The Buffet Dossier
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Location: Parisssss Takashimaya
Meal Time: Lunch
Price: uh.. around $35 after all the +++
Rating:
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Have heard quite a bit about this place and thought I would give it a try today lunchtime. Unfortunately..HumHum~ How to say? There were a lot of people there, they look like they are enjoying themselves - But I was left discontented.
Why? I guess it is due to the quality of the dishes and personal preferences. There sure was a lot of 'quality' items - big fat oysters, goose liver pate, king crabs, sharks fin if you eat it, stuff like that. However, the quality was compromised in.. small quirky ways that I guess the general public wouldn't mind but left in me a general feeling of unidentifiable discontent.
For example- in terms of quality...
- The King Crab claw was ... a bit 'lao hong'. The shell for some reason became soggy.
- The spanner Crab got a bit funny smell.
- The Sashimi was a bit not cold enough.
- A lot of the dishes were a bit not hot enough.
- The roast beef a bit too raw.
- The 'onion rings' were not 'onion rings'
- The turmeric rice was soggy and sticky and not using bismati rice.
- The handroll sashimi used china seaweed instead of the crispy japanese one. So when you BITE it.. it just doesnt tear off. Even if you bite it real hard. Plus it does not have the slightly salty sweet taste of japanese sea weed.
- Most of the dishes were slighty too salty.. except the stir fry vege.. which was... not salty enough.
See? It's all.. a bit a bit.. but add together... can be quite depressing.
Sigh.. i could go on as for personal preferences in terms of VARIETY... I suspect it is a ploy to keep you interested enough to eat more.. cos..
- No Chocolate Icecream. All some obscure flavours.
- Toppings were some green and yellow Passion Fruit Sauce or watever. I just want my Chocolate Fudge but don't have. Dont have peanut topping or chocolate rice or watever. So in the end I didnt eat ice cream
- Chocolate Fondue ... had... GUAVA and tomato?! No bananas. No strawberries. And because dont have peanuts topping, I can't cover my chocolate covered marshmallows with peanuts anyway. Bah.
- The fish head curry has no brinjal only lady's fingers.
- No fried Chicken Wing. How come? Why buffet don't have fried chicken wing one?
What IS GOOD
- Oysters were big and fat and fresh
- Provided Ritz crackers with pate.
- Shisamo Is Nice
- Has obscure Soup. Like australian Crocodile Soup. Though from what I understood.. usually Australian is Alligator. Humm.
- Black Pepper Crab pretty nice
- Lobster Salad, though didn't taste any lobster, was nice
AMBIENCE
is nice if you like those ostentious pretentious sort of plaster pillars and crystal chandelier type of thingy.. I mean, at least they put in the effort to make it look nice...
But try not to sit where they stick their posters on the glass (where we were seated) cos people come and gawk at the posters, and u feel like they are all looking at you.
MUSIC was.... inappropriate. I mean.. it is singular depressing to eat when STORIES is playing.. "now i'm standing here... no one to wipe away my tears... " sobs. -
always hear tt pariss is overrated......
until now never bother to try.......
i go for more economical ones like sakura and vienna.......... -
missed out one important piece of information: price
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My Favourite is MErchant Court HOtel.
I love their durian thingy. They got something and they do it well, and u r NEVER disappointed cos... there is always the durian
Sakura is good for a quickfix. Though ... sashimi sometimes also disappointing.
Vienna... eggspensive leh. -
the buffet at phuket fantasea damn good leh..big hall and large range of food..after all its international buffet
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Pariss Main Restaurant at Marina Square is better, i like the ambience there especially the window view area overlooking the sea. Don't like the one at Takashimaya. However i got to comment also, the standard dropped alot, when they first started, its quite nice, service good also except for the lousy english speaking staffs. The boss lady is very friendly, i like to chat with her. Used to frequent there often previously but stopped for quite awhile. Recently i went there with my client, food not that nice, as your review Seafood kinda small in size not that fresh all that. The manager on duty still remember me, she asked me why i never patronise for so long, i told her i am quite busy, seldom in that area, anyway gave her my comments about the food. My client not so contented with the food, i kinda feel bad about it.
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yday had lunch @ element in Amara
spread very good
sashimi fresh, dessert spread is fantastic
dunno the price bcos it was complimentary from the hotel staff tt i was having meeting with.... -
Baiyoke Sky buffet in Bangkok, not too bad also overlooking the city... Fabulous view from the top...Originally posted by ceecookie:the buffet at phuket fantasea damn good leh..big hall and large range of food..after all its international buffet 
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Pariss IS overrated. Went to the Marina branch. Food was expensive type (but I don't like seafood), cooking was average.....but decor was really cornily cheapo. Dessert quality was worse than any kuey-kuey stall at any hawker centre.Originally posted by FireIce:always hear tt pariss is overrated......
until now never bother to try.......
i go for more economical ones like sakura and vienna..........
