COCONUTS HOT SPOT — The next time you’re at Marina Bay Sands, all hungry and cranky and clueless about where to eat, here’s a suggestion: try new buffet concept Sea & Blue. Nestled in an ocean-themed space that used to house Todai, the restaurant boasts a rather reasonably-priced all-you-can-eat spread (starting at $42 for adults), featuring sashimi and sushi stations, Korean BBQ dishes, pizza and pasta plates, local zi char highlights, and loads more.
As you step into the entrance of Sea & Blue (which kind of sounds like a play on K-pop boyband CNBLUE), you’ll find the 350-seater decked out in shades of blue, orange and white, with the maritime theme continuing on via dinghy-inspired booth seats and marine creature decals. For those who prefer a little peace and quiet, private rooms and a function room are available for reservations as well.
Amidst its ten hot and cold stations, the restaurant’s signature is the Korean section, with favorites like Korean pancakes, kimchi fried rice, spicy pork belly and beef bulgogi. If you’re all about bibimbap, head to the DIY area and mix up your own bowl of veggies, rice and gojuchang paste.
But we’d suggest you skip the watered-down army stew, because you’ve probably had better. And as all buffet experts would know, sometimes you just gotta stake out the stations you’re targeting, so that you get the food when it’s hot and fresh off the stove.
At the seafood area — otherwise known as the section that’ll give you the most bang for your buck — the extensive selection includes salmon and tuna sashimi, maki rolls, nigiri sushi, Canadian oysters, prawns, scallops, and snow crab.
If you can’t resist deep fried snacks, chuck some crispy ebi prawns, gyozas, tempura soft shell crab or karaage chicken onto your plate. Otherwise, just save that space in your stomach and head to the carving station, where roast meats beckon.
Here’s where you’ll pile your plate high with suckling pig, roast duck, shao rou (crispy pork), ribeye striploin, cajun chicken, pork knuckle and wagyu ribeye. But since the menu changes every fortnight, the slabs of meat that you feast on one day may not be the same the next time you return.
Alternatively, if you’re really craving for pizza or pasta, head to the Western section for slices of Hawaiian, four cheese or grilled vegetable thin-crust pizzas, or spaghetti bolognese and squid ink pasta. But then again, these are rather generic options that you can get pretty much anywhere, so fill up at your own risk.
Other dishes on the line-up include salads, fruits, rojak, cheeses, and local cuisine like salted egg prawns, black pepper beef, fried noodles, and bak kut teh.
When you’re finally done with all the savory stuff, stop by the dessert bar to make your own bowl of Korean bingsu (shaved milk ice) with toppings like grass jelly and red bean paste, or ask for a serving of waffles with milk soft-serve. Also on display to satiate your sweet tooth are a wide variety of cakes, muffins, tarts, donuts, and macarons.
Oh, and the buffet includes free-flow sodas, coffees, and teas — but if you’d prefer something a little stronger, a glass of wine starts at $11 and a bottle of Korean soju starts at $20.
Sea & Blue is at #B2-01/01A The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands, 2 Bayfront Ave, 6688-7165.
Lunch: Mon-Fri 11:30am-3pm, adults $42, children $22; Sat-Sun 11:30am-3pm, adults $64, children $26.
Dinner: Mon-Thurs 5:30pm-10pm, adults $58, children $26; Fri-Sun 5:30pm-10:30pm, adults $68, children $26.
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