Indian Summer - Farrer Park

In my opinion, probably one of the most underrated vegetarian eateries in Singapore must be Sagar Ratna. Not only is their a la carte strong, but they have one of the best value Indian buffets around. Unfortunately, since my last visit, the price of the buffet increased from $10pax to $12pax. Although this increase in price is disgruntling, I still find that the price is reasonable. Not only are there several dishes to choose from, but there is also unlimited allowance of naan (butter, garlic or plain) or dosai. Finding Sagar Ratna is easy, just go down the bustling Syed Alwi Road, located a few minutes away from Farrer Park MRT.


Indian Summer
Location: 103 Syed Alwi Road Contact: 63417797
Opening Hours: Buffet begins at 7:30pm (Daily)

Total Buffet Price = $12.00 per person

Note - Formerly Sagar Ratna Vegetarian's Paradise. Now under a new name.  This eatery is no longer 100% vegetarian.

Over the years, the concept and style of the Sagar Ratna buffet has remained the same. There is a blend of Chinese/Fusion dishes, such as rice, noodles and manchurian. There is also soup available on the far left hand side (although this, in my opinion, is a waste of stomach space). The types of dishes don't tend to vary too greatly. Each night, the types of curries may differ, but generally the Chinese dishes are always the same. Honestly, I can't really comment on the Chinese dishes - As an Indian food fanatic, I don't really see the point of eating Chinese food when I am attending an Indian buffet.

Onto the Indian dishes. On this particular evening, the focal dish (at least in my eyes) was the Kadhai Paneer. This rich and creamy curry was dark yellow in colour, and wonderfully spiced. One common disappointment with the buffet is that the paneer dishes often have very little paneer inside. Hopefully the chef becomes more generous in the future. It is an even greater shame, as the paneer is beautifully soft and silky, some of the best I have tried throughout my eating adventures. The white coloured dish nearest the camera is Kheer. This is an Indian dessert, which obviously should be taken at the end of the meal. It is sweet and contains cashew nuts and raisins typically. Although I found this version a little too diluted.

If my pictures of this delicious buffet didn't compel you to pay Sagar Ratna a visit, then I must also tell you that this restaurant has certainly the best naan I have tried so far in Singapore. The Garlic Naan and Butter Naan in particular have delightful black charring on the outskirts of the naan. This crucial element is what gives this naan its distinctive aroma. Texture wise, the naan has the balance of layers, coupled with a crispness, yet chewiness - The exact combination of how a naan should be. Forget curry and rice, I could happily enjoy these naan's by themselves!

9/10

Conclusion - On a personal level, this buffet is probably one of the meals I have eaten the most during my whole time in Singapore. I must admit, I did feel a little heart-broken when I heard about the price increase. However, putting things into perspective, I do find that the new price of $12 is also reasonable. I don't foresee that I will be returning for this buffet as frequently as I did in the past (partially price and partially health reasons). But, the increase in price certainly won't stop me going completely. If you do visit Sagar Ratna (for the buffet or a la carte) it is imperative that you sample the naan - It is incredible!

Overall Rating
Food - 8/10
Ambiance- 8/10
Service - 8/10
Value - 8/10