The Courtyard by Marriott Setia Alam opened in December 2022 and still sparkles amid booming condos and offices. I was here for the Christmas dinner buffet preview at 5 Wells, and from ambiance to chocolate cake pops, it delivered.
Whilst the lobby welcomed me with gentle soft pastels, the 5 Wells restaurant is airy and lively with bright orange and green chairs popping against floor-to-ceiling windows, a perfect backdrop for a holiday spread.
Food at 5 Wells
Appetisers kicked things off with a serious seafood station – chilled prawns, crabs, and mussels so fresh they tasted ocean-kissed. Nearby – a sugary marinated fresh salmon gravlax station: beetroot-black pepper, orange-lemon, coffee-chili infusions reimagining Scandinavian tradition. A tidy beautifully presented classic terrine and cold platter beckoned me, but I was already eyeing the mains.
The carving station at 5 Wells was the star. The New Zealand braised beef was flavourful although a touch chewy. But the oven-roasted orange brined local turkey? Soft, juicy, and perfectly seasoned. And the rosemary-crusted Australian lamb leg? Fall-apart tender with a crispy, herby crust. Paired with roasted baby potatoes, almond-flecked French beans, Brussels sprouts, and silky cauliflower gratin, it was pure comfort on a plate.
A pasta corner let you customise your own and you could toss your Caesar salad on a Parmesan Wheel. There were international touches – Mexican street corn nachos, a rich seafood gumbo, French seared salmon, Swedish Hasselback potato with orange cheddar and a Mediterranean stuffed apricot-pistachio chicken roulade in Tarragon sauce just to mention a few. Plenty of vegetarian options too.
The local section was predictably delicious. There was the Noodle Station serving steaming Curry Laksa, Tom Yum and Cantonese noodles where I lost my husband, and a choice of tasty local standards such as fragrant Nasi Biryani, beef curry and an Ayam Sambal Bawang that had just the right kick.
I skipped the cheese (sorry, brie) and, like a 5 year old, went full dessert mode. The spread was impressive: eclairs, orange trifle, pumpkin pie, chocolate orange tart, Yule log, mince pies – a proper Christmas line up. I tried the warm bread and butter pudding with vanilla sauce and a fudgy chocolate brownie. Yummy but the chocolate cake pops? Sorcery. Crisp shell, molten centre, just the right cocoa punch. I may have had three…
Service was efficient and warm. Chefs were out and about, clearly proud of their work, chatting with guests, tweaking dishes, and beaming at praise.
The 5 Wells Christmas Buffet Dinner is polished and generous. At RM128++ (early bird rate), it’s a steal for this quality and variety. Setia Alam’s rising, and this buffet just put it on the foodie map. Worth the drive – and the stretchy pants. And a cake pop.
We were invited by Courtyard by Marriott Setia Alam. As always, our opinions are honest and our own.
