The Golden Palace Dim Sum Buffet Review, Windsor Suites

In Bangkok, you can get Dim Sum for 3 Baht a piece from any street vendor or up to 200 Baht for a pair or "Siu Mai" at fancier establishments. This is what I love about Thailand. Just because it's Dim Sum, doesn't meant that it will be the same (Doused in sauce and fried garlic, anyone?) everywhere you have it. The range of food is so vast, and everyone puts their own twist on it. 

This will be a review for Dim Sum Buffet at the Golden Palace, Windsor Suites. For those of you who may not know, the hotel is located just off off Sukhumvit Road near the Asok BTS Station. I arrived at the hotel and parking space was ample and complimentary for guests dining at any of the hotel's Food and Beverage outlets.

The Entrance to the Golden Palace

Seating Inside the Restaurant

The waiter came promptly to serve us and we were quickly given a menu of the items that we could order. Drinks were not included in the lunch buffet price. The typical fare of Dim Sum items were offered including fried hot dishes such as spring rolls and red pork puffs.

"Har Gao" with large prawns included

Some sort of Crab dish

"Chee Chong Fun"

I realize that I am probably butchering the spelling for all of these dishes beyond any repair, but lets move beyond that point and continue with the review. For those of you who are in the area, the lunch buffet is around 500 Baht per person. Is it worth the price? Well, the Dim Sum wasn't that bad. But it didn't seem refined. It just tasted above average. I have definitely dined on better dim sum in the past, although not during Dim Sum Buffets (Crystal Jade in Singapore, perhaps?), if anyone knows any fantastic Dim Sum buffets in Bangkok, do let me know.

The Lobby of Windsor Suites

Finishing up our meal

The Golden Palace was almost full during lunch, filled with office workers having their break and enjoying a meal. It's definitely a bang for buck offer. However, if you are looking for high quality Dim Sum, this is not the place for you.

Bangkok Gastronomy

---------------

The Golden Palace Dim Sum Buffet, Windsor Suites (3/5) BBB

(http://www.windsorsuiteshotel.com/dining.php)

Sunday Brunch Buffet at Chatuchak Cafe, Sofitel Centara Grand

Wow! It seems like it has been forever since I have posted up a tasty review. I have been caught up in piles of work and haven't had the time to treat myself to a nice buffet. In fact, I'm not even in Bangkok right now but I made sure I ate a truckload of buffets so I can review them when I have free time.

Today will be a review for Sunday Brunch Buffet at the Chatuchak Cafe, Sofitel Centara Grand. I remember walking around Central Ladprao since I was a child, and every time I went back, it always brought back memories (Since the place was never renovated and looked the same after 10 years). However, Sofitel Centara Grand, which is connected to the shopping center, recently went through renovation. I have eaten here before, and was very disappointed at the spread and general quality of the food, however much of that has changed.

I parked my car and walked through the hotel, noticing that renovation was still undergoing. The entire layout and structure of the buffet has changed, including seating. There are 3 main islands that hold the starters and cold food, hot foods and finally the desserts. The staff was extremely friendly and you could see most of the food being made by the chefs behind the counters.

Entrance to the Buffet

There was plenty of seafood available, including oysters, prawns and bits and pieces of lobster. The appetizer variety was quite small and the sushi bar was limited, no smoked salmon available and very few cold cuts. However the taste of the food was decent for the price we were paying.

Cold Seafood

Sushi and Sashimi

I enjoyed the lamb, beef and rock lobster since it was repeatedly made fresh by the chefs. The food was replenished quickly when it ran out. There was dimsum as well as thai dishes such as curry and sticky rice with beef, springrolls and a noodle station. 

Our Friendly Chef

Sample of Rock Lobster, Duck, Fish and Grilled Prawns

Roasted Lamb, Prawn Kebab, Grilled Salmon

After filling myself up (Which took quite some time) I moved on to the desserts. There was a few flavors of ice creams available, fruits, Thai desserts and of course cakes and tarts. As always though, I wasn't impressed by what was available. I have yet to find a buffet with fantastic desserts, so may be it's just me? If you happen to know where I can enjoy a nice chocolate cake similar to the ones available in Boulangeries in Europe, let me know!

