The thing about buffets is that even though you get to eat a lot, you don't get much satisfaction from the food 'cos it's all just so mass-produced (so to speak).
The Plaza Market Cafe at Raffles the Plaza was the venue for an extended family dinner two Saturdays ago. My aunt saw the ad for their Peranakan buffet and thought of giving it a try.
It turned out to be more of an international spread to me. There was the sashimi and sushi platter, but I thought the fish weren't very fresh and tasty. It just didn't taste good. There were also raw oysters for the oyster lovers. There was also a do-it-yourself Caesar salad counter and a section with small helpings of cold appetisers.
The Peranakan elements were in the nonya laksa, kueh pie ti, popiah, beef rendang and some other nasi padang-like dishes. There were also some Chinese stir-fry dishes. I liked the pork ribs.
The desserts comprised about 1/3 of the entire buffet spread. It had a selection of cakes, nonya kuehs, fruits, ice cream, the ubiquitous chocolate fountain, and durian pudding which was rich and smooth. The latter's a must for people who love the spiky fruit!
Overall, the food was mediocre and I could have found much tastier food at much lower prices elsewhere. Definitely not worth the $42+++/pax. In addition, the service was slow as our plates weren't cleared fast enough and the wait staff were slow in bringing our orders of water and tea/coffee all the time.
Verdict: Not worth the money.
Plaza Market Cafe
Level 2, Raffles The Plaza
2 Stamford Road
Singapore 178882
Tel: 6431 6156