Samuel Lim
I had dinner at XW Western Grill in Suntec City with my wife before heading off to meet friends at s
I had dinner at XW Western Grill in Suntec City with my wife before heading off to meet friends at Synthesis at Suntec City mall. We were hoping the 4.6-star Google rating would reflect our experience, but unfortunately, things didn’t live up to expectations. We strolled in on a Saturday around 4:30 pm, only to find the restaurant nearly empty. It took around 10 minutes before we were seated—and I only spotted one staff member seating guests and perhaps another serving mains. Not exactly the lively welcome one would hope for. Our first red flag was the free-flow salad bar, which was mostly empty when we arrived. It took 15–20 minutes for it to be restocked. We decided to order steak and fish & chips. The steak was reasonable, nothing special but serviceable. The fish & chips, however, fell below average. As dinner hour approached and the place filled up, the strain on staff became evident. I asked for salt and pepper for my steak—they never came. I’m not even sure they understood the request, but regardless, nothing ever appeared. Reading through online reviews, it seems we weren’t the only ones who’ve observed that staff are often over-stretched and short-handed. Summary: Ambience & Service: Quiet early, slow seating, and clearly understaffed during peak hours. Food: Steak is decent, fish & chips disappoints, and salad bar was initially underfilled. Value: Good for budget diners who want cheap mains and salad bar access. If you're okay with basic Western fare and want the salad bar experience on a tight budget, this might suit you. Otherwise, for better quality and service, I'd recommend places like Aston’s Steak & Salad, which offers a more reliable menu, friendlier service, and a richer salad bar overall.