The Chocolate Fountain

Variaty of Cakes 

Overall I would say the buffet at Chatukchuk Cafe was average at best Although it certainly improved, it still has a long way to go to making it in the top 10 buffets in Bangkok. Would I come here again? Probably not, I still have plenty of calories to consume elsewhere. But if you live around the area and want a buffet for a decent price, might as well drop in and try it yourself. The total bill per person for Sunday Brunch was hovering around 1200 with 50% Before Discount for Accor Card Members. 

----------------------------

Chatukchak Cafe, Sofitel Centara Grand (3/5) BBB

(http://www.sofitel.com/gb/hotel-3432-sofitel-centara-grand-bangkok/restaurant.shtml)

Sunday Brunch at The Living Room, Sheraton Grande Sukhumvit

Once a week, the various food outlets at Sheraton Grande Sukhumvit gather around the Living Room floor to prepare a fantastic Sunday Brunch. Nothing beats drinking a nice glass of wine while listening to jazz and tasting various cheeses and chocolates on a relaxing, lazy Sunday. This will be a review for Sunday Brunch at the Living Room, Sheraton Grande Sukhumvit. Arriving earlier won't hurt since parking is complimentary and you can always take the BTS to Emporium to work (and walk) up your appetite.

(I am trying to get as many photos into my reviews as possible because nothing helps you viewers make a decision better then seeing the place yourself. Currently I can only take photos from my Phone, so my apologies if they come out a bit blurry and unclear at times. )

View of the Center of the Buffet from the Living Room. 

To make this review as short as possible, the food available is basically everything from the Seafood Buffet organized at the Orchid Cafe (Which can be read by selecting Buffets in the left hand menu) and so much more. Rock Lobsters, an unbelievably large selection of pastas, smoke salmon, Peking Duck, Dimsum, various cuts of roasted pork, beef and lamb, cakes, crepes, waffles, chocolates, cheeses, oysters, prawn and fish roe, eggs cooked to your liking, pizza, breads, and a long line of cold and hot appetizers and finger foods.

Our Table at the Living Room with a small stage and a yet-to-arrive Band

There are different seating options a this Sunday Brunch, from the Thai Restaurant Basil, Italian Rossinis and Coffeshop-style Living room. I had a bit of trouble finding out more about Sunday Brunch at Sheraton Grande so I decided to include this into me review as well. Hopefully it will make your selection of table easier. Below you will see some of the photos I took from around the buffet which takes up the entire first floor of the hotel. Personally I enjoyed seating at the Living Room because there was a live jazz band playing. Reservations are recommended to avoid being stuck in one of the more high-seated-uncomfortable-chairs at Basil =).

Seating at Basil

Seating at Rosinnis

All outlets are relatively close to the food so that shouldn't be a problem. The Foe Grois is located in Rossinis and the Thai food / chicken rice is at Basil. The buffet also comes with free flow alcoholic and soft drinks, readily available at the bar.

Open bar with everything from Cocktails to Cokes

List of different drinks, or you can request your own from the friendly bartender

The Kids corner, which got pretty crowded around 1. Around 5-6 Staff members were present to take care of children just in case you would like a break. 

Dessert variety is large but none of the cakes were outstanding. The waffles and Ice cream were a hit though, crispy on the outside but soft and moist on the inside.

Seared Salmon, Lamb, Satay, Lasagna and Chicken

Roasted Beef, Parma Ham and Mashed Potatoes

Smoked Salmon, and Sashimi

Cold Starters, excellent quality

The Seafood which would usually be crowded, but at this buffet theres just too much to choose from.

Thai Selection at Basil

Cheeses

Egg Station

Be prepared to spend a good 2-3 hours here and enjoy the food and the music. However, for the price we were paying I felt that they were not giving us the appropriate service that we should have gotten. Waiters seemed pre-occupied at times and at no point did I feel the service reach a personal level.

