We Filipinos love a good buffet, that’s why now there are dining establishments devoted to just that. However, I’ll always be one of those people who just love hotel buffets; there’s something luxurious about them, perhaps the ambiance and setting, and the wide array of fancy food. And who can say no to a delicious Grand Lunch Buffet in a swanky hotel like City Garden Grand Hotel (click here to book your stay)—at practically half the price of what its competitors offer?

The lunch buffet at their Spice Cafe is usually priced P988 net, which is already more affordable than a lot of hotel buffets in the metro, but from now until July 31, they’re even offering a 30% discount, so it’s just P692 net! Located at the 7th floor of City Garden Grand Hotel, the 4-star hotel in Makati (near Century City Mall) from the City Garden Hotels Group, