Review: Restaurant - Prima Revolving Tower, Singapore

Panoramic view of the Port
and Sentosa Island

Today, we decided to try the famed Prima Tower Revolving Restaurant to celebrate someone's birthday. It was an appealing idea to sample authentic Beijing foodfare with the breathtaking views of the nearby Sentosa, Mount Faber, sea as a backdrop. 

On my last visit, some years ago, I recalled Prima Tower served rather inexpensive tasty chinese food but looked like a grand dame that had seen better days and was now in need of some renovations. 

While the restaurant still looked like it needed some renovations, the strong sunlight coming through the windows lighted up the place and made it look several years younger.  We ordered mainly dim sum (chinese small snacks) and the famous Shredded Scallops and Egg White dish.

The food - Siew Mai, Har Kow, Har Cheong Fun, Char Siew Bao, did not disappoint. The Hong Kong Yum Cha (literally Drink Tea) culture is always a good way to catch up with friends, over chinese delicacies, tea and in this restaurant, breaktaking views as well! 

Deep Fried Prawn Dumplings

Deep Fried Beancurd skin with prawn & Mango

Siew Mai - Steamed Prawn Dumplings

Xiao Long Bao

Pai Guat - Steamed Pork Ribs

When the bill came, we were pleasantly surprised to find that it was only ~$140 for 6 pax. Given today's inflationary prices, I was expecting closer to $30-40 per pax, so it is definitely value for money. Currently, they have a promotion - if you have the NTUC union card and

About Prima Tower Revolving Restaurant
The restaurant was established in 1977 and was one of two revolving restaurants in Singapore (the other being Top of the M, at Mandarin Orchard Hotel, now defunct). It is built on top of a grain silo and allows its diners to take in breathtaking views of Sentosa (one of Singapore's tourist attractions and now home to the integrated resort - Resorts World, and the ultra rich), while sampling authentic Beijing cuisines.

It is helmed by the reknown Hong Kong Master Chef Chan, who has more than 30 years of culinary experience and has led the restaurant to win numerous awards like Singapore's Best Restaurant and Best Dish Award, Chinese restaurant category for the Singapore Gourmet Guide.

Signature dishes include the Peking Duck and Shredded Scallops with Fish and Egg White.

Address

Prima Tower Revolving Restaurant
201 Keppel Road Singapore 099419
Tel: (65) 6272 8822
Fax: (65) 6272 8823 http://www.pfs.com.sg/restaurants/prima_tower/

Business Hours

Lunch:
11.00am – 2.30pm (Mon – Sat)
10.30am – 2.30pm (Sun & PH)
 
Dinner:
6.30pm – 10.30pm (Mon – Sun & PH)

Review: Dining Card - a la carte, M & C International

When the dining card prorgam telesales person calls, they typically tell you that the main selling point is that for a mere $400-1000 annual fee, you will get to try really nice restaurants and save a lot through the card discounts. For many, it seems counter-intuitive that you would have to pay so much upfront for a dining card, in order to save money (through discounts) that you have yet to spend (and may not). Quite valid. For someone like myself, who dines out a lot and likes socialising with friends over dinner and drinks, it is a much easier sell because the value is much more obvious.

I have been a member of Feed at Raffles Dining program for the last 5 years and started paying for their highest tier (Connoisseur, $888++) since 2008. That year, I had to host a wedding dinner party of 12 with several guests from out of town and needed a nice restaurant. The Feed at Raffles program came with a Special Occasion 50% discount voucher for 12 pax. The dinner bill that night was ~$1500 and that one voucher alone made up for the cost of the card.

Last year, I decided to try a different card as I was getting tired of going to the same few hotels in the Raffles prorgam (Favourites like Mikuni, Billard and Bar, Sze Chuan Court, Equinox). I picked a la carte as I liked Pontini's, Hua Ting & Grand Shanghai. This card is really good value for money. It only costs $408 but the vouchers are easily worth more than twice that amount. The 6 $50 dining vouchers (with no restrictions) alone are already worth $300, not to mention the complimentary night stay, Special Occasion vouchers etc.

I will definitely keep 1 or 2 dining cards, and will probably stick to a la carte again for this and next year. I will continue playing musical chairs and switch cards again once restaurant fatigue sets in.

HOW THE DISCOUNT STRUCTURE WORKS

1. Main Card

- 20% Member dining alone

- 50% Member with 1 guest

- 33% Member with 2 guests

- 25% Member with 3 guests

- 20% Member with 4-19 guests

2. Partner Card

- 20% Member dining alone

- 33% Member with 1-2 guests

- 25% Member with 3 guests

- 20% Member with 4-19 guests

* Other benefits include 15% off beverages at hotel bars and lounges, 1-for-1 all night long on house pours at the various hotels on different nights. 

WHERE YOU CAN USE THE CARD

1. Grand Cpthorne Waterfront Hotel

- Brios

- Pontini

- Grand Shanghai

2. Orchard Hotel

- Orchard Cafe

- Hua Ting Restaurant

3. M Hotel

- Cafe 2000

- The Buffet

4. Copthorne King's Hotel

- Princess Terrrace

- Tien Court

- Stars Cafe

LIST OF VOUCHERS

1. 01 x Complimentary night stay at participating hotels

Singapore - Grand Copthorne Waterfront, Orchard Hotel, M Hotel, Copthorne King's or Studio M Hotel

Malaysia - Grand Millenium KL, Copthorne Orchid Penang

Thailand - Grand Millenium Sukhumvit Bangkok, Millenium Resort Patong Phuket

Philippines - The Heritage Hotel Manila

Indonesia - Millenium Sirih Jakarta

China - Grand Millenium Beijing or Millenium Hongqiao Hotel Shanghai

2. 01 x Special Occasion voucher

- Choice of Chocolate Truffle Cake, One dozen longevity buns, bottle of house wine or Mango Cake depending on choice of dining location in M&C hotels in Singapore.

3. 01 x 50% off Buffet

- 2-8 pax for lunch or dinner, Sun - Thur

- Valid at Brios, Orchard Cafe, Princess Terrace, Buffet Level 2 M Hotel

4. 06 x $50 dining voucher

- Valid at M&C dining outlets

5. 01 x 50% off a la carte Meal @ Pontini's

- 2-4 pax, weekday lunch (excluding eve and public holidays)

6. 01 x 50% off a la carte Meal @ Grand Shanghai

- 2-6 pax, Lunch from Tue - Sun (excludes Sat)

7. 01 x 50% off a la carte Meal @ Grand Shanghai

- 2-10 pax, Dinner from Tues-Sun (excludes Sat)

8. 01 x 50% off a la carte Meal @ Tien Court

- 2-6 pax, for lunch or dinner

9. 02 x complimentary 2nd night stay at Millenium Patong Phuket

10. 01 x 1-For-1 Massage at Escentika Spa, Millenium Patong Phuket

A La Carte Dining Program

Millenium & Copthorne International

For more details: http://www.clubalc.com/

Disclaimer notice: I do not get any benefits, monetary or in kind, from M&C, its affliate or any third party vendors for blogging about this dining card.

Review: Restaurant - Straits Kitchen, Grand Hyatt Hotel, Singapore

Here in sunny Singapore, there is no lack of food choices. In addition to the plethora of Asian cuisine, one can easily find American steakhouses (like the famed Morton's of Chicago), French bistros, Japanese Izakayas. Singaporeans love their food and it is no wonder there local F&B establishments offer varieties of food buffets to cater to their customer preferences.

A friend stongly recommended Grand Hyatt's, Straits Kitchen local buffet, as a great sampler of the local street food - mainly Indian, Chinese and Malay cuisine. We were not disappointed. The range of food was staggering and it was not possible to sample everything. The buffet is organised in stations featuring cuisine from the various ethnic groups.



Fried Carrot Cake & Char Kuay Teow



Chinese Station 



Traditional choices such as Fried Carrot Cake, Char Kuay Teow, Wanton Noodles, Prawn Noodles, Laksa are found offered here. The Fried Carrot Cake, Char Kuay Teow were very tasty, not overly greasy like some variations found in the food centres.

In the roast meat section, they dish out local favourites like the Roasted Duck, Soy Sauce Chicken, Hainanese Chicken Rice and Roasted Pork Meat.



There are also other popular dishes like the Fish Otah, Popiah, Rojak (Asian salad) and many others.



  

Clockwise: Roast Duck, Soy Sauce
Chicken& Hainese Chicken Rice





Popiah - A local wrap with
shredded turnip, carrot, lettuce,
peanuts, eggs & shrimp

 

Malay, Indian & Dessert Stations

After sampling the chinese station, we were pretty full, which was a same given there were so many other dishes we have yet to try. I don't think its possible to sample even half of what is offered in one session. 

Dessert was pretty interesting. You can have your choice of cakes, ice cream (Durian strongly recommended), fruits including the Goreng Pisang and assorted Nonya (Straits Chinese) kueh. There was also an ice grating machine in the corner that made ice kachang (ice shavings with syrup).

Indian station included dishes such as Naan, Tandoori Chicken, Parpadum, various vegetable and meat marsala dishes.  

 

Chicken, Beef and Mutton Satay



 



Goreng Pisang - Deep Fried Banana



  

Assorted Nonya Kueh



 





In all honesty, most people who visit will claim to have tasted better variations of each individual dish elsewhere in Singapore (e.g., I would probably go to Boon Tong Kee if I wanted to have Hainanese Chicken Rice or La Pa Sat for authentic street satay). Nevertheless, Straits Kitchen serves up high quality equivalents in a comfortable setting. You can take your time to fill yourself up, while catching up with friends over coffee in a hotel coffee shop setting, instead of a food centre under hot and humid weather.

It is a pretty nice way to spend a weekend afternoon! The bill came up to ~SGD$55 each, not extravagant. I would definitely go back again.

Restaurant Details

Straits Kitchen

Lobby Level, Grand Hyatt Singapore

10 Scotts Road, Singapore 228211

Tel:  +65 6738 1234, Fax:  +65 6732 1696

Opening Hours: Monday to Sunday from 6.30am to 10.30pm

Dess Code: Smart Casual

http://www.singapore.grand.hyattrestaurants.com/