Sing for Your Supper

Photo: Chefs at Belcanção have helped put a luxury spin on the standard buffet

It could be argued that Las Vegas is known for its buffets as much as it’s iconic “Eiffel Tower” drinks, neon lights, and wedding chapels. While Macau will not likely ever be known for wedding chapels, an “Eiffel Tower” is in progress (and maybe the drinks will follow) and there are plenty of neon lights (although they aren’t exactly on the scale of Las Vegas - yet). But the buffets are very much here. Las Vegas was known for its notorious buffets in days gone by, but that certainly seems to have changed, and Macau’s hotel and casino buffets are certainly of the new-word Vegas variety, and perhaps surpassing them in some cases. Lobster, crab, sushi and free-flow champagne are common, and even the Michelin-starred Golden Peacock has a lunch buffet that is an Indian food lover’s dream. Aside from the gluttony that buffets can invoke, the buffets in Macau offer excellent food (most of the time) and a good way to try different dishes in often luxurious restaurant settings.

One of the better buffets we have tried is at Belcanção (which means beautiful song in Portuguese) at the Four Seasons. You would be hard pressed to find any restaurant in this luxury hotel brand that doesn’t live up to its five-star reputation, and Belcanção doesn’t disappoint. With a modern interior, exceptional service and a wide range of seafood, main courses and desserts, Belcanção is a good place for an indulgent meal.

Photo: The restaurant can seat 200 guests and includes al fresco dining on their patio

Whether you're interested in dining buffet-side for easy access or you prefer a quieter corner, there is plenty of seating (200 to be exact), including a patio for al fresco dining while the weather allows. The lush and somewhat peaceful (the under construction Parisian is right there, but on our visits we haven't heard too much noise) patio is certainly one of the best outdoor dining options in the city, but perhaps sit away from the door as there is a regular stream of smokers who use the patio as an al fresco smoking lounge.

The lunch buffet offered throughout the week is a scaled-back version of the dinner buffet but still offers plenty of salad options, seafood (including lobster claws and shrimp), sushi, and a wide range of desserts. You can add a main course to your meal for an additional charge (MOP168+ without, MOP228+ with). On weekends, make room for the brunch buffet which includes the aforementioned delicious fresh seafood (oysters, lobster, abalone, crab, and shrimps), a variety of cheeses, a carving station and (most importantly) the option to add free-flow Champagne (MOP688+ with and MOP588+ without). You can also try dim sum from two Michelin-star Zi Yat Heen which is served during brunch as well.

Photo: Take advantage of the "ocean" themed dinner buffet until May

Until May, the dinner buffet (MOP498+ from Monday to Thursday and MOP588+ from Friday to Sunday has an ocean theme and so, as you can imagine, has even more seafood than normal, including the by now de rigeur lobster claws and tails, oysters, shrimps and crab claws. Additional morsels, including scallop and abalone dishes, are brought straight to your table. If you need something a bit more meaty there is a carving station with joints of roasted meat. Other items include: a standard salad bar station which includes make your own caesar salad; a small selection of hot Indian dishes, a Chinese noodle station along with other Chinese main dishes; and plenty of western-style dishes which included ravioli and salmon Wellington on our visit. As with most buffets, freshness is always a concern, and while a few of the dishes weren’t as hot as we would have liked them to be, the chefs did a good job making sure the dishes on offer were up to standards.

To finish the meal is the dessert bar. With about half a dozen cakes on offer, chocolate fondue, ice cream and jars of candy, leaving enough room for some sweets is an absolute must.

Open from daily from 7am to 11am for breakfast; on Saturday and Sunday from 12pm to 3pm for brunch; from Monday to Friday from 12pm to 2:30pm for lunch, and daily from 6pm to 10pm for dinner

For reservations call (853) 2881 8888

www.fourseasons.com

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