Lime restaurant at PARKROYAL on Pickering certainly makes an impression. The high ceilings and full-length windows give a sense of airiness and space, and a clever use of contrasts—timbre facade on the feature walls juxtaposed with industrial chic light fixtures—evokes grandeur.

Buffet offerings are succinct but tightly curated. Start at the salad counter to rev up the appetite with some tiger prawn and green mango salad, or have a go at the DIY rojak station. The Asian live kitchen cooks up a storm of zi char and hawker favourites, with the likes of steamed clams with XO sauce, wok hei-kissed char kway teow, Hakka-style crispy pork belly, kueh pie tee and some properly lemak Nonya laksa. The Straits theme continues at the dessert counter with a kaleidoscope array of kuehs and all-time favourites such as pulut hitam. There is a matcha chocolate fountain too, but the piece de resistance is no doubt the durian pengat—incredibly creamy and intensely bittersweet.

While Asian flavours take the limelight, the international selection at Lime is just as noteworthy. Be sure to fuel up at the pasta station, especially for the carbonara macaroni tossed a la minute in a parmesan wheel. The restaurant’s Super Lunch Sunday is also worth the splurge for showstoppers such as eggs benedict with lobster, slow-roasted prime rib and flambeed foie gras.