IF you are the sort who cannot resist a seafood spread, there is one in town that may stimulate your appetite.
The “Sear & Shell” seafood dinner and buffet at Le Meridien Petaling Jaya’s Pasar Baru restaurant has a weekend indulgence that feels both local and somewhat eclectic.
Held every Friday and Saturday from 6.30pm to 10pm, this dinner buffet dives deep into ocean-inspired dining with a mix of freshly shucked oysters, sizzling claypot dishes, and live cooking stations.
Priced at RM198 per adult, RM138 per senior citizen aged 60 and above, and RM99 per child (under six dine for free), it’s a feast that balances international flair with homely Malaysian favourites.
Under the creative control of executive chef Aris Fadilah, the buffet is a combination that appeals to families, seafood lovers, and buffet enthusiasts alike.
The centrepiece here is the Crystal Seas selection, a chilled spread showcasing the ocean’s treasures – Alaskan crab legs, shucked oysters, half-shell scallops, poached tiger prawns, New Zealand green mussels and Sabah clams.
The oysters, plump and creamy, pair perfectly with a squeeze of lemon or a dash of Tabasco, while the crab legs are meaty.
Elevating the buffet beyond the usual cold seafood bar is the live cooking action.
Diners can watch chefs sear and simmer at various stations, from the claypot counter where Salmon Head and Belly Northern Indian-Style bubbles away in a fragrant curry, to the sizzling wok tossing out noodles with fresh seafood.
Fresh appetisers include garden salads, Tuna Tataki with Sesame and Ponzu, Mussels with Thai Chilli Dressing, and Potato Salad with Dill and Mustard.
For meat lovers, there are the chef’s charcuterie board and at the carving table, the Beef Wellington.
Local palates are not forgotten. The chicken and beef satay provide that familiar comfort while Mee Kuah Ketam delivers a savoury, slurp-worthy finale to the hot dishes section.
Look out for the Rogan Josh, fragrant briyani rice and tandoori chicken as well as kampung flavours like Asam Pedas Salmon, Daging Dendeng Berlado Lada Api, and Pucuk Paku Tumis Tiga Rasa.
If you are hankering for continental flavours, there is Paella with Seafood, Provencal Garden Gratin and Herbed Corn-Fed Chicken Supreme on the menu.
Desserts round off the evening with a tempting selection of a chocolate fountain with various sweet skewers, Nyonya kuih, jellies and puddings, cakes, local fruits, and ice-cream.
