way transport, as well as access to whole range of activities and free perks.

So take a break from all the clichéd staycations — jazz things up with the extravagant Jazzy Brunch Buffet at the Bintan Lagoon Resort!

Expected Damage: IDR688,000++ per pax