Almost 20 Flavors of delicious ice cream

Although the food here was fantastic, an important part of going to a Sunday Brunch would be for the staff and service. Off the top of my head, the buffet was around 2350 Baht Per Person Nett. I will definitely come back here again when I have the chance, it is definitely currently in my top 3 Buffets and I would recommend that you stop by if you happen to enjoy Lazy, Jazzy, Sunday Brunches!

-----------------------------------------------
The Living Room, Sheraton Grande Sukhumvit (4/5) BBBBB
(http://www.sheratongrandesukhumvit.com/en/thelivingroom)


66 (0) 2649 835

Orchid Cafe, Sheraton Grande Sukhumvit

There are two types of people in the world, the first being those who stuff themselves silly during a buffet and then feel sick and regret ever going through the massive piles of food that was set before them. The second group of people stuff themselves silly during a buffet, then feel sick and bloated, but would do the exact same thing over again the next week. I proudly categorize myself into the second group. After all, what is the point of living if you can't enjoy the food thats available to you?

View from the Entrance of the Orchid Cafe

Luckily for all of us, whichever group you fall into, the Buffets in Bangkok never fail to deliver. They provide us with different experiences, ranging from delight to disgust, European to Indian, Riverside to Downtown. Today I will be writing a review for the Weekend Grande Seafood Buffet Dinner at The Orchid Cafe, Sheraton Grande Sukhumvit. I was led here by the numerous review online praising the Orchid Cafe for its delightful staff and delicious food, whether it be the Lunch, Dinner or Brunch buffets at the hotel.

The Front of the Sheraton Grande Sukhumvit, View From the BTS Link

Our Table for the Evening, view of the Traffic Congested Sukhumvit Road

The Orchid Cafe is located at the lobby of the hotel and serves up a International Buffet. Located just next to the Skytrain, it is easy to get to from anywhere in Bangkok (Or Thailand even, if you are that hungry).


The food here is of a wide variety, Japanese, Thai, Western and the choices are almost overwhelming. I consider myself a heavy eater, but after just sampling 1 or 2 pieces from each dish I was close to throwing in the towel before desserts. Most of the food is located around a circular "Island"  in the center of the Restaurants as well as islands to the side. This meant that little queuing up was needed for most of the food (Except one which I will mention later)

Hot Dishes as well as Appetizers and Thai Food / Soups

The Seafood Dinner Buffet came with Lamb/Beef Roasts, a very popular grill section that has Foie Gras, Salmon, Ribeye Steak, Rock Lobster, Lamb, Tuna, Soft Shell Crab and River Prawns cooked to order, Pasta dishes, Tempura, the usual Thai selections, 4 different types of smoked salmon, hot dishes such as Foei Grais (Again), various Seafood, a Japanese Sashimi Section (Including a Roe Station, Photos Below), Cold Seafood Spread (Alaskan Crabs, Fresh Oysters, Etc) 10+ Flavors of Ice Cream and freshly made pancakes, dozens of cakes and desserts and fruits. I feel full just thinking of all the food!

Fresh Seafood

The Popular Grill station and the 4 Busy (And I Would Have to Say Skillful) Chefs

Roe Station with Condiments (And Made on Pancakes to the Side)

Service was standard, not as good as Lord Jim's at the Oriental but definitely 5 Star. The only Gripe I have about this place is that it gets quite crowded from 7-8PM when the tables are full, getting your order down with the Chefs at the grill section takes a bit of an initiative from your side. You place an order my telling the chefs, and with about 10+ people around you and of course double the orders floating around, it feels a bit hectic, perhaps the restaurant can find another way to organize the taking and placing of orders. Of course as expected, one of my orders out of four was forgotten, but the chefs quickly whipped it up in minutes after a gentle reminder =)

4 Types of Smoked Salmon, Prawn, Fish  as well as other Appetizers

The Dessert Island

Sample of my First Dish, Smoked Salmon, Prawn with Ginger and Thai Spices, Seafood "Yum" and Salmon Roll in Avocado Paste

Grilled Rock Lobster

The California Rolls here are delicious, and you will end up queuing up from them, and remember to order it "without rice"! I asked for Salmon in mine and added additional Prawn and Salmon Roe from the adjacent table.

