flavors restaurant - holiday inn & suites makati

did you know that this establishment cancelled our group's reservation last december 16, 2016? we booked in advance but they decided to scrap it. wow flavors, just wow! (slow clap)


ps: somone's been deleting our bad reviews about this restaurant. i posted my review 3 hours ago and i couldn't find it here.  i will repost this over and over again. mapagod na tayong pare-pareho kakapost-delete-post-delete.

holiday inn makati's flavors restaurant discriminates people.

holiday inn makati's flavors restaurant -- the most unprofessional food place ever -- suddenly cancelled our buffet reservation. this happened despite our company making a reservation a month earlier to avoid the hassles of finding a restaurant this holiday season. they cancelled the day before our christmas party, which is december 16.

their reason? a bigger company (probably one of their "vips") made a reservation at the last minute and the restaurant obliged. in short, not everyone is important for flavors' management. reservations mean nothing for flavors.

to offset our hassle, they offered to transfer us to their bar and promised to slash 50% off the total bill. a bar for our christmas party dinner. not good enough.

because of flavors' discrimination, i will make it my personal crusade to remind people every year to think twice about holding a party at flavors. they don't care about your time and satisfaction. flavors will suck buttholes for the right price.

good job, flavors management. such professionalism. much wow.

disgusting.

i tried both the lunch and dinner buffet here.  the dining area is spacious and classy. it gets packed on weeknights. you can book a room if you are with a large group. they usually tie up with credit card companies so you might want to check your cc company's offerings. the food served during lunch and dinner were almost the same, good thing i dined 3 months apart. they offer filipino, asian, european and american dishes. you can check marc muñasque's list of the food choices here. i was overwhelmed by the dessert bar. everything looks good and exciting! i can't review each food i ate because i filled up so fast and everything tasted good. their selection must be 1/4 of vikings but priced twice  so i really wouldn't go back unless there's another half-price promo from my credit card co.

ah finally am reviewing this place where i have dined almost everyday while my 2 month stay at philippines. the staffs are too much accommodating. the live bar always kept my request be it some special preparation of sandwich or a soup.
i can say flavours is the reason for my 20kg weight gain. haha. jokes apart. the food they use to prepare are too delicious be it chinese or pinoy preparation. sometimes i used to find some indian dishes too which reminded me of my motherland. the dessert section worth some extra mention as it was place where i used to spend most of the time.

breakfast is not my thing. i hate waking up early but today made an effort because of an appointment. i joined a friend for buffet breakfast at flavors.

the restaurant itself is not that big, hence making it looked really packed on a busy morning. the interior design followed the modern theme that was evident throughout the entire hotel. the staffs were uber friendly and embodies true filipino hospitality.

the buffet selection was not as varied as in other big hotels in the cbd but sufficient enough. there was something on offer for each individual preference. three items that immediately caught my attention - crispy bacon (pork), tocino (filipino ham) and taho (silken tofu with tapioca pearls and brown sugar syrup).

taho is something everyone from the philippines grew up with. just yesterday morning, a guy carrying big tin cans filled with silken tofu, pearls and the syrup passed by my house as i was leaving. i didn't have time to buy a cup so i was glad to see it on offer in the buffet this morning. in fact, this was the first time i saw it part of a buffet in manila and it was quite refreshing. i had taho to start with. it had a nice silky texture, the pearls were chewy and the syrup not too sweet (as the ones available on the streets). perhaps it was a healthier version. i was used to the sweeter version but i liked this nonetheless.

i then had garlic fried rice, bacon strips, tocino and sausage. the fried rice was prepared the same way we do at home - full of garlic. the sausage was good. the herbs and pepper taste came out really well. the bacon was crispy yet with moisture and flavour still locked in. this was what i've been missing in dubai. the tocino was a bit on the sweeter end but nothing to complain about. it was juicy and just perfect to pair up with the fried rice. i can have this every morning and never get tired of it.

flavors' buffet spread may not be extensive but it offered the dishes i was craving for. i enjoyed every item on my plate. it is simple joys like this that makes early morning rise worthwhile.

