This article is part of my Ramadan 2019 compilation.
Special thanks to VOUK Hotel Suites for extending this food review invitation.
For the upcoming Ramadan season, VOUK Hotel Suites is rolling out the “3 Abdul Buffet Dinner”. The buffet is served in C’est Si Bon Restaurant on Level 2. There are over 100 dishes each evening. The menu includes crowd favorites like Gulai Kawah Daging, Sup Gear Box, Murtabak and Waffles.
The buffet features several live action counters where à la minute dishes are prepared. For instance, the grilling station produces a steady flow of grilled fish, prawns, squid and satay. Satay is best enjoyed with cucumber, onion and spicy peanut sauce.
Tandoori Lamb Leg and Sirloin Steak are served at the carving station. Marinated and roasted to perfection, the meats are succulent indeed. The meats go well with black pepper, mushroom and mint sauces.
Yong Tau Foo is one of the restaurant’s specialties. Several types of vegetables and tofu are stuffed with fish paste. Yong Tau Foo can be served with clear soup or tom yum; I think the former is better because it allows the fish paste to take the center stage.
There are around a dozen chafing dishes on daily rotation. The main highlight this evening is the Portuguese-Style Fried Whole Fish, where sea bass is served with tomato-based sauce. Other notable dishes are Beef Rendang Mamak, Lamb Vindaloo, Ayam Masak Hitam, Paru Masak Berempah and Udang Goreng Tahi Minyak.
Deep-fried items include samosas, money bags and fish balls. Tomato and chili sauces are provided.
When breaking fast, buah kurma (sweet dates) are usually eaten first as their sweetness gives a boost of energy. There are also a variety of kerabu (Malay salad) and acar (pickled vegetables) to keep the appetite up. My personal favorite delicacy is dodol, a toffee-like candy that comes in flavors like and durian.
Pasembur is a Penang street food that is usually sold by mamak (Indian-Muslim) hawkers. It consists of cucumber, sengkuang (jicama), cucur udang (prawn fritters), fish balls, tofu and hard-boiled eggs in sweet peanut sauce dressing. Meanwhile, Rojak Buah-Buahan is eaten with a thick sauce that contains belacan (shrimp paste).
Moving to desserts, the pastry team has prepared a colorful selection of Western confections like Black Forest Cake, Oreo Cheesecake, Coconut Tarts, Mango Pudding, Orange Crème Caramel and Black & White Mousse.
An iftar meal must include Malay kuih such as cucur badak (sweet potato ball with spicy coconut), kuih bingka ubi (tapioca cake) and kuih ketayap (pandan crêpes). Diners who prefer something warm can indulge in Serawa Durian (durian soup) and Bubur Pulut Hitam (black glutinous rice porridge). Meanwhile, children are most likely fascinated by the chocolate fountain.
And finally for beverages, teh tarik (pulled milk tea) and susu badam (almond milk) are the main highlights this evening. Susu badam is prepared from actual almonds, with cardamom and cloves added into the mix to provide a lovely aroma.
On Fridays and Saturdays, diners are entertained by a 4-piece band called Akustika Trios. The band’s musical instruments are electric guitar, double bass, electronic keyboard and electronic drums.
VOUK Hotel Suites serves 3 Abdul Buffet Dinner every evening from 7 May 2019 to 3 June 2019. The regular price is RM88.00 net per adult and RM68.00 net per child or senior citizen. For the first week (7 May 2019 to 12 May 2019), diners enjoy a discounted price of RM68.00 net. Besides a daily lucky draw, each customer also stands a chance to win a 55-inch LED television at the end of Ramadan. Note that the Let’s Get Fat! Fat-bulous Buffet Dinner will be suspended during this period.
Name: C’est Si Bon Restaurant
Address: 57-G-3, Mansion One, Jalan Sultan Ahmad Shah, 10050 George Town, Pulau Pinang
Contact: 04-370-8333
Business hours: 6:30am-11:00pm
Website: http://www.voukhotelsuites.com.my/facilities
Coordinates: 5.42743 N, 100.32081 E
Directions: VOUK Hotel Suites is located on Jalan Sultan Ahmad Shah, right before The Northam and across the road from Gurney Beach Food Gallery. C’est Si Bon Restaurant is located at Level 2 of the main building. Parking is available in front of Hardwicke House. Dine-in customers enjoy complimentary parking; parking tickets can be validated at the restaurant.