Triple Three @ Mandarin Orchard

Hong Kong Dim Sum and Japanese Chawanmushi

This is a buffet you wouldn't want to be late; Triple Tree Restaurant's lunching hours from 1200-1430hrs could barely accommodate our sampling of their wide spread International Buffet list. There are also queues to observe at their popular live-cooking counters - the restaurant has almost a full house today. 

Priced to pay: $65++ per pax. Optional free-flow drinks to be paid separately.

We were on Citibank 1-for-1 Oct promotion.

Japanese Sushi and Sashimi

Eggplant and Shrimp Tempura from Live-cooking Counter

Their Japanese entrees were reasonable good, with really fresh and tasty Tuna Sashimi you seldom find in buffets. Alas, we had no time for their Teppanyaki Grill station, Miso Soup, Takoyaki or Chilled Cha Soba.

Ham, Salmon cold cuts and Salad Greens

Fresh Seafood on Ice

I do not know if most restaurant practice this for their gimmicky 1-for-1 promotion. At Triple Three today, fresh Oysters were withdraw from their usual buffet list (and what other dishes? we do not know) and price of buffet upped from the standard $45++ to the now $65++ to offer you a 1-for-1??

Grill and Fried Snacks live-station

I can't resist the well-browned German Sausages and deep fried Potato Wedges with Chicken Karaage. There are even little tartlets of Scallop with Cheese.

Asparagus with Blue Cheese sauce had to be the healthiest item on this plate.

Roast Duck Noodle

Went to the Chinese Food cooking counter and asked the chef, "What do we have here?" The chef answered blankly, "What do you want? Noodles, roast duck?" "Both!" i said. So this was what i get instead of the Fishball noodles they were serving.

It was so good. The broth, and especially the roast duckie!

Premium Roast section - Tender Beef Steak

Ric enjoyed his Beef Steak while i got smitten with its flavorsome Broccoli, little Potatoes and Mushrooms sides. The steak got a little too tough and dry as you went on.

Nasi Padang Counter

I took a little of everything from the Malay Nasi Padang Counter. Superb tasting fragrant rice with green vegetables, Chicken Curry & Mutton Rendang. I must compliment the Prawn crackers; it was tongue-bitingly crisp!

Seafood with Sea Cucumbers and Cauliflowers

The buffet line has a long list of international dishes plying the lone corners and sides of their poorly lighted serving counters. You could easily miss them or find them totally unattractive.

Dimly lighted Buffet counters are something i can't understand, they made food look really undesirable. And Triple Three had their entire Buffet section dreary dimmed.

Soups, German meatballs, Soy-Sauced Chicken and many more exotically named dishes of seafood and farm fowls. But were all quite forgettable.

Red Bean & Vanilla Ice-cream (adds-on of Longan fruits)

 Assorted Cakes and Pralines

By the time we reached our dessert at 1400hrs; half hour before their closing the buffet bars, there was just the balance from messily cut up cakes. It still tastes good but aren't any photo-worthy.

But what was best, we were served Coffee.

So do we really need to go for lavish, expensive buffet? I think not.

The hullabaloo with the crowd, the vast spread of dishes you got to try and could not afford to go back to the ones you really fancy, having to miss live-cooking Pasta Corner and Teppanyaki Corner where there was always a perpetual group in front of the Chef, was not what i wish to go through for the second time.

Especially when the serving chefs were mostly unfriendly, in both their body languages and reluctance in answering your enquiry on their food offerings. Ignoring you even when you were hovering in front of their counters, looking lost yet intriguing.

Conversely, their junior waiters and waitresses were friendly and earnest.

I miss humble yet peaceable buffet experience with Saltwater Cafe and Creek, Melting Pot and Cafe Mosaic. Buffets i would go back to if i wasn't trying to blog on different buffet culture here.