Cascade

Peaceful outdoor dining by the pool, with a boundless view of KL's skyline.

When the sun sets, Cascade serves a 120-ringgit buffet spread where quality reigns over quantity, with relatively satisfactory results.

Seafood on ice, sushi & sashimi _ they're all here, of course. But a few quibbles: the (excellent) oysters ran out really fast and weren't replenished for some time, while the salmon sashimi was only supplied on sushi rice and not on its own for the first hour.

Succulent shrimp & smoked Norwegian salmon. An appetizingly perky start.

Salads help to keep things light and healthy; a heavy meal wouldn't be the best way to spend a muggy evening here without air-conditioning (or even a breeze).

Fresh enough? Check. Well-presented? Check. Delicious? Check.

Grilled and roasted meat are also available, some of them cooked to order.

Spectacular Chinese-style roast duck, divinely flavorsome and fatty. The lamb & chicken satay paled in comparison but remained acceptably juicy.

A selection of Aussie ribeye, sirloin & tenderloin, with lamb chops too. Tender and hearty, but with scarce patches of sweaty pink, signaling that our order for medium-rare had emerged medium instead.

Mojito & Cascadia Paradise (gin, malibu, pineapple, orange, grenadine).

Chardonnay (Errazuriz, Chile). Wine & cocktails are not included in the buffet price; unfortunately, everything is costly by the glass (RM36++ wines & equally expensive cocktails).

Our other complaint: the buffet only starts at 7 pm. Half an hour earlier would be better.

Cascade,

Mandarin Oriental, Kuala Lumpur.