the pantry - dusit thani manila

been looking for a good hotel breakfast for some time now and getting quite disappointed a lot of times already. when we browsed through the spread for our breakfast buffet here at the pantry, initial reaction was that there’s nothing much that’s special about the spread. our expectations were low, so it was a pleasant surprise for us to taste what they have to offer.

everything tasted good. this was one satisfying breakfast. their pinoy beef steak was so so good as with everything else. service was good too.

loved the mang tataho roaming around offering taho.

the place is nice. cozy. staffs are also nice and accomodating.

if you want a peaceful and quiet place to have coffee and think about life, don't go to a coffee shop, instead go to a hotel lobby and have your cup there. i did just that at the pantry at dusit hotel lobby. great place to spend an afternoon. strong coffee and is decently priced. once the clock strikes dinner time the place gets a little crowded. will come back here for the buffet next time.

food was good. i ate a lot of first from this restaurant. they served good food with different combinations that i just experienced there. like the adobong manok with manggang hilaw. i never knew that green mangoes can be paired with chicken. i was amazed with their cuisine. it was a good eat for me.

place was ok. it was big and crowded. i feel that tables were placed way too close with each other. maybe because it's a buffet place as well. i love the chairs though, comfy and all.

servers were kinda slow. they don't have that plenty of customers within the area and i see lots of them busy with other works. we had to call out just to be attended to. but aside from that they were kind and courteous.

visited the pantry when i accompanied my mom to an event.

we're ushered immediately to a very cozy seat and given the menu. i waa curious of the bread and pastries area so i checked it out and settled for a ham & cheese croissant and espresso for merienda.

i enjoyed the short but sweet experience. the taste of the bread waa good, bread was fresh and heated accordingly. i also ordered latte to go with my bread. the latte was not that hot when it was served, and did not bother to ask it to be reheated since i was in a hurry.

never have i been a fan of desserts in buffets until now. typically, i would get disappointed, but the pantry actually delivered. their cheese selection, roasted beef short ribs and lechon are really worth the seconds. sadly, people are missing out on the yummy fish palak and the paneer tandoori; they're almost untouched!

buffet quality 4.5

they have a good variety of dishes but what i like most is the quality. the selection may not be as extensive as the others, but almost everything was worth paying as ala carte serving. lechon had a surprisingly delicate flavor, altho twasnt as crunchy as i would like it to be but i devoured it just the same. enjoyed the popular indian dishes like butter chicken. the prawns tho were overcooked. pizza tasted great with its thin crust. ramen was so amazing, with the broth and stringy noodles as if it came from a ramen house. all the desserts are sinfully delicious! the fresh fruits are divine. three types of juices are included which is a plus.

place 5

interiors are classy and well-appointed, but not intimidating.

service 4.5

attentive servers and very accommodating.

price 5

excellent deal for 50% off.

comments
worth revisiting

coffee and dessert
we had the banana turon and the ice cream that came with it was like chocnut ice cream! yummy dessert ❤ their coffee was good too. we had cafe latte and americano. 👍 ambience homey and relaxing. like it a lot! 😊

decided to have the family celebrate hubby’s birthday here and it was an excellent decision. the ambience is very homey and all the staff are good-natured. food is tasty and there is a wide variety even on a weekday.

disclaimer: i ate here during their breakfast buffet schedule, not during the lunch or dinner buffet.

while they had a lot of choices, i do not find most of them appetizing or special to begin with. i'll just talk about some of the highlights of my experience here.

the eggs benedict was good. the bread was toasted to crunch, egg was poached perfectly and the hollandaise sauce was well-balanced; it was neither too thick nor too watery. taste of the sauce was also fine, not too buttery or anything.

the chicken sausage was tasty and delicious. it goes well with the eggs benedict. their siomai was also good, the flavor of the pork meat and the spices was evident; plus it was meatily delicious. 

their chicken wings (peek gai tord nam pla) was great! it was crunchy all throughout. the meat was seasoned perfectly with salt and pepper; plus it was well-balanced. best with the plain rice it is paired. their danggit was also good; it was crunchy and salty, adept for the filipino taste.

they also have a guy who goes around serving taho. it was nothing special, but it was a cool thing to do. they also have champorado which is served with tuyo, so that pair is also one thing to try.

they had a lot of pastries. sadly, i'm not a huge fan of them, but i'd suggest you try them, since they seem to be one of their forte.

finally, tried the pantry's saturday lunch buffet. staff / service was amazing, i compliment all of them. from the front desk to our waiters, aljoann and eldito, very attentive and continuously ready to serve. we told their manager lester of our praises to the waiters and he was equally warm and friendly. we concluded they received good training from him.

we especially enjoyed (even went back to the ramen station).. i believe a favorite. there were filipino dishes -lechon, crispy pata and indian dishes. loved their pasta (baked mac and cheese - gourmet-style) and pizza. dessert -chocolate cake, ice cream was a nice closing. had a good experience at the pantry.

celebrated my birthday here together with my friends and i highly recommend this place to all buffet lovers. they offer a wide variety of food selection and also the service and staff were all well trained and very accommodating to your needs. food ingredients were not cheap and very generous in giving to their customers.

the food tasted good! enough choices for a breakfast buffet. the bad thing was the floor near the buffet area where we’re seated was slippery. 2persons slipped in front of us while we’re eating which made us feel worried and bothered during our breakfast.

3.5 stars ⭐️ lunch. limited selection especially on the japanese section (no sahimi, tempura). seafood section has crabs, clams, shrimps cooked according to your liking.
the lechon was good. tender meat, crispy skin. this was the star of the buffet. carving section is only offers beef brisket. chinese section is more extensive (dimsum, hot dishes, char siu, soy chicken, peking duck wrapped in lettuce, diy soup section). desserts has nice selection of ice cream (mango sorbet, matcha, avocado, strawberry, salted caramel, pistacchio, etc...) halo halo section, churros, native delicacies, cakes, pastries. juices, iced tea are included in the rate as well as coffee & tea. i wish they can at least improve their japanese section. italian section have pizza selections, cold cuts, assorted cheese, make your own pasta)

good food and very cozy resto. i really enjoyed eating there. they have a lot of food to choose from, and their food is warm. the waiters are also courteous. filipino culture is evident. i enjoyed their lunch buffet on a saturday.