Remember, No Rice!

The Roasts, Beef and Lamb as well as Rock Lobsters were superb, and you definitely have to try the Sheraton Chocolates that come in silver spoons. Another tip is to not take your Lamb from the Roast, but to order it fresh from the grill. The Main Dishes, Seafood, Japanese Food and Grills were all top notch, however the Desserts have yet to leave me very satisfied. (Once I find a buffet that offers cakes as good as their food, I will let you guys know).

Sheraton Chocolates, I preferred the Dark selections

If you're looking for a place to have dinner with the family, or just a bunch of friends, the Orchid Cafe Weekend Dinner Buffet has to be somewhere on your list. Take it as a meal after a walk in Emporium which is just one BTS Station away, or in my case, after spending an entire day at Queen Sirikit National Convention Center. Try to come a bit earlier when the Buffet starts at 6 or after 7:30 when the crowds die down, you can also opt for free flow alcohol and drinks for an additional 700 baht. The Buffet Dinner at Sheraton came to 1700 Baht Nett per person, completely worth it since at the time of writing American Express Credit Cards entitles you to 50% off the Food for 2-6 people per table.

Enjoy!


------------------------------------------------------------


Orchid Cafe, Sheraton Grande Sukhumvit (4/5) BBBB
(http://www.sheratongrandesukhumvit.com/en/orchidcafe)

02-649-8355
250 Sukhumvit Road,
Bangkok, Thailand 10110

The Square, Novotel Siam Square Review

This review is for The Square, Novotel Siam Square's Sunday Brunch. Feeling a bit hungry and deprived of a satisfying buffet for quite some time, I decide to go to a place that has been tried and tested multiple times by many people all around Bangkok. A short quick drive into town and a 5 minute walk from Paragon brought me to the Sunday Brunch at The Square, Novotel. Having been her at least 3-4 times before, I was hoping for the best since this place has always been one of the more "Budget Friendly" buffets in Bangkok, while not compromising quality. This is the first time I am trying their Sunday Brunch.

Lively Brunch

Refreshing Juices

A quick look around the restaurant and I could spot a few differences between their Brunch and normal dinner/lunch offerings. There were game stations set up for kids, a small kids corner, a clown and of course, plenty of children running around. The food on offer was more than the usual with a larger selection of roasts, seafood and desserts. Off the top of my head there was pork / beef sirloin, lamb, oysters, smoked salmon, sashimi and sushi, ice cream, various cakes, noodles, Indian selections, Thai style fried squid and a choice of 3 juices and coffee/tea that comes a long with the brunch.

Keeping the Kids Busy

As always their smoked salmon is delicious, and most of the food is better than average. However, the selection is limited compared to what other hotels are offering, and desserts are still lacking.

Smoked Salmon, Condiments and other Appetizers

Indian Selections (Naan, Roti, Cheese Curry, Chicken Tikka Masala)

The bill came to 1001 baht nett per person, which was a bit more than what I would like to pay considering the quality of the food. Coming here for lunch or dinner would be a much better choice, the food is just only a tad better on Sundays but you pay a larger premium.

Much Larger Variety of Roasts on Sunday

Desserts

At the time of writing, they have no credit card deals or discounts. I suggest you add a couple of hundred Baht and spend some quality time at a nicer brunch, but do still come here for lunch and dinner. Service during the Sunday Brunch wasn't up to the usual standard that I am used to, most likely because of the larger crowds and patrons. The Square at Novotel Siam Square is definitely an above average place that I will continue frequenting, however I will choose to go somewhere else next time for a nice, relaxing and classy Sunday Brunch.

--------------------------------------------------------

The Square - Novotel Siam Square (3.5/5) BBBB

(http://www.novotel.com/gb/hotel-1031-novotel-bangkok-on-siam-square/restaurant.shtml)

02-209-8888

392/44 Siam Square Soi 6
Rama I Road Pathumwan
Bangkok, Thailand 10330