The Earth Plate

Critic´s Review

• Food: 3 / 5
• Service: 3.5 / 5
• Decor: 3.5 / 5

-By Rashmi Uday Singh

Are we in Las Vegas? No, pal! We're near aamchi Mumbai's domestic airport, in Sahara Star, in the 24-hour coffee shop, set in 55,000 sq ft of a mechanized marvel of the world's largest pillarless dome. Letting in the sky onto a lush lagoon and trees below it all pulsing to a high-tech laser show at night! There are buffets aplenty here. A permanent long buffet counter snakes around the restaurant. Seventy generously portioned multi-cuisine dishes, wildly uneven in preparation but well-presented, sit along the buffet counter. Children in particular love the Teppanyaki Ice Cream add-on to the "Create Your Own Unique Flavour" counter, where nine flavours can be mixed with 14 condiments. Snacky coffee-shop fare's doled out round the clock, but the buffets are the best bet. P.S. Buffet prices (taxes extra in all cases) are Sunday Brunch: Rs. 1,900 without alcohol, Rs. 2,100 (with domestic liquor). Kids zone and in-house magician too. Rs. 1,000 for breakfast (6.30am to 10.30am), Rs. 1,350 for lunch (12.30pm to 3pm), Rs. 1,550 for dinner (7pm to midnight) and Rs. 750 for special Midnight Buffets (Fridays and Saturdays only; 12.30am to 3.30am). The sweet-tooth Dessert Buffet is priced at Rs. 850; combine healthy with indulgent in the Soup-Salad-Dessert Buffet for Rs. 1,050 or go for the waistline-friendly Soup and Salad Buffet for Rs. 950. The bar is open from 11am to 1.15am and serves a variety of premium drinks, mocktails and cocktails.