Reported By Expat Harnoor Channi-Tiwary in April 2023. A delightful Sunday brunch with free-flow bubbly was just what the doctor ordered on a sweltering Singaporean Sunday afternoon. Together with Expat Choice reporter Sylvia Fernandes, I sampled the extensive buffet on offer at Hilton Singapore Orchard and despite having eaten enough to last me a week, I can’t wait to go back again. That, ladies and gentlemen, is the litmus test for a successful buffet spread.
Launched on 16th April 2023, the newly refreshed Grand Sunday Champagne Brunch at Estate, Hilton Singapore Orchard’s all-day restaurant, focuses on quality as well as quantity. All too often, one comes across a buffet with a multitude of options, all subpar when it comes to taste and quality.
At the Hilton, this is a luxury fiesta like none other. Priced at $158++ per adult (188++ including free-flow liquid buffet) and $79++ for children between 6-12 years of age, the buffet is a great Sunday outing to keep the tots happy. And there’s plenty to ensure that. The roaming magician who comes to the table and has a trick or two up his sleeve (pun intended) is only one of the many charms of this kid-centric buffet experience.
Of the many food stations, ranging from salad bars and barbecue kitchens to a middle-eastern section and surprisingly delicious Indian fare, my favourites were the Sunday Brunch Specials, especially the delicately plated Wagyu Beef Rossini with a sliver of seared foie gras balanced atop. It’s not easy to sear foie gras perfectly, retaining its moistness and allowing for a layer of caramelization on the outside. The chefs at Estate do it well. I believe our table went back for seconds, despite having a thousand dishes to try out.
Another stellar act was the Tandoori Corner or the Indian section. As much as Indian food is loved across the world, it is rarely well-represented in buffets outside of South Asia. The Estate Restaurant offers a stellar selection of tikkas, a solid attempt to break out of this perception. I recommend the mildly spiced Murgh Malai, a succulent chicken tikka marinated in cream. For those who can handle a bit more spice, don’t miss the moist Lamb Tandoori, ideally accompanied by a sip of refreshing flute of champagne or a mug of Moscow Mule.
For the health-conscious, the Avocado Bar serves up several dishes such as quinoa and avocado salad (served within the shell), and even freshly-made avocado toast. This was a stand-out at the buffet - the number of counters where you could ask them to create a portion for you, specific to your preferences. And though the guacamole was punchy and fresh, I was partial to the pastel green Avocado Hummus, full of umami flavour.
While these were my preferred sections, it became quite obvious to me that the crowd favourite was the raw seafood bar. From a luxurious display of the ocean’s freshest catch like Maine lobsters and snow crabs to the Live Oyster Bar where one can enjoy freshly shucked Canadian, Irish, and Fine de Claire oysters, this counter was always crowded and diners walked away with plates piled high with delicious shellfish and cocktail sauce to pair them with. If you visit, don’t miss the house-cured jamon and prosciutto served on the side of the seafood bar. With so many options on offer, it’s easy to miss this little counter but the salmon-pink prosciutto here melts in the mouth. A must-try item.
Where there is champagne, there must be cheese. And the cheese trolley as they call it (hardly a trolley, more like a cheese room, in my opinion) is one stop I suggest you make before heading for dessert. A whopping 32 varieties of cheese from a casually popular Camembert to a 16-year aged Comté, and even a sharp and tangy Roquefort make the cheese ‘trolley’ a meal in itself. You could spend hours at the Estate Restaurant, sipping bubbly and nibbling on cheese as the little ones are entertained by the magician, enjoying treats from the dessert bar.
And talking of desserts, this is the grand finale like none else. The section feels a little bit like Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory. I know my daughter would love the freshly crafted candy floss, whimsical and full of nostalgia. For me, it was the Dark Rum Carrot Trifle and the ‘iconic’ cheesecake that were the perfect end to a very extensive meal. I did sneak in a bite of the Crepe Suzette too, being freshly made as they were, drizzled with Grand Marnier and loved how light they were. If you don’t want anything heavy, a crepe suzette will be the perfect way to end your meal here.
The Grand Sunday Champagne Brunch at Hilton Singapore Orchard is like an opera with many acts. It’s tough to pick a favourite, but when you walk out, you are sure to appreciate the show in its entirety and can’t wait to recommend it to others.
Estate’s already impressive Sunday Brunch just got even more spectacular, as diners can now feast on a wider selection of the ocean’s freshest catch like Maine lobsters and snow crabs before heading to the Live Oyster Bar to enjoy freshly shucked Canadian, Irish, and Fine de Claire oysters.
In addition to smoked and cured fishes and charcuterie like Prosciutto di Parma and Iberico Ham, diners should save space for the eye-catching Cheese Station, where they can choose from 32 types of artisanal and seasonal premium cheeses in one of the city’s largest selections in a buffet. The impressive collection of cheeses includes Morbier, Saint-Nectaire AOP Fermier, 16-months aged Comté, Roquefort and Brie de Meaux.
Estate Grand Sunday Champagne Brunch
- Every Sunday | 12 pm to 3 pm.
- $158++ per adult (includes chilled juice, coffee and tea) | Top-up $50++ for free flow Champagne Package (Laurent-Perrier Champagne, house red and white wine and Whispering Angel Rosé, beer, soft drinks) | Top-up $70++ for free flow Premium Champagne Package (Billecart-Salmon Champagne, house red and white wine and Whispering Angel Rosé, beer, soft drinks).
a. 333 Orchard Road City, Singapore 238867
w. www.hilton.com/en/hotels/sinorhi-hilton-singapore-orchard/dining/estate
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