Lobsterfest is back, baby! PARKROYAL COLLECTION Pickering has relaunched its much-loved seafood extravaganza after a 2-year hiatus and I was there for a long-overdue taste.
What I tried at Lime’s Lobsterfest
We arrived right on time for the Lobsterfest Buffet Dinner (S$138++) at Lime Restaurant, which includes unlimited beer, chilled juices, soft drinks, specialty coffee, tea and a fresh coconut for a welcome drink.
Lime Restaurant is designed around a ‘hotel in a garden’ concept and the lush interior is a pleasant haven. For Lobsterfest, though, I much preferred their outdoor setting. With coconut or beer in hand, it was easy to lose myself and pretend I was kicking back on a beach somewhere far, far away.
My illusion was helped along by the sounds and smells from the alfresco barbecue live station where my favourite chargrilled lobsters were being prepared. Chef Shashi, who was working the grill, was very friendly and kept piling our plates with his delicious fare.
If Western-style seafood is your thing, you will not be disappointed. That Marinated Grilled Lobster from the BBQ is served with Hollandaise sauce, barbecued smoke hickory, spicy avocado, garlic basil and citrus salsa. There is also Lobster Risotto and Lobster Penne with caviar and chive cream.
Baked Halibut will give you some respite from the lobster deluge and you can return to land for Australian Lamb Chop served with green bean, chimichurri sauce and garlic chip, Barbecued Pork Rib and Roasted Beef Sirloin.
If you, very briefly, want to sample some vegetarian fare, there is Vegetarian Lasagna and Gratin Potato with Parmesan. Meanwhile, Lime’s Japanese selection includes salmon, taco, hamachi and tuna sashimi platters as well as assorted sushi and maki rolls.
One of my favourites of the night was Lime’s Signature Lobster Laksa. The lobsters were massive and the steamed meat was beautifully tender. We loved the creaminess of the laksa soup and its authentic spicy kick.
There really is no substitute for seafood done right in a local dish, especially here where it was prepared at a live station.
That was doubly proven by the Lobster with Chilli Crab Sauce served with golden mantou. This classic dish never gets old, now does it? I have to admit, this ended up being a slightly messy affair! *licks fingers*
We also loved the Steamed Lobster With Garlic Paste And Wine (which was generously stuffed) and Black Pepper Lobster. They avoided the mistake too many other places do of making the pepper flavour too sharp. Instead, here it was creamy and less intense. Score!
The restaurant’s concept of serving freshly-prepared pass-around dishes worked perfectly with the Lobster Cocktail and Spicy Lobster Mango Skewers.
I have to say, mango goes very well with lobster and spice in the way it was prepared here!
Gorgeous presentation made the delicious Lobster Cocktail brimming with mango, avocado and lobster bits seem even more tasty.
Don’t worry if a wrapped newspaper arrives at your table— that’s just another pass-around dish, the Lobster Roll presented in a magically quaint way. Inside, you will find a creamy mix of lobster chunks stuffed inside a mildly sweet brioche bun. This was exquisite!
More seafood came our way in the form of Vietnamese Lobster Spring Rolls, Wok-Fried Clam in Garlic And Chilli Sauce and Steamed Seabass with Spicy Bean Paste.
Somewhere along the line, I accidentally stumbled across the salad bar and decided to take a break, albeit a brief one, from Lobsterfest proper. Sampling little bits of the Nicoise Salad, Mozzarella Tomato Salad and Tabbouleh Salad, as well as the selection of cheeses, I was impressed.
I had been lulled by the overindulgence of lobster into believing that the buffet was all about the savoury. But, when I wandered around a corner, there it was: a gigantic fridge with all the desserts I could want.
I think the variety of the sweet treats was equal to, if not greater than, the assortment of seafood at Lobsterfest. As a fan of balance, I give it my kudos. (Ok, fine, it’s because I have a sweet tooth).
You can treat yourself to tiramisu, cherry pie and apple pie, a variety of chocolate mousse and cheesecake flavours, mango pudding, ice cream and sorbet. With National Day around the corner, the patriots among us may insist on having the durian pengat and pulut hitam.
Oh, yes. Anyone who knows me knows that I would not have been able to walk past the chocolate fondue fountain. They had one here and I made sure it was adequately utilised.
Final Thoughts
There is no doubt that Lobsterfest was sorely missed because when we visited on Thursday last week, Lime Restaurant was packed. The crowd included two groups of about 20 persons each as well as many smaller tables of revellers. Festival DJs spinning some chill beats helped the mood along and the air was abuzz with excitement.
From Mondays to Wednesdays, the DJs are replaced by a roving team of entertainers, including stilt walkers, jugglers and mimes. If you have little ones, these family-oriented performances will be a nice accompaniment to the fine food. I might revisit Lobsterfest myself on one of those days just to experience that Cirque du Soleil vibe.
Need another reason to meet up at Lobsterfest with your friends? Here’s a great one: PARKROYAL COLLECTION is offering diners who spend S$500 or more in a single receipt the chance to win a private dining experience for two in the PARKROYAL COLLECTION Suite.
I loved my time at Lobsterfest and from the atmosphere that night, I know I wasn’t alone. If you want to get your claws into the lobsters, reservations are highly recommended.
Lobsterfest at PARKROYAL COLLECTION Pickering runs from 15 July to 31 August 2022.
Buffet Dinner – Monday to Sunday | 6:30pm to 10:00pm | SGD138
includes unlimited beer, chilled juices, soft drinks, specialty coffee, tea and a fresh coconut as welcome drink
Buffet Brunch – Saturday and Sunday | 12:30pm to 3:30pm | SGD88
includes selected lobster dishes
Three Course Set Lunch – Monday to Friday | 12:00pm to 1:30pm | SGD38
For dining reservations, please contact Lime Restaurant at +65 3138 2251 or reserve a seat here.
Expected damage: S$138++ per pax
*This post is brought to you in partnership with PARKROYAL COLLECTION Pickering, Singapore.
Other articles you might like:
Price: $ $ $
Our Rating: 4 / 5
PARKROYAL COLLECTION Pickering
3 Upper Pickering Street, Singapore 058289
PARKROYAL COLLECTION Pickering
3 Upper Pickering Street, Singapore 058289