we discovered this chill-out buffet at the top of antipolo through friends' recommendations. usually, mas pinupuntahan natin yung mgafoodplaces that we saw from an article, which are usually overhyped. but this one lets their customers be their advertisements which is a sign that they serve quality food. besides from getting a happy tummy, crescent moon cafe will take you out of the city with their laid back kind of interiors. they also sell adorable pottery that you may want to take a look at.
detailed review:
reservation basis sya and you have to reserve at least days before. i reserved through email and i liked how they responded fast. we booked the lunch buffet (12-2pm) that costs p550 per person, a usual mid range buffet price. it is very easy to get there, pero we still got lost. haha. we didn't search the address and the only thing we know is the name of the cafe. good thing na my mom had many friends na nakapunta na so we're able to get help from them.
the place feels exclusive and homy. parang it feels like one of those rustic-ranchy-probinysa-like restos na makikita mo sa tagaytay. having said that, ok sana kung ma update yung interiors. it feels old, but like pinaglipasan kind of old and not antique kind of old. the cafe is also a big place (relative to otherfoodplaces in the metro) and has so much potential. incorporating more elements to add to their beautiful pond (which was lovely btw) will really enhance customer experience. it can also get a little bit hot (during lunch), especially when trying to roam around the place. but maybe it's just me since pawisin ako.
mabait ang mga servers. they were kind enough to take our pictures and were very polite to answer some of our questions. i really appreciate it and this kind of service is a big factor that will make me want to go back.
thefoodwas great. they had 3 mains and another 3 sides. it might be a deal-breaker to some especially for those buffet lovers. but despite the small choices of food, the quality compensates the lack of variety.
the pumpkin soup (their staple starter), was a nice first impression. at first, akala ko it was just a plain pumpkin soup, but it actually has slices of buko inside. this is something i have never eaten before. the combination might sound odd to some but they jived really well.
another staple to their menu is their own version of spring roll, the alagaw salad. i'm not a veggie person and definitely not a fan of spring rolls, but the alagaw salad's genius! i love it! among all the things they offered, it's the most foreign (to me) and most 'innovative'. i don't want to describe how it tastes like because i want you to try it yourself. for a person that doesn't love eating vegetables, this is an a+ for me.
they served 3 mains and one cooked veggie meal. this selection varies from day to day, which is a good thing since you get to eat new dishes every time you visit. during our visit, they served beef in curry sauce, grilled salmon and sweet and spicy shrimp (not sure with the names). i both loved the beef and the salmon where they both had it's own twists where it doesn't taste like the usual ones (both tasted healthier). the shrimp was ok for me (i have very high standards for shrimps).
lastly, they served suman with mangga for dessert. i don't want to overhype this one, but this is probably the best tasting suman i ever had. i'm not a kakanin expert, but this one was really good. nag order pa kami for another 24 pieces to take home. the combination of the suman and the mangga was an experience! masarap talaga. di na kailangan lagyan ng asukal yung suman since it's sweet na on it's own. together with the alagaw salad, they were the king and the queen of the cafe.
end note
it would have been better if it were p100 cheaper. it would have been a really great deal. but still, i will still go back to this buffet cafe. it's a good place to relax and eat a lot without feeling guilty. you, with your family or friends, will definitely enjoy the goodfoodand good company.