JW Marriott is a traditional name that goes up the list, there to compete with MO, i.e. Mandarin Oriental, and Peninsula.
This dinner close to the Christmas period is just totally disappointing.
The area is tiny, so we expect the food to make up for it.
Let's get it clear from the beginning what we would expect from a dinner buffet of HKD 8XX to have, that is amongst the category of MO and Pen:-
- Properly cooked broth in little separate pots
- Oysters in a few kinds
- Foie gras
- Dessert:- well maintained cakes and live-stationed dessert
None of those was there.
The broth was just a pot for customers to pick up. It's lukewarm at 8:00 p.m..
We asked the staff members if they were doing two slots, one from 6:00 - 8:30 p.m. and the other from 9:00 p.m. onwards. They said "No." Then, how and why it's lukewarm?
Cold lobsters tails are a must for those who claim to be five-star hotel. Those hotels from Sino Group are catching up hard and fast. Those that may be considered a class below or a few, such as Novotel group are doing the same.
So, by offering cold lobsters tails, how does that justify JW Marriott to charge HKD 8XX, other than living by its name?
They had abalone well-cooked, and those traditional dried fish gills cooked in broth. So does Peninsula. Again, how does JW Marriott sets itself apart?
It's even funny to see the dark sesame sweet soup as simply referred to as "Chinese Sweet Soup". It's Chinese, everyone knows. Get the name right, please?
It is most disappointing to see the Big Three in Admiralty declining by what they have to offer.
Words have been spreading around. This is simply live-proof.
JW Marriott's cousin at Ocean Park is offering "live lobester steamed-to-serve". Their dessert offers a vast array of ice-cream. Truly impressive.
So, where is cousin JW to catch up? By a mile.
I hope there is a change for good. But in the meantime, Mandarin Oriental leads, Peninsula has its legacy. Ocean Park is catching up hard and fast. Sheraton is solid. Those in Admiralty may be living in their own little clique of legacy.