One Ninety at Four Seasons Singapore – Market Fresh Semi-Buffet

One Ninety, the all-day dining restaurant in Four Seasons Singapore, has recently revamped its famous Market Fresh semi-buffet by including around 30 main dishes that can be ordered ala minute alongside a buffet spread featuring a myriad of appetizers and desserts. Recently, I had the opportunity to check out the venue for the very first time and I must say I was impressed.

You can also read about my other reviews of Singapore buffets here.

The buffet spread here is not particularly big but I must say the dishes are carefully prepared, extremely fresh and delicious. The items change by the day and during my dinner there, I found even the most simple appetizers – such as cauliflower salad and tomatoes – to be highly refreshing and sweet.

Apart from the variety of salads, you also get a decent selection of cheese here. If you have a sweet tooth, you’ll be delighted by the generous amounts of cakes, tarts and biscuits.

As I mentioned previously, the semi-buffet comes with one main which you can choose from the menu. There are around 30 options spread across three categories. Namely, these are “From The Grill,” “Italian Selection” and “Asian Specialties.”

If you prefer to have something that doesn’t deviate too much from what’s on the buffet, the Italian selection is your best bet. The Fusilli Puttanesca was a wonderful introduction to One Ninety’s Italian capabilities. The pasta came with a distinctly delightful chewy texture which enabled me to feel the wholeness of each piece with every bite.

The Squid Ink Tagliolini is another dish to check out if you prefer to have pasta as your main. Again, the strands were chewy and had a pronounced texture and came topped with generous portions of crab meat.

The Mediterranean Octopus is a great option if you prefer something light. The preparation was more in keeping with what’s prevalent throughout Southern Europe rather than just Italy. The octopus came tender and had a smoky flavor to it due to the apple-wood fire used to grill it.

While I found the dishes at One Ninety to be wonderful as a whole, I must say the Asian specialties totally threw me off. I never expected it but the One-Ninety Laksa for instance, was perhaps one of the best laksa I’ve tried in the city (and I have been to quite a few). What sets it apart are generous portions of seafood – plump scallops, large prawns and delicious cockles submerged in a highly addicting spicy coconut broth.

The Cantonese-style Hor Fun was another highlight. Brimming with just the right amount of smoky wok hei goodness, the dish is one of the restaurant’s most popular items and has attracted a steady following over the years.

If you like a good steak, you won’t go wrong with the grilled items at One Ninety. The Australian Black Angus ($32 supplement) was perhaps one of the most compelling options in the menu. Despite the usage of a lean cut of meat, the steak was extremely tender even at medium done-ness. The meat came with a variety of sauces but was just as good on its own, especially with the apple-wood aroma filling my taste buds.

The Whole Maine Lobster ($32 supplement) came with a unique smoky flavor that went well against the succulent meat. Again, the prized crustacean was already tasty on its own despite the inclusion of some tempting sauces.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed the semi-buffet concept at One Ninety and it may just be one of the best hotel buffets I have tried this year. You undoubtedly pay a premium to dine here (especially if you opt to fork out extra for those mains with the supplement) but you do get to taste the difference. The ingredients are markedly fresher and definitely not the typical mass-produced buffet fare that you encounter elsewhere. This is one buffet I would look forward to returning.

Prices:

Lunch
Appetizers and desserts: SGD 42 per person
Appetizers, main course and desserts: SGD 52 per person

Dinner
Appetizers, main course and desserts: SGD 64 per person

Sunday Lunch (11:45 am to 3:00 pm)
Food only: SGD 72
With free-flowing Ruffino Prosecco or Singapore Sangria: SGD 128
With free-flowing Veuve Clicquot Brut NV: SGD 180
Children from 5 to 11 years old : SGD 36

One Ninety
Four Seasons Singapore
190 Orchard Boulevard
Reservations: +65 6831 7250

I was invited to a media tasting. However, all opinions are my own