No, this is not another one of the many steamboat restaurants. Known better for their ChongQing hotpot, steamboat done Sze Chuan style, The Chinese Feasts packs together a premium package of Sze Chuan specialties with delectable dishes of dim sum to munch on in between main dishes. Being the first to bring “hotpot cuisine” into Singapore since 1993, they have stayed true to their Sze Chuan origin and never looked back since.

• The Vibe
  Located along the basement area of Suntec City, patrons get a good view of the majestic Fountain of Wealth, especially when dining near the restaurant's entrance. Seating arrangement is simple and practical – there is enough space for staff to hurry around with large pots of soup and dishes without the danger of bumping into guests. What is even more outstanding are the life-size displays of traditional Chinese masks hung on the sides of walls, breathing the quiet grandeur of Chinese culture.

• The Food
  Food is served in an ala carte buffet style from an extensive menu. Of course, soup bases come in both spicy chilli as well as chicken stock broth, so that patrons enjoy the best of both worlds. Prices are at an affordable $17.90 for weekdays lunch (excluding Friday) and $27.90 for weekdays dinner. Weekend lunches are $19.90 whilst their dinners are at $28.90 per person.

  Food quality matches up to the pricings on the menu. Dig into thin slices of beef dipped briefly into boiling soup and enjoy the tenderness of meat upon first bite. Seafood like fish slices and prawns are served fresh and succulent, it is easy to tell apart their better quality compared to steamboat served elsewhere. More unique dishes include the restaurant's popular fish paste, bearing a similar taste to fish yet exhibiting a soft, chewy texture. Of course, ChongQing hotpot's magic lies in the mixture of their must-try sauces – patrons mix four different sauces: sesame seed base, sesame oil, sweet chilli as well as garlic altogether to enhance the taste of food as well as ease the spiciness of chilli soup base.

  There are also other chef's specialties available ala carte or featured lunch sets, like the Merlion Fried Rice ($15, serves 4), a local signature dish coined by the restaurant. Singapore , more affectionately termed “Fried Rice Paradise”, is truly distinguished in light and flavourful dish with ingredients suitable for consumption by all races. And if one cannot have enough of the naturally sweet chicken broth from steamboat, do order a bowl of Dumpling Soup served with large and substantial dumplings in a milky yet refreshing soup stock. Look forward to servings of dim sum in between one's steamboat meal to freshen the palate, for these are handmade by kitchen staff and taste as good as they look.

• The Service
  Professional in their services and prompt in servings of food, the restaurant staff is hardly a cause for worry for customers who are concerned about going hungry, although a full house might require a little wait. Nevertheless, the experienced team at The Chinese Feasts has it all in their hands when it comes to handling a full house worth of guests, something they are probably used to every weekend.

The SD Food Advisor's take on The Chinese Feasts
The Chinese Feasts appeals to all generations through simple and unpretentious hotpot cuisine. Whilst the older generation may delight in the abundance of food and traditional Sze Chuan style cooking, hotpot cuisine is also the healthy way to go. With free-flow 8-Treasures Tea to soothe the throat and freshen one up, ChongQing hotpot is definitely worth a visit for good quality ingredients and fresh soup broth. The restaurant's convenient location at Suntec makes it all the easier to visit, although reservations are highly recommended.