Buffets Fight Price Hikes

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Ramadan menu to break fast being offered at reasonable prices
PETALING JAYA: Following concerns about rising food prices, several restaurants in Selangor are offering reasonably-priced buffets to break fast this Ramadan and attract economically-conscious customers.
Gerald Koh, a marketing and communications manager of a hotel in Sepang, said there is still strong interest in Ramadan buffets.
“People enjoy coming together for iftar, especially when it offers a sense of community and special dining experiences,” he said.
Koh said the rising cost of food has certainly affected customers’ decisions in checking out Ramadan buffets.
As such, this Ramadan, Koh said the hotel is attempting to strike a balance between providing high-quality dishes and maintaining competitive pricing.
“Additionally, we are promoting special early-bird discounts and group bookings for our Rasa Nusantara buffet dinner with signature dishes such as Sup Abang Lee, Kambing bergolek-golek and Kerabu Limau Bali to provide more value for guests.
A restaurant in Bandar Elmina plans to hold an iftar buffet-style priced between RM69 and RM99 for children, adults and senior citizens.
Supervisor Shahfizee Sukri said the restaurant, known for its authentic traditional Malay and Thai dishes, opened its second branch in Shah Alam.
“The plan is to have iftar and moreh, the feast served after terawih prayers, so custo­mers need not rush to eat and perform their prayers since we are able to open until midnight for the fasting month.
“While we have yet to receive bookings, people have begun to enquire about when the Ramadan buffet will begin at our restaurant.
“Usually, customers tend to reserve a table starting the third day of Ramadan until the end of the month,” he said.
Shahfizee added that there will be additional promotions for customers if they come in groups for the Ramadan buffet.
Another restaurant, known for its local cuisine in Shah Alam, has started offering iftar packages for Ramadan but expects reservations to come in by the second week of the fasting month.
Its manager, who only wanted to be known as Wan, said there were no bookings yet for the first week of Ramadan.
She said bookings typically pick up in the second week of the fasting month.
Wan also said the restaurant has been receiving enquiries about the Ramadan menu.
“Usually people want to spend their first week of Ramadan in their hometowns. By the second week, the restaurant will be bustling with patrons until the night before Hari Raya.
“This year is unique in that people will have the entire month of March to celebrate both Ramadan and Hari Raya, so the festive mood will be doubled.
“People are willing to spend money on their loved ones, including taking them out for meals,” she said.
Among the offerings are take-away boxes priced at RM75 with six different side dishes accompanied by rice and desserts or meal platters with different types of cuisines from banana leaf sets to traditional dish sets, priced between RM65 and RM75 per person. - Star

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