had dinner here with my husband and son last sunday. i love the place that it is not crowded, it looks comforting, classy, neat and inviting to have a dinner. the place is not that big but for us it's ok. there were just a few of us having dinner. the staff were accommodating, nice and friendly. food selection is not too many, just the right number. their food is really good and also their coffee! they provided our son a clean and nice-looking chicco high chair, plastic plate and utensils really intended for a child's use! how cool is that! this is the first time that we saw an establishment offering such amenities for kids. i just wish others will also do the same instead of just providing dirty and sometimes worn out high chairs. there's an ice cream cart with manong sorbetero attending it offering 3 flavors of ice cream and ice cream cones. he befriended my son and gave him 1 cone with 3 scoops of ice cream and another empty cone. how sweet! being an active toddler, my son kept running around. one of the staff gave him a coloring book and crayons to keep him busy and it worked! also, he gave my son a little teady bear dressed in shirt and pants with the hotel's logo printed on the shirt. he also played and talked to my son for a little time to make sure he's enjoying and doing fine. i really appreciate the extra mile they showed our son. will definitely go back here!

for one of our christmas lunches, i and my officemates decided to try the buffet at flavors restaurant in holiday inn.

it was just near our office so it was convenient to just walk.

as expected, we were greeted by beautiful christmas decors at the entrance of the resto so it was inevitable that after eating, we had photos taken there.

since the resto is inside a hotel, we didn't expect it to be that big. we were seated at a long table and after settling down, i decided to look around and check what they have to offer.

their dishes is mostly filipino. though there weren't a lot of choices, i can say that we enjoyed the food. they have a salad station, grill station, dessert station, salad station, and of course the entree station.

the price was worth it, especially since we got to enjoy it at 50% discount for using a credit card. :)

my mom gave me a complimentary gift certificate, lunch/dinner for 2 here in flavors. we used it on a dinner time. there are only few people are eating here that's why its not that crowded and noisy. which is i like though.

though their food choices were not that many, i can say that their viands taste delishhhh. but when it comes to desserts, i sort of dont like it at all. i was decieved by the presentation and when i tasted it, it taste really dry... i just dont like the taste. not really for me.

but the staffs are really accomodating and alert too.

we tried this place because citibank credit card had a 50% off the entire menu promo (extended through october 2015). while they do have an a la carte menu, i am reviewing their lunch buffet. so, please be aware that menu selections that i mention below may change.

wins:
- the relaxing ambience--a quiet oasis from the crush of glorietta shoppers outside
- the very attentive service...and friendly (not stuffy), too
- willingness for the cook staff to supplement our experience, such as providing ground peanuts to top their pad thai, or a fried egg and grilled bananas (albeit the wrong kind) to complete a proper arroz a la cubana, both offerings at the buffet
- grilled-to-order mahi-mahi
- thin-crust bacon pizza
- build-your-own tacos or nachos with numerous toppings (including fresh guacamole!)
- their seafood fried rice is comparable to any decent yang chow fried rice
- their beautifully crafted and tasty individual pastries--one of the best i've seen in any buffet--that are thoughtfully placed on individual, easily lifted cardboard bases

could be better:
- drinks are not included except for hot tea and hot coffee (but at least includes variants such as cappuccino)
- the pasta dishes--spaghetti bolognese and pad thai--were too dry
- selection is certainly not as extensive as vikings or dads world buffet, but you are not left wanting nor do you have to deal with the madding crowds at those other spreads
- their wifi was "under maintenance"

other offerings:
- specialized salads such as waldorf and caesar (but curiously with pork)
- two soups: salmon sinigang and pumpkin
- their sizzling plate of the day was chicken broccoli with oyster sauce
- their carving selection was chicken shawarma (prepared in a pita wrap)
- grilled selections were pork bbq sticks, mahi mahi and chicken tandoori
- asian noodle hotpot in a choice of two broths
- fresh fruit and fruit salad
- breads and cheeses
- panna cotta and banoffee-in-a-glass
- chocolate fountain
- halo-halo bar

would i come back? yes.
would i come back even if i had to pay full price? a qualified yes. (i hesitate only because the upscale niu by vikings charges around the same rate for their dinner buffet that not only offers foie gras but also unli cocktails, beer and wine!)

flavors flavors flavors! a great restaurant located in the lobby floor of holiday inn suites makati. i’ve tried the breakfast buffet and lunch, and i just love the selections. especially desserts! nothing like the dessert section of an ordinary buffet. you get to taste test the miniature versions of cakes and pastries they actually sell in their pastry section.