The only thing good was the chio Vietnamese waitress who stood around and chatted with me for a long time. I tried to say "Ok, thanks" and faced away, but she would go on and on and on. Problem was that my wife was with me. She even pointed to my wife and asked "your friend?" Had no choice lah...had to say "my wife".
Needless to say, wife banned me from ever going back there. -
they started a long time le mah..
standard dropped like hell.
alot of new and hot resto like dat de.
either got attitude or quality problem after a year. -
Originally posted by gentlerock:Pariss IS overrated. Went to the Marina branch. Food was expensive type (but I don't like seafood), cooking was average.....but decor was really cornily cheapo. Dessert quality was worse than any kuey-kuey stall at any hawker centre.
The only thing good was the chio Vietnamese waitress who stood around and chatted with me for a long time. I tried to say "Ok, thanks" and faced away, but she would go on and on and on. Problem was that my wife was with me. She even pointed to my wife and asked "your friend?" Had no choice lah...had to say "my wife".
Needless to say, wife banned me from ever going back there.
You mean if your wife is not around you would have said something else
Anyway my fav buffet place is at Meritius Mandarin Triple 3. Not been there for about 2 years already so not sure if there is a drop in standard or anything but I like the spread, the food and the ambience.
Merchant Court... the food was ok but I got sand in my scallops the last time. I'm partial with durian so it really isn't a big draw for me but I didn't enjoy myself coz it was so bloody crowded and the queue was long and people kept staring at what you are eating. I would say it's pretty value-for-money.
Still enjoy going to Kushin-bo. For me the draw is the beef capaccio -
Originally posted by gentlerock:Pariss IS overrated. Went to the Marina branch. Food was expensive type (but I don't like seafood), cooking was average.....but decor was really cornily cheapo. Dessert quality was worse than any kuey-kuey stall at any hawker centre.
The only thing good was the chio Vietnamese waitress who stood around and chatted with me for a long time. I tried to say "Ok, thanks" and faced away, but she would go on and on and on. Problem was that my wife was with me. She even pointed to my wife and asked "your friend?" Had no choice lah...had to say "my wife".
Needless to say, wife banned me from ever going back there. -
Oh I love Triple 3. Expensive but definitely worth it (its like what, about $60+++?), unless of course, you have a small appetite.Originally posted by elindra:
You mean if your wife is not around you would have said something else
Anyway my fav buffet place is at Meritius Mandarin Triple 3. Not been there for about 2 years already so not sure if there is a drop in standard or anything but I like the spread, the food and the ambience.
Merchant Court... the food was ok but I got sand in my scallops the last time. I'm partial with durian so it really isn't a big draw for me but I didn't enjoy myself coz it was so bloody crowded and the queue was long and people kept staring at what you are eating. I would say it's pretty value-for-money.
Still enjoy going to Kushin-bo. For me the draw is the beef capaccio 
Merchant Court one ahh...I remember being more impressed with the dessert spread than the main course spread. -
No lah. If my wife weren't around, she would have no wife to point to, so no question lor.Originally posted by elindra:You mean if your wife is not around you would have said something else Anyway, some of these foreign talents nowadays are very aggressive and daring.
Other places for buffet for cheapos like me.....
- Marina South Korean BBQ (open air) at S$12 per pax.
- Paramount Hotel coffee house (3rd or 4th floor) at S$18+++ per pax.
- Sizzler at Suntec City basement (healthy) at S$16++ per pax.
Since you guys are going to JB, I would advise you against have buffet there. They're cheaper, but its really a case of "you get what you pay for".
In JB, try the seafood like at New Lucky Restaurant at da ma (big horse), just at the diagonally opposite the junction Crystal Crown hotel (look out for the neon signs about 50 m from the junction). I used to frequent there. There is also a big hawker centre in that area, open from evening onwards, with lots of good Chinese zhu zhar and Malay food. Satay at RM 0.40 per stick. Personal security wise, just be a little more alert in that area at night, but its generally safe lah.
There are some hairdressers around the hawker centre area too, situated in shop houses by the roadside. If you're bored with the others and have an hour to spare, just walk into any of them for some great "head sex". For less than RM 20, they'll wash your hair, then massage your head, neck and shoulders for maybe 15-20 minutes or so, then blow dry (your hair), etc. They're all unisex, open to both men and women.
I haven't patronised those places for quite some time because I'm balding and so have to avoid others scratching my head too much.
