Café Swiss is an international hotel buffet operated by Swissotel the Stamford. It has a European flair with sprinkles of charming Swiss hospitality and a local touch too. Let’s see what the buffet is all about with a weekend dinner dine-in.
The restaurant establishment is tucked on the 2nd floor seating area above the Swissotel hotel lobby area. Moreover, its entrance to the buffet is accessible via a second floor entrance through Raffles city shopping center. It conveniently sits right above city hall MRT station, making it a really accessible location.
Cafe Swiss’s (also known today as Clove) in a nutshell the hotel dinner buffet offers a largely international selection, with a curated European spread. The buffet is spread out with food counter rows situated near the restaurant entrance. Depending on where you sit it could be a short or a long walk away.
Additionally, Café Swiss itself touts a 210-seater dining restaurant encircles around the level 2 atrium of the hotel main lobby area in tranquil setting. Also, it features a rather stylish modern architecture design. Moreover, in the day, the entire restaurant is illuminated by an overhead skylight. This is courtesy of the floor to ceiling glass windows. However, at night the restaurant does feel rather dark, and dimly lit.
Nice Italian section
Café Swiss forte is their European, particularly their Italian food offerings, though I found there is nothing particularly “Swiss” (as in Café Swiss) about the offerings. Notably, there is a counter offering a selection of melted cheese which you can request as a topping on your mains.
Moreover, the Pasta section is a highlight where a chef shall prepare a selection of pastas with toppings to your liking.
The roast corner looks tad like an afterthought located in the corner of the restaurant. There are a small selection of sauces which you can get the cheese serving staff to slice up portions for you. Notably, this is not one of the buffet main selling points. If you desire better roasts, there are buffets specializing in it, such as the Cavery or Coco Boco.
Furthermore, topping up the food offerings in this European corner is a Mediterranean platter area comprising of pickled foods, hams and cheese. This section tops up the European buffet spread.
Asian and Sushi food selections
Furthermore, taking center stage and sitting centrally in the restaurant grounds is the buffet’s Asian food sector. Here, you can find rows of self-help stainless keep-warm steel containers surrounding a decorative fountain piece near the entrance of the restaurant.
Notable items here include beef briskets, and a variety of stirred-fried Asian dishes, such as green beans, noodles and fish.
In addition, you can find the Sushi counter here too. The Sushi offerings is just right, with adequate servings of Sushi and tiny Maki rolls. Commendably, the food here are replenished fairly regularly, even up till closing. This is unlike less-pleasant experiences in other buffets, such as the one we visited at Triple three.
Also, there is a fresh Sashimi platter, but lacks any fresh tuna or octopus offerings. These offerings however, are expected of the Buffet price point.
Commendable highlights of the seafood section includes a couple of Alaskan crab legs as well as fresh prawns. The crab legs is a recommended must-try here, though they run out pretty quickly and are replenished fairly quickly.
Wrapping up the Asian offerings includes a self-help Singaporean Laska section where you can cook your own noodles and ingredients.
A dessert fondue
Additionally, wrapping up the buffet is a salad, fruit and dessert area with a chocolate fondue. This adds to a pretty nice touch with a fairly decent selection of sweets to end your meal.
All in all, at $78++ per head, it is quite difficult to fault the offerings at Cafe Swiss. Quality is decent, but not fantastic. Also, the price point is right for the selections of food. Though it is tad quite lacking in the European sector which the buffet positions itself in, it is made up for a good selection of Asian and Seafood choices. This, coupled with a great location right in the heart of town makes Cafe Swiss/Clove a good choice for the value buffet goers.
Verdict:
Must Go! | Actually pretty Good | Worth Trying | Shortlist Optionally | Should Avoid
Cafe Swiss Buffet (Clove) Locality Map
Swissotel The Stamford
2 Stamford Road Swissôtel,
Level 2 The Stamford,
Singapore 178882
Opening hours daily:
6- 11am (Breakfast)
12:30- 3:00pm (High tea)
5:30- 10pm (Dinner)
