Sheraton on the Park Botanica Brasserie, Sydney

There's something distinctly Australian about the enigma that is The Seafood Buffet. We have plenty of seafood in our coastal waters. Why not allow the true blue Aussie eat half their body weight in one sitting in an all-out celebration of pure gluttony? =)

I say this as a recovering buffet-aholic. It is true, indeed, that these visits reached their culminative peak in the high school / university era dominated by "the pursuit of value". And yes, I know it was only on Boxing Day last year that I was stuffing my face with gleeful abandon. I'm entitled to relapses.

And then I did it again.



We are at the Sheraton on the Park, one of Sydney's premier hotels. There's a giant sweeping staircase, plush ruby red carpet and a dozen re-fillable plates with my name on them.

Our visit coincides with their "Curries of the World" theme, featuring dishes from India, Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore. We remember our priorities though, and head straight for the seafood.


The fresh seafood buffet included cooked prawns, oysters, smoked salmon, yabbies and cooked mussels

There are two platters of assorted sushi...

Nigiri sushi and maki sushi

...and it's true, they really do serve you semi-peeled prawns ready to eat (try to dimiss the image of a poor apprentice chef stuck peeling 100kg of prawns)


Peeled prawns a-go-go


Curry, roast potatoes and steamed vegetables

Down one end of the room is a chef who will prepare lobster to order. What this means is he tops cooked half-lobsters with either a thermidor sauce, a curry sauce or "Asian-style fried hokkien noodles". More for novelty value really... oh and he carves you roast meats too.



A world of curries


And plenty of salads too

We get waylaid by the dessert counter as always. This one isn't quite as spectacular as the spread we enjoyed at the Sheraton Four Points, but then we presume that buffet spreads during the festive season get a little extra magic added.

The endless row of creme brulees are swooped on with gusto, although disapointingly the heat lamps have melted the burnt toffee toppings.

We eat, and eat, and eat some more.

And as I waddle out the door, belt loosened and breathing shallowly, I promise myself I will no longer succumb to the "quantity over quality" mantra.

Famous last words.


Elegant soft-set jellies and creme brulees


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Botanica Brasserie
Level One, Sheraton on the Park Hotel
161 Elizabeth Street, Sydney
Tel: 02 9286 6650

All-you-can eat seafood buffet
(prices correct as at 4 Sep 2009 - please ring to confirm)
Lunch
Monday - Saturday $65.00
Sunday $75.00

Dinner
Sunday - Thursday $79.00
Friday - Saturday $99.00


Related GrabYourFork posts:
Shangri-La Cafe Mix buffet
Sheraton Four Points Corn Exchange buffet
Swissotel JPB Restaurant Fondue Chinoise buffet
Swissotel Crossroads Bar High Tea (Jan09), (Nov06) , (Jun06) and (Oct05)