third review: july 2018 - 4/5
the manila hotel has been our top of mind choice in celebrating special occasions, since my sister's father-in-law works there. (support your own!) for my sister's 31st birthday, her in-laws decided to treat us to a sunday lunch buffet a day before her actual day. 💖
when we got there, the entire café ilang ilang was jampacked! it so happened that they had an ongoing promo for bdo credit card holders, which gives the diners around 40% off the per head price. worth it, if you ask me! 👌
as always, i headed straight for their japanese food area, and hoarded their salmon sashimi! they also have a variety of other sushi rolls, plus tempura and other fried japanese favorites. i'm delighted that their sashimi are all super fresh! ✨ the japanese corner is my favorite buffet restaurant corner of all time.
next, i had some east meets west favorites like a usda steak (look at those sexy grill marks! hngggh), soft shelled crab that is super tasty, an eggs benedict (wished it was still warm, but the flowy yolk of the poached egg made me fall head over heels for this!), some huge baked mussels, and a comforting chopsuey to make up for all the oily food i got. 😁 their roast beef carving station is a must visit too!
i really am not a big fan of buffets, as i feel like i cannot eat that much to match the price of the meal. 😅 on my third round, i goy some korean food like kimchi, kimbap, and other veggies. i also dropped by the dimsum station for some dumplings. of course, i couldn't resist and got more salmon sashimi. 😁💖
for dessert, they have a whole range of fruits, from the usual fruits like watermelon and honeydew, to more special fruits like dragonfruit and grapefruit. name it, and they've got it! 😉 they also have lots of pastries to choose from, and i especially liked the chocolate mousse thingy, which had three different layers, and was super rich and yummy! 😋 i also loved the pralines, so much so that i had 5 pieces. hahaha. they also take pride on their ice cream station, where i got myself two scoops of creamy goodness -- in green tea and strawberry! 🍧
for a buffet restaurant, i can say that cafe ilang ilang does not compromise the quality of their food, and ensures that all your food cravings are taken care of. which is why i'll leave you with this: the food coma was sooo worth it! 😁
#eatdrinksplurge
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second review: april 2018 - 3/5
since we stayed for two nights at the manila hotel when my sister got married, i also got to eat at their breakfast buffet twice. each room reservation typically has breakfast buffet for two already, and when you need the breakfast for more people, it will be for an additional fee of php 1500 nett.
both days had similar breakfast spreads: with the usual american and filipino breakfast favorites, lots of breads and pastries, milk and cereals, some chinese dimsum items, a couple of halal dishes, and some other cuisines. honestly, i found the dishes from the two mornings to be just okay. 😐 there was actually nothing special with the food, and the selection was not that much as well. to be honest, i wasn't able to eat that much too, as i am not much of a morning person. if there is something i loved about their breakfast buffet though, it's their yogurt!!!!! they had these 3 cows (where can i buy this???) flavored yogurt cups in different flavors -- and each spoonful was heavenly! 💕💕💕 i had blueberry cheesecake (?) on the first day, and mango sago on the second. both were really good! i wish i can buy them elsewhere. 😊
the service was not as good as i have experienced on lunch / dinner buffets, especially on the second day when we weren't served water or coffee. 😣 they weren't as courteous, too.
ambiance was more chill during breakfast time, with the people moving about but not as fast paced as when it's lunch or dinner time. the general feel of the dining hall is quite relaxing, too. 😊
i'd probably skip paying php 1500 a meal next time for their breakfast buffet, and will just order from their in-room dining menu instead, where you can already get heavy breakfast platter for less than php 1,000. 😉
#eatdrinksplurge
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first review: december 2017 - 5/5
our family and my sister's fiancée's family had our christmas eve dinner at cafe ilang ilang this year. to be honest, i am not really a big fan of buffet restaurants, as i feel like it doesn't really have good value for money... but i was wiling to give this a try as my sister had been raving about manila hotel's buffet restaurant for quite a while.
it was not a surprise when we walked into a restaurant full of hungry people celebrating with their families and friends, enjoying the bountiful food choices in the hall. as i went around, i easily understood why people kept coming back to this place.
food ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
there is indeed a wide selection of food here. the stations are scattered around the area, which makes first timers like me confused and lost... however, once you get to taste the food, it's all worth it! 😍 unlike most commercial buffet restaurants in the metro, the quality of the food is top-notch. i loved their japanese station, which features a lot of different rolls, sashimi, and other japanese favorites. 🍣🍤 i also enjoyed the chinese station, because come on, who doesn't love chinese food? these dishes probably came from red jade (formerly mabuhay palace). the carving station had a couple of options to choose from too, including lamb chops -- i am not a fan though! 😣 there is also a seafood station where you can have your prawns, crabs, and other seafoods cooked. other stations consist of italian, korean, filipino, among others. i also admired this restaurant's inclusiveness, as it has an area for halal food. awesome, right? and of course, as there is always room for dessert, the have this huge area for desserts! it houses various sweet treats, such as: fresh fruits, mousses and tarts, cakes, filipino favorites like halo-halo and kakanin, and their gelato station! 😍 i had biscotini and strawberry yogurt. yummy!
service ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
the service was great! despite the influx of people, and their busyness due to the season, they were all smiles as they served food, bussed out plates, refilled our water, and assist the guests in any way they can. two thumbs up for the staff of cafe ilang ilang! 👍👍
ambiance ⭐⭐⭐⭐
cafe ilang ilang is fully carpeted, and has a homey feel to it. the scattered stations make it less overwhelming for the diners, as they can visit one station at a time. there are plenty of long tables, perfect for big gatherings.
what a great way to celebrate christmas eve! now i understand why people love to visit this buffet restaurant for all types of occasions. the vast selection of food from all over the world, warm and genuine smiles from the staff, and the warm ambiance makes it one of the best hotel buffets i've visited to date. 💜
#eatdrinksplurge