For the lazy ones who haven't cleaned their ears in a while, at these hairdressers', you can also opt for the dig-ear service, pedicure, manicure, etc....at additional few RM. They're usually quite friendly (even without courtesy and GST campaigns) and you can ask away without obligations, chit-chat with them, etc. Service is not hurried at all. Doesn't even feel commercialised. But they speak only Malay, Mandarin and Cantonese.
Two of these hairdressers' in that area have massage rooms also - service is decent-type only, quite cheap and not too bad. But they're not professional and don't change the sheets, etc. Its also open concept, so other customers can see you through the glass panel (and if you're lucky/unlucky, maybe some customers will call your number ).
Oh, just after the Malaysian customs, there is the City Square area. Avoid that area at all costs. Its either sleazy or expensive. There is a Food Junction food court there which is even more expensive than Singapore's.
Actually, if you can, skip JB and go right deep in lah. Skudai, Tebrau, Plentong, Permas Jaya, etc. Those areas are nice for grocery and other types of shopping, with big hypermarts of Giant, Carrefour, Jusco, Makro, etc. The newly opened Jusco City at Tebrau is a fantastic shopping centre.
For Milo lovers, I heard that our local Milo prices increased a lot recently (I don't drink it, so I don't know). You'll be happy to know that Milo there is much cheaper. But please remember not to buy their sugar to accompany your Milo. Sugar is sweet, legal consequences are not. -
Hah? You lost me on the sugar partOriginally posted by gentlerock:For Milo lovers, I heard that our local Milo prices increased a lot recently (I don't drink it, so I don't know). You'll be happy to know that Milo there is much cheaper. But please remember not to buy their sugar to accompany your Milo. Sugar is sweet, legal consequences are not.
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Its now illegal for foreigners to export (take out, tah-pow) sugar from Malaysia - or was it OK for very small amounts, I'm not sure.Originally posted by av98m:Hah? You lost me on the sugar part
Anyway, they've declared Malaysian sugar as a controlled item because its government-subsidised for Malaysian residents. -
Read in the Pariss Marina write-up in The Newpaper today that they serve Starfish at Pariss as well
Anyone eaten the starfish before??? How does it taste like? -
reminds me of a Prince song...
starfish and coffee
maple syrup and jam
butterscotch cloud
a candy kiss
side order of ham
if you set your mind free baby
maybe you'd understand
starfish and coffee
maple syrup and jam
in other news, who is next in line to organise next makan session? -
I still wonder how does starfish taste likeOriginally posted by the Bear:reminds me of a Prince song...
starfish and coffee
maple syrup and jam
butterscotch cloud
a candy kiss
side order of ham
if you set your mind free baby
maybe you'd understand
starfish and coffee
maple syrup and jam
in other news, who is next in line to organise next makan session?
No idea.....what do you guys feel like eating? -
... and we have a volunteerOriginally posted by elindra:I still wonder how does starfish taste like
No idea.....what do you guys feel like eating? -
Originally posted by the Bear:... and we have a volunteer
After all the bad reviews about Pariss, do you think I'm even going to step in there? -
Originally posted by OCEANOS:
the one at marina is better
[b]Pariss Main Restaurant at Marina Square is better, i like the ambience there especially the window view area overlooking the sea. Don't like the one at Takashimaya. However i got to comment also, the standard dropped alot, when they first started, its quite nice, service good also except for the lousy english speaking staffs. The boss lady is very friendly, i like to chat with her. Used to frequent there often previously but stopped for quite awhile. Recently i went there with my client, food not that nice, as your review Seafood kinda small in size not that fresh all that. The manager on duty still remember me, she asked me why i never patronise for so long, i told her i am quite busy, seldom in that area, anyway gave her my comments about the food. My client not so contented with the food, i kinda feel bad about it.
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but still.. i prefer de grandeur.. the food over there is much tastier..
even sakura wins pariss... the only plus point is variety... otherwise.. sakura and grandeur wins it hands down.. -
Bad Bad BAAAD... went once for dinner not long ago, don't think I'll ever go back.
It's the case of food that's nice to see (huge variety, impressive big ticket items ) ... but not nice to eat! In fact almost 1 out of 3 dishes are a disappointment - not fresh, not tasty, dubious food, etc. Definitely is not worth the money. For almost the same price I think a hotel buffet is much better. -
Maybe because Amara Hotel was hosting you that's why you had a good spread @ Element.Originally posted by FireIce:yday had lunch @ element in Amara
spread very good
sashimi fresh, dessert spread is fantastic
dunno the price bcos it was complimentary from the hotel staff tt i was having meeting with....
I went a few months ago and there really wasn't much food to choose from, and bloody expensive as well.. something like $48 per person if i remember correctly (dinner). I'm never going back there again... -
okay.. all that is said..
who's going to organise the next makan session?