Is This $59++ Italian Buffet At A Five-Star Hotel Worth It?

LUCE has $59++ Italian lunch buffet at Bugis

Some of my fondest teenage memories are tied to Bugis Junction, a place I must have visited countless times growing up. Despite being so familiar with the mall, I had always walked past the connecting Frasers House, a Luxury Collection Hotel—formerly known as InterContinental Singapore Bugis—without giving it much thought. It was only recently that I discovered the hotel houses LUCE, a well-regarded buffet restaurant, which naturally piqued my interest and made me eager to see what the buzz was about. 

LUCE focuses on authentic Italian cuisine served in a convivial buffet format. Led by Chef Giuseppe Di Gaetano, renowned for his expertise in Southern Italian cuisine, the restaurant combines traditional Italian recipes with local influences.

The lunch buffet is priced at $59++ per person from Monday to Thursday and $69++ on Saturdays. For dinner, the buffet is available at $85++ per person from Monday to Thursday, $98++ on Fridays and Saturdays, and $88++ on Sunday evenings. We visited on a Monday afternoon. 

Food at LUCE

With such a wide variety of dishes on offer, we were truly spoilt for choice. Beyond traditional Italian favourites, the buffet features an extensive selection, such asfresh seafood, premium dim sum, and even a DIY pasta station. Guests can choose from three types of pasta—Trofie, Cheese Ravioli, and Rigatoni—and pair them with their preferred sauce, including Guanciale Carbonara, Beef Bolognese, or Napolitana Sauce.

As with any Italian buffet, we made a beeline for the pizza selection. A variety of options were available on rotation, all freshly prepared in front of guests. Be sure to grab them while they’re hot—otherwise, they tend to get snapped up pretty quickly. 

Our pick had to be the Stracciatella e Pomodori Confit, featuring creamy stracciatella cheese, confit heirloom tomatoes, house-made tomato sauce, and fresh basil. It was rich and indulgent, with the creamy cheese balanced out by the sweet, slow-roasted tomatoes, resulting in a comforting slice of pizza. You can also opt for their La Tartufata, made with black truffle mushroom cream, smoked scamorza, and fior di latte cheese. 

Pasta is arguably the heart of Italian cuisine, and LUCE does it well here. If we had to pick just one, it would be the Penne al Granchio Piccante con Funghi Fritti, featuring durum wheat penne tossed in a spicy chilli crab sauce, topped with tiger prawns, egg white, coriander, and crispy fried straw mushrooms. The dish came together as a layered, flavourful plate where most elements hold their own with bold, distinct flavours. While the chilli crab sauce brought a familiar local touch, it felt slightly overpowering for some, especially alongside the egg white. That said, we enjoyed the intensity and depth of flavour it delivered. 

The standout was the texture of the penne, which had a firm al dente bite that held its shape well, giving each mouthful a satisfying chew. Its ridged surface also helped the sauce cling to the pasta, ensuring every bite was evenly coated with flavour. 

We decided the perfect side dish to go along with the pasta was the “Le Polpette” della Nonna Meatballs, served in a hearty basil tomato marinara and finished with parmesan cheese and fresh herbs. This was a definite step up from your average meatball, delivering rich and comforting flavours with a deep, savoury tomato base. The parmesan and herbs lifted each mouthful with a fragrant, slightly salty finish that tied everything together beautifully. 

Well-cooked on the inside, the meatballs had a tender, juicy texture that practically melted in the mouth. Each piece was soft yet substantial, with the meat retaining its richness so well that it almost could be enjoyed on its own without the sauce. 

One of the unique dishes we were looking forward to trying was the Trippa con Patate alla Pugliese, a Roman-style slow-cooked veal tripe. It did not disappoint, as the tripe was tender and richly flavoured from the long, slow cooking process, soaking up the savoury tomato-based sauce while remaining pleasantly soft. 

However, their Pollo Arrosto con Salsa di Funghi Selvatici—roasted free-range chicken thigh with truffle mushroom sauce—did not quite impress. While it came with a fragrant, earthy sauce that complemented the dish nicely, the chicken itself was less impressive, as it was slightly tough and lacked the tenderness we were hoping for. 

Seafood lovers can go for their Il Ciambotto di Mare alla Barese, a seafood stew brimming with fresh stewed tiger prawns, octopus, squid, fish, and mussels, all simmered in a rich crustacean broth that brings out the natural sweetness of its elements. 

The stewed tiger prawns were briny and rich, with a clean ocean freshness that came through clearly. They were also succulent and slightly springy in texture, making them especially satisfying to chew on. 

LUCE also features a dedicated dessert section, offering an enticing selection of sweet treats such as Red Velvet Cake, Rose Swiss Roll, Citrus Lemongrass Mousse, and Matcha Red Bean Cake. 

However, it would be a huge pity to leave without trying their LUCE-misu, made with mascarpone, espresso, ladyfingers, and cocoa feuilletine. It was rich and creamy with a bold coffee kick, yet not overly sweet.

Ambience at LUCE

Located on Level 1 of the hotel, LUCE offers a warm and inviting dining experience. Floor-to-ceiling windows allow natural light to pour in, illuminating the interior’s contemporary furnishings and ample dining space, creating a relaxed yet refined atmosphere. 

LUCE is a three-minute walk from Bugis MRT Station. 

LUCE – Eatbook review

If you are into Italian cuisine, then LUCE is likely the place for you with its flavour-packed offerings. While we did not get to try the full range of its many dishes, most of what we sampled was quite decent and fulfilling.

The lunch buffet pricing of $59 to $69++ is certainly a good deal and offers good value, though dinner may feel slightly less compelling in terms of value relative to the quality, although it may feature a wider selection of dishes. Overall, it remains a solid buffet option for casual Italian dining, especially if you are visiting during lunch hours. 

For other buffet options, check out our Colony review and Ginger Restaurant review. 

Address: 80 Middle Road, Level 1, Singapore 188966
Buffet hours: Mon-Sat 12pm to 2:30pm, 6pm to 10pm, Sun 6pm to 10pm
Tel: 6825 1008
Website
LUCE is not halal-certified.

Photos taken by Nivian Chiang.
This was a media tasting at Ginger Restaurant.