Sunday Night Dinner
The Sunday Age
Sunday October 18, 2009
Melba RestaurantThe Langham, 1 Southgate Ave, Southbank 1800 641 107How do you categorise a restaurant that offers Indian food alongside seafood, pasta and a chocolate fountain? And did I mention it's a buffet? Before any food snobs run screaming from the room, this buffet is in one of the city's finest hotels, The Langham - and they're very proud of it. Bloggers sing the praises of the set buffet menu, with prices ranging from $76 to $85, depending on the day of the week and the sitting (usually from 6pm, but there are also pre-theatre sittings on the weekend). Kids aged from three to 12 are half-price, and the real littlies dine for free.There are city views through the treetops, with well-spaced tables and troupes of waitstaff to fill water glasses and bring finger bowls after you break apart that crab you couldn't resist while you picked out the stir-fry of your choice (maybe prawns, scallops, greens, noodles) or the baked-to-order naan bread, perhaps with spinach and cheese. They'll sweep away empty plates the minute you stand up for seconds (or fifths, or 10ths ... it's a buffet, after all) and drape your napkin over your chair. The waiter offers a guided tour of the buffet, waving game-show style to the designer cabinets of oysters, mussels and crab, declaring that the place has the best seafood in the city. A bit of hyperbole, but there's a serious effort to deliver quality, though it'd be fun to have more wines by the glass with this much choice in food. Four chefs stand to attention ready to stir-fry, bake or toss to order, or choose from tiny entres (such as rare lamb and eggplant pure), a range of Indian dishes, a salad bar and several roasts.There are also miniature desserts and a selection of local and imported cheeses. Just remember to leave room to dunk a strawberry in the chocolate fountain.In a few words: A classy, crowd-pleasing buffet that offers something for everyone in an elegant setting.Come here for: The fun of eating as much as you want of almost anything you'd want.
© 2009 The Sunday Age
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