the flavors is a really small buffet place in my opinion. if you are used to heat, seven corners and spiral, this place might let you down. it is more like buffet jr or buffet lite as the choices are not that much.

i had high expectations here simply because my room in this hotel was fabulous. however, i was very disappointed by the selection. the carving station was very small and the pasta they served me was just okay. the only saving grace was their dessert station and even that was small compared to other hotel buffets.

tried it during their steak night friday.  aside from the steak, there were a few good dishes to pick.  for a hefty rate, i was expecting more from their selections and food quality.  not only was it limited but i also found the offering too common or usual.  if only the rest of the buffet was as extensive as their dessert station, i'd give them a better rating.

flavors restaurant is located at holiday inn and suite makati beside glorietta. it offers ala carte meals, buffet for breakfast, lunch and dinner. i have been to this restaurant several times due to the annual office team plannings that were held here since 2013. i have tried both the breakfast and lunch buffet. the food here are okay however the selections are not as many as those found in other buffet places in other hotels. the choices are somehow complete since there are salads, appetizers, few choices of maki, main dishes, rice, fried rice, noodles and desserts.

ambiance:  has that modern asian feel, with classic and modern furniture.  i love being seated at the booth, which can seat up to 4 diners comfortably.

service:  flavors is a buffet service restaurant of holiday inn and suites makati so expect a good and quality service from the staff.  though some of the chefs needed some cheering up, they couldn't manage to gie tghe guests a glimpse and smile at them even while serving.  

food:   first stop is the one closest to the dessert station, good thing i was not tempted to start there.

starting with the salad station.

on a bed of crushed ice are bowls of pre-prepared salad mixes and some other mix-ins on the other side, and all over the table, while on the middle is a bunch of fresh lettuce.

 on the other side are the different types of vinaigrette with a bottle of olive oil to drizzle over your salad if you don't like fatty dressings.

here are what you can find... grilled pumpkin and cucumber...  ham, cheese and corn in cream,  grilled tofu in vinaigrette, chicken and pineapple in light cream sauce... 

move on the neighboring tables are the mini-mediterranean station and the bread table next to it. the following photos are what you can see try at the said station. 

  
i didn't get any bread anymore, but i find the tall bread sticks amusing. 

displayed next to them are these huge bread sculptures.

make a 360 degree round about and you will see the sushi area, with a chef commanding the station never misses a space on the sushi trays.

on the other end of course are the condiments for that perfect sushi meal. 

 on the far end of the room is the carving and grill station. you can also request a chef to make you a plate of your choice of pasta dish or a sandwich with their ham offerings. here are just some of the hot items you can find on that station.

they also have a grilling section.

look at that half-carved roasted turkey looking awfully sad. i know you were waiting for me to try you:)

 feeling cold, maybe you can ask for the chef to whip up a noodle soup customized to your liking.

on the center next to the chef's station is the isle for main dishes. i checked first what they serve for soup. they usually have two options, for now they have butternut squash soup and cream of corn. 

 
for the entree:   beef stew,  grilled pork spareribs ...

i had these chicken jambalaya together with my chosen viand or you can opt to have plain steamed rice.

 lovely lemon chicken is a must!

 beef roast are also tender, juicy and very savory. not on the photo is the pot for roasted mixed veggies.

on a separate set up is for kids (and kids' at heart). a place where kids can choose their own food if they don't like the rest of what are served in the buffet. plastic plates and tongs in cute colors are put together to encourage kids get their own food. 

you will love this station! promise!

 mini pigs in a blanket. bread covered hotdogs.

 chicken pops.

 meat sauce linguini,

 grilled potatoes

 palabok.

 buttered veggies.

and...

what a way to finish a table. this spot totally defines flavors restaurant. laid on the table are gorgeous spices on wooden plates so the diners can have the feel of how unusual spices looks, smells and feel like, though i dare you to taste them.

 and some sweet endings for the heavy yet sumptuous meal. yup, that's their dessert station above. oh so pretty indeed!

overwhelmed?

me too!

i couldn't even describe them all anymore. but what really made my day was the halo-halo station. since i've been craving for it for days already.

like most of buffet meals on hotels, beverages aren't included in the price of the buffet, but the wait staff were so mindful of our glass being empty with cold water. though, a cup of coffee or tea comes with the buffet package.

oh! of course, i would not go from here without telling you my secret!

a regular fee for the buffet is p1,100. 

more photos on my blog...