Coming back to The Capitol Kempinski Hotel is always a joy because of the lovely memories my husband and I have from our past three stays here. Having heard much about the epic Sunday Brunch at 15 Stamford, I was eagerly waiting for the opportunity to experience it for myself. So when a Black Friday sale came up on their official website, I was thrilled to be able to snag a 1-for-1 Sunday Brunch voucher that came with a one-year validity!
Customers used to have a choice on whether they wanted to pay a premium for free-flow alcohol during brunch or do without (our voucher only entitled us to the latter) but from what I understand, this choice is no longer available. Currently, there are only alcoholic options and you pay the same rates whether or not you consume any alcohol. As we aren’t the sort to enjoy drinking, I’m glad we visited before this new policy kicked in.
- Our order:
- Kempinski Sunday Brunch buffet for 2
- Spent: SGD$138.89
Upon arriving at the restaurant entrance, we handed them our voucher and were promptly whisked away to our table. The staff offered us a welcome drink of fruit punch from a pretty glass dispenser (I can’t recall if it was mixed with some sparkling wine but it was refreshing).
The restaurant’s aesthetic pays tribute to the building’s heritage by incorporating colonial-inspired elements in its modern design, exuding elegant and sophisticated vibes. I appreciated the fact that the tables were adequately spaced out such that it never once felt overcrowded.
There was also a harpist performing jazzy tunes throughout the buffet service, adding a touch of class to the ambience. An uncommon sight in Singapore’s live music scene, I thought it was quite an apt venue for a performance such as this. The only other time I’ve encountered a harpist playing in a hotel was at Siam Kempinski Hotel in Bangkok (:
On to the food! I truly felt spoilt for choice because of the sheer variety on display and how visually appealing the item presentations were. A feast for the eyes indeed. Take your pick from fresh seafood on ice, roasted and grilled meats, sushi, dessert, ice cream and a splendid array of cheeses. I was very amused watching my husband carve out a bit of almost every cheese type and lay them nicely on a plate so he could take a photo and label each one.
On top of that, there was also a live pasta station where we could customize our own pasta dishes. After choosing our preferred pasta and sauce, the chef then whipped it up for us on the spot. We were even able to add in seafood options like prawns, clams and mussels.
While a good number of dishes did impress in terms of taste and texture, there were unfortunately one too many that missed the mark by a long shot. The seafood and sashimi were undeniably fresh, the side dishes like the fried rice and asparagus were decent, and I relished the comforting flavours of the pasta dishes.
Alas, the meats from the rotisserie and carving sections were overwhelmingly tough and dry. Some even had an unpleasant powdery texture. Dessert was equally lacklustre and may not be worth the tummy space if you need to prioritize. Many of them tasted rather artificial and I didn’t really touch them after the first nip.
My overall rating of the experience: 4 out of 5 stars. The charming interiors and architecture of this restaurant create an inviting dining ambience, along with the warm and approachable disposition of the staff here. Despite the busy-ness, they would still greet us with a smile whenever we needed assistance from them. Used plates were promptly cleared from our table as well. Plus points for getting a harpist for the live entertainment, a unique and classy choice! Most of the food was delectable, save for the rotisserie, carving and dessert sections (those were quite a letdown actually). Regrettably, with the current lack of a non-alcoholic Sunday Brunch option, it seems we won’t be back any time soon since it wouldn’t be worth it for non-drinkers like us.
If this post helped you in some way and you’d like to buy me a coffee, I’d be incredibly grateful (:
Dania Experiences 