After having a taste of luxury during the Red Velvet Afternoon Tea at the prestigious Waldorf Astoria on the Bund, we wanted to fully spoil ourselves with their Waldorf Champagne Brunch, possibly the most decadent brunch in the city. We decided my birthday was the perfect excuse for such an indulgence. The brunch begins with a small reception in the historic Long Bar with freshly shucked oysters and a glass of champagne. We arrived at 10 minutes to noon and were unfortunately whisked through this area all too quickly, not realizing that the reception ended at noon. But what we did see of this gorgeous bar made us all the more eager to return for classic cocktails another evening.
From the bar we were led to the Grand Brasserie, accessed via an elevator towards the rear of the hotel. When making the reservation we casually let it slip that it was my birthday and they thoughtfully sat us at a more private table by the window. I have to admit that we were a little awe-struck by the magnificence of the dining room.
The brunch has two components and lasted for nearly three hours. The first part is a lavish gourmet buffet complete with a raw bar and carving stations that you can visit as many times as you wish. We sampled French oysters, Iberico ham, caviar, clams and steak tartare, all the while imbibing free-flow Veuve Clicquot champagne.
The second component is the a la carte menu, and we could each order three items. The undisputed star of the show was the crab cake Benedict. The crispy crab cake sat on a dollop of mango goo and was topped with a flawlessly poached egg and “sauce Choron.” I’m not sure what was in the sauce but it was excellent. We were less enamored with the smoked salmon and brie frittata which had a sponge-like texture and seemed bland next to the crab.
The beautifully presented lobster and sweet pea risotto was a mixed bag. The generous lobster claw was succulent and superbly cooked but the risotto was under seasoned and underdone to the point of being crunchy. The fettuccine alfredo, on the other hand, was one of the best versions I’ve ever tasted. The meaty mushrooms, house-made pasta and hint of truffle oil were so flavorful that I wanted to lick the plate so as not to miss a single drop. Don’t worry, I refrained.
We were rather full by the time we got to our sweet selections but that didn’t stop us from enjoying them. The chocolate chip pancakes are an unusual rendition of their signature red-velvet cupcakes, dyed with beet juice instead of artificial coloring. In lieu of syrup they were served with whipped cream cheese. I didn’t taste this dish but hubby enjoyed it. Meanwhile, the Belgian waffles came with coconut ice cream and a giant strip of candied bacon. The bacon was good, if difficult to chew, but the coconut ice cream so reminded me of the scent of Banana Boat sunscreen that it was off putting. I couldn’t help wishing the hot fudge on the plate had been poured over the waffles instead.
Oh, and did I mention there was a dessert buffet? The lemon tart and vanilla cheesecake with fresh fruit and chocolate shavings were especially good. The whole meal was a delight to the senses. We went with the assumption that it would be a once-in-a-lifetime experience, but left thinking that we might have to do it again next year. A girl could get use to this!
Truly, I think it’s all downhill from here. 😉
This meal could be tough to beat. But we will keep trying! 🙂
This place is so spectacular. I want to go in again just to see the magnificent flower arrangement in the foyer. I know you enjoyed every minute of it. Mom