Comments on: Crab buffet dinner @ Ellenborough Market Cafe, Swissotel Merchant Court

By: missjas

missjas — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 23:14:12 +0000

Hey anymore buffet coming up ?? haha. I need good foods ! thanks thanks =D

By: Rachel

Rachel — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 03:59:54 +0000

drk,
Oh really? The carbs were not good? Me n my hubby are carb lover/killer… hahaha Am planning to go tmr for my hubby birthday with my 2 kids. But is there any dish suitable for kids? Hmm… now thinking whether to go anot? not worth for lousy carb

By: drk

drk — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 06:34:38 +0000

I went there on 8 July 2009 to celebrate my wife birthday. we are very disappointed with the crabs, the crab size are very small, the “meat” is not neat at all, especially the Nyonya curry crab meat are so powdery, really horrible. But there are some nice food too like chai tow kway, crayfish and durian pengat. Overall with a disappointment since crab are the main cuisine.

By: David Yang

David Yang — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 08:28:07 +0000

Dear Lou and Charles

I would like to thank both of you for visiting the Ellenborough Market Cafe for our Crab Promotion.

I am very sorry to hear that you did not enjoy the crabs as much I would have liked you to. For that, please accept my most sincere apologies. However, please allow me to clarify on certain issues with no intent of offering them as excuses.

I wish to emphasize that the hotel conducts stringent checks regularly on the freshness and quality of all perishables items to ensure highest standards are met in all our Food & Beverage outlets. Our crabs are delivered daily alive and kicking; we do not use crabs that are not fresh. I would like to take this chance to reassure you that food served within the hotel are safe for consumption and we insist on daily deliveries of all perishables food items. We have also since re-enforced with our supplier’s on the quality of crabs that are being delivered.

On another note, I like to highlight that the meat of flower crabs and mud crabs are not as firm as the Sri Lankan ones. I have taken up this issue with my Executive Chef to ensure that this issue does not recur.

I sincerely hope that this incident has not affected the “happy patron”. I am looking forward to your continued support as well as the pleasure of welcoming you back to the hotel in the near future.

As we are not able to get in touch with you via the email addresses provided, we would appreciate if you could get in touch with us instead at emc.reservations@swissotel.com should you like to dine with us again. Please attention the correspondence to David Yang, F&B Manager, Swissotel Merchant Court.

By: Julia Khoo

Julia Khoo — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 14:41:54 +0000

Hi X-Wings, so happy to hear that you enjoyed the buffet. Yes, I’ve to agree, the flavors and textures for the crab dishes are spot-on! That was something we were impressed with at the tasting session too.

The bubur chacha tastes homemade because it’s meticulously prepared under the watchful eye of a very traditional Nyonya chef Shirley Tay.

It’s great that you were adventurous enough to try the durian pengat despite being a non-durian eater! Hopefully you’ll soon discover the pleasure of pure durian.

By: X-Wings

X-Wings — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 10:30:28 +0000

Hi Julia,

I went there on 3 July 2009 and its the best buffet meal I had so far this year.

The crabs were fresh and the gravy and sauces were just solid !! Not too spicy, not too sweet, not too thick, not too watery….. Crabs are not really my favourite seafood but that night, I did eat quite abit…..

Being a non-durian eater, I am amazed by the durian pengat !! There is no durian smell but the taste is like eating/drinking XO….. I may be tempted to try out real durians now…..

They have a good spread of desserts but I only have space left for my favourite, Bubur chacha…. The only comments I have for really good local dessert is “…they taste homemake….” and that is the comment I am going to use for the Bubur chacha I tried there that night….

I paid like around $160++ for 4 person using a HSBC credit card….so its really more than Value for Money.

Frankly I wouldn’t have mind paying $46++ per person for the experience I had that night…..thinking of going back that soon but need to do some gym work first…..

: )

By: Julia Khoo

Julia Khoo — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 15:34:50 +0000

Hi Charles, sorry to hear about your experience. I’ve forwarded your comment to the management of Merchant Court.

By: Charles

Charles — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 06:28:32 +0000

Went there on 1 July. Honestly speaking.. the crabs are quite a disappointment for me and my guest. The “meat” is not there at all. I understood is from Sri Lankan but honestly the meat can’t even compare to the local one.

A very bad experience.

By: Julia Khoo

Julia Khoo — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 04:27:57 +0000

hey maureen, you can do what i did. indulge first, then survive one bread and water for the rest of the week, haha!

By: Julia Khoo

Julia Khoo — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 04:26:32 +0000

Oh dear, that doesn’t sound good. Did you feedback to the staff at Ellenborough Cafe? I’m sure they would do something about this issue.