The Sunday Bucket at Madison’s is a hands-on brunch worth getting messy for

Singapore’s Sunday brunch game is strong, but let’s be real — it can get pricey. Luckily, there’s a new contender that proves you don’t have to splurge for a spectacular weekend feast.

Enter The Sunday Bucket at Madison’s, an all-day dining spot at Pullman Singapore Hill Street that channels the vibrant spirit of a New York City deli.

Starting Aug 17, every Sunday, from 12.30pm to 3.30pm, Madison’s is turning up the volume on brunch with a bold, Southern-style seafood boil — featuring a bucket (weighing 1.2 kg for two diners, including sides) overflowing with tiger prawns, baby crayfish, clams, lobster, quail eggs, enoki mushrooms, and more, all dramatically poured tableside.

At just S$58 for two and S$98 — yes, the affordability made our jaws drop, too — for four, diners can dig into this finger-licking spread. It’s messy, communal, and made for snapping, savouring, and soaking up the weekend vibes.

A mouth-watering feast awaits

This indulgent feast comes with a choice of two sauces to pair with your seafood boil: A fiery mala chilli oil with dry spice, or a rich lemon-garlic cheese sauce finished with herb crumbs.

To complement the seafood spread, each order includes five hearty sides. But before you roll up your sleeves, you’ll want to lock in your drink of choice.

For those keen on a boozy brunch, Madison’s offers not one, but two two-hour free-flow packages to keep spirits high.

From S$55 per person, the prosecco package pours out bubblies such as Prosecco Brut Treviso and San Martino, while the S$68 champagne package keeps the flutes filled with premium fizz.

Both packages also include house wines, beer, and a line-up of Southern-style cocktails.

Once the glasses are clinking, it’s time to dig in. We started with the truffle mac & cheese — a dependable side that thankfully wasn’t too rich. While some might crave the full creamy hit, this version offered a more balanced bite, letting the seafood remain the centre of attention.

The French fries with sambal aioli were another standout. It may sound like a basic side, but their crispness held up impressively well against the saucy seafood — no limp, soggy fries here. That sambal aioli? So good, we asked for the leftovers to be taken home.

The consolation award will go to the soft scrambled eggs, for its bouncy texture that’s perfect for ladling some extra sauce on top.

Then came the main event: The Sunday Bucket, doused in lemon-garlic cheese sauce. It’s an unapologetically messy, full-flavoured affair, and the accompanying grilled focaccia is perfect for mopping up any leftover sauce.

The lobster, of course, is the jewel in the crown — easy to tackle with the provided tools, and particularly satisfying when double-dipped in both the lemon-garlic cheese sauce and sambal aioli.

The baby crayfish, though fiddly, were a fun treat — subtly sweet and less common on local brunch tables. Meanwhile, the tiger prawns offered a meaty, satisfying bite, rounding out the generous selection.

Just when we thought we couldn’t eat another bite, dessert arrived to prove us wrong. The Merlion Flame — an ice cream cake-meets-baked Alaska creation — sees pandan coconut gelato and nata de coco sandwiched between sponge layers, all encased in meringue and flambeed tableside with dark rum.

Despite its dramatic presentation, it’s surprisingly light, with bright citrusy notes and a denser-than-usual sponge layer (thanks to the infusion of nata de coco). We thought we’d have trouble sharing it amongst the two of us… then promptly polished it off completely.

A meal worth rolling up your sleeves for

It’s not every day a brunch manages to hit this many notes: Playful, satisfying, generously portioned, and surprisingly affordable.

With its prime location, bold flavours, and tableside theatrics, The Sunday Bucket might just be the most fun you’ll have at Sunday brunch — no cutlery required.

For more ideas on what to eat, read our story on MasterChef S4 winner’s restaurant, Meh’r by Inderpal and our guide on which cafes to spend your CDC vouchers.