For our family, Sunday is sacred. Sunday is the day none of us work. Even the
children do their homework on the Saturday to leave personal dining free on the
Sunday. So with that background, it takes quite some encouragement for the
Dining Out Team to do a Sunday review. However, remembering a wonderful Sunday
Brunch at Benihana enjoyed some (too many) years ago, it did not take much
arm-twisting by Asinee from the Marriott to get us to return to Benihana for the
latest version of their Sunday Brunch.
Benihana
is on the 2nd floor of the
Royal Garden Plaza, at the Beach Road end of the center, and is a very
pleasantly appointed restaurant, with an overall Japanese theme. The cooking is
done on a special teppanyaki hot plate, with chefs specially trained to produce
some culinary ‘theater’ (something Benihana calls “eatertainment”).
The Sunday Brunch features a combination of gourmet buffet
items, plus a choice of main dishes which are then cooked in front of the diner
after your selection.
The range of appetizers in the buffet is also quite
extensive, as well as gourmet and includes freshly shucked oysters with caviar
(ladle it on yourself), Alaskan King Crab legs, mussels, king prawns and rock
lobsters. In addition, a line-up of sushi/sashimi items is being continuously
prepared by the Kabuki chef, to also tempt the diner, complete with some
excellent quality wasabi (and I love wasabi). The starters do not end there
either. There is a selection of soups (western and Asian), some tempura prawns
and even some hot steamed Chinese Dim Sum items. Cold cuts are also on offer,
and in fact it is worthwhile taking your time to walk around and familiarize
yourself with everything that is available, and not discover something later
(when you are too full to be able to fit it all in).
The
choices of items for mains is also impressive, with lobsters (yes, lobsters),
large prawns, scallops, beef, pork, chicken and salmon, which you then put on a
plate and bring to your table, to be cooked later by the chef - your own
personal chef.
The Sunday Brunch offer can be food only (B. 1050) or
inclusive of half a bottle of wine (B. 1390), with the wine from the Amiga label
from Chile. Both the red (Cabernet Sauvignon) and white (Sauvignon Blanc) were
very quaffable, and the white wine was served at the correct temperature. Beer
is also available, by the way.
There is a very full range of desserts, including a chocolate
fountain and ice creams with various toppings for the children. For the adults
without a sweet tooth there is a good range of different cheeses, including a
nice blue.
Much
of the attraction with Benihana is in the interaction between the chef and the
diner. In our case, we had the two children with us, whose tastes in the exotic
are not developed. No caviar, thank you. Little Miss asking if she could have
fried rice and Little Mister wanting fried egg, and their desires were met, with
their choices being cooked just for them, making them both feel just so grown up
and important. Eggs flying through the air were met with open-mouthed awe.
“Better than Mummy’s fried egg,” I was assured.
For the adults, we were asked just how we wanted our steaks
cooked, and given a choice in condiments used. The theater is fun, for both
children and adults, and we thoroughly enjoyed chef Peerapat’s culinary show.
The
Benihana Sunday Brunch is definitely one that you should consider. It is not
overly expensive for families, and children are half price and younger ones
under three are free. The range is extensive, and high quality, which makes it
very good value for money (Alaskan King Crab always gets me in)!
Beni’s Sunday Brunch at the Benihana restaurant, Royal Garden
Plaza 2nd floor (Beach Road end), telephone 038 412 120 ext 1395 (and I would
book, it was busy), fax 038 429 926. Open 11 a.m. for Sunday Brunch and going
through to 3 p.m. Secure free parking in the Royal Garden Plaza car park, but
remember to get Benihana to stamp your docket.
