An almost tangible sense of tranquility greeted us when we stepped into Shutters one weekday during lunchtime. The natural ambiance that overlooked lush greenery on the outside of the glass‑encased restaurant immediately put us in an indulgent mood for its buffet lunch. While the a la carte menu consisted of Italian, Japanese, Asian and continental dishes, the buffet was skewed to Asian. The spread was average, but the entrée selections of scallops; Szechuan chicken with bamboo shoots; and the live seafood (crayfish and very fresh pink prawns) stood out. The laksa from the live station was good, and the sirloin steak with golden raisin port wine sauce was beautifully tender, as was the braised cod fish with bonito. The wok‑fried black pepper beef was tasty too, but the lamb shank was dry, and the sushi disappointing. The star of the dessert selection was undoubtedly the cempedak crème brulee—fans of the fruit will love this creamy, caramelized version. While Shutters won’t blow the socks off serious epicureans, this is a lovely place for a slow lunch or evening meal.
