True to its name, Mezza9 resides on the mezzanine floor of Grand Hyatt Hotel , Singapore , right along the highway of human traffic along Orchard Road . Indecisive diners who want a taste of the world's culinary delight will come to love Mezza9's dining concept – nine different “kitchens” to satisfy diverse taste-buds all at once. The avid shopper takes a break here, friends chat over a cup of freshly-brewed tea, the party-goer settles comfortably for a late lunch. Idle away the Saturday afternoon and join these exclusive individuals.

• The Vibe
  The wooden steps leading up to the entrance of Mezza9 begins the journey into the polished wooden interior of the dining area. Warm lights illuminate tables beneath; their wooden furnishings contrasted against glass walls and aluminium shelves of kitchenware displays. Baskets of fruits placed randomly along serving counters juxtaposed crockery displays lined up along walls of shelves, producing an endearing wave of nostalgia as Mezza9 magically transforms into one's kitchen at home. Designed by internationally acclaimed designer, Super Potato from Japan back in 1998, dark mahogany wooden chairs softened with black cushions quietly nestle themselves into granite-featured panels of walls.

• The Food
  Coined by the managers of Mezza9 since last November, Mezza9 introduces their Saturday high-tea buffet, a new dining concept showcasing an assortment of favourite dishes hand-picked from their nine different “kitchens”. Priced at $35+++ per adult, a variety of cold dishes await the diner, whilst a separate dessert counter beckons with sweet temptation.

  It seemed nearly impossible to pick out highlights of the high-tea buffet considering such quality dishes displayed on the counter are already on the list of favourites. Recommended must-tries include cold prawns, smoked salmon, oysters and fruits topped with Parma ham. With the exception of popular favourites, the menu changes every week to retain that element of surprise for regular visitors to Mezza9, and to further introduce more sensational dishes to discerning palates.

  Toss a few cold prawns on the plate to kick-start the afternoon tea. King prawns of the freshest quality possible deck in rows on a bed of crushed ice. Shelling the prawns may take quite an effort, but the succulent meat that is so carefully encased within makes the extra work a little more worthwhile. Smooth to the tongue and firm on the teeth, subtle prawn flavour fills the mouth upon the first bite, serving to whet one's appetite for more.

  Smoked salmon finely sliced and delicately rolled compliments the cold prawns. Light and finely salted, these strips of salmon unveil themselves as fish meat meets the tongue, spilling forth their tastiness and freshness. Those who love seafood will surely appreciate the large oysters that are pried open on the spot, and garnished with a splice of lemon and drops of Tabasco sauce. Fresh goodness that glides so smoothly down the throat, the oysters that you find in Mezza9 will leave only the slightest trace of its delightful aromas.

  Awaken your senses through Parma ham with melon. Delicate paper-thin slices of smoked ham delicately balanced upon wedges of sweet melon, the mix of salty marinate and sweet melon juice leaves a pleasant savory taste in the mouth. The selection of dishes meticulously prepared by in-house chefs is light on the stomach, ideal for the health-conscious. Free-flow fruit juices become good thirst quenchers with refreshing tinge of healthy goodness.

• The Desserts
  Afternoon tea will not be complete without a visit to the dessert counter. Jars of chocolates neatly stacked on one another, trays of cakes and pastries lined up neatly against each other, bowls of fruits and a standalone chocolate fountain make up the seemingly humble but exquisite selection of sinful delights. Mezza9 believes in quality food, which extends to quality chocolate imported directly from Belgium .

  Warm lush layers of Bread and Butter Pudding doused with vanilla cream had a melt-in-the-mouth texture. The ingredients were just right – it wasn't too creamy, the oven-baked pudding left a crispy crust layer amidst the buttery soft layers underneath. It was pure gastronomical delight to allow the golden-baked crust flake apart and seemingly melt together with warm and smooth pudding layers within the mouth.

  Irregular shaped, waffle thin Chocolate Sticks made from pure chocolate bring across a whole new meaning to “chocolate”. These sticks are unique creations of Executive Sous Chef, Mark A Long: they present pieces of culinary art yet coax the inner child to emerge within chocolate lovers.

  The assortment of cakes and crumbles begin another series of sweet, oven-baked ecstasy. Creamy smooth chocolate cascading down the chocolate fountain coat sticks of marshmallows and strawberries, satisfying even the deepest cocoa craving. However, the strawberries were a little tough on the teeth and biting them proved a little irksome and messy.

• The Service
  Service was excellent at Mezza9. The staff was extremely attentive and sensitive to individual preferences, making the overall dining experience a gratifying one. Friendly and approachable, they were quick to put one at ease upon settling down at the table. Also quick to notice one's need to change plates, replace table napkins and refill drinks, one could nearly feast like a king in cosmopolitan Singapore with such warm and quality service.

SD Food Advisor's take on Mezza9
Mezza9 presents itself as a recommended choice for a quiet afternoon tea with world beats and warm yellow lights for company. Seven uniquely furnished rooms named after their wallpapers (eg. The Teak Room, Silk Room, Washi Room etc) provide excellent choices for private dining. The high-tea buffet was a little limited in variety, showcasing only their more popular dishes, and some may perhaps find the assortment of cold dishes not to their liking. However, Mezza9 promises a larger selection from their ala carte menu from all nine “kitchens” as well as their Sunday Munch. Be prepared to book early for reservations to avoid disappointment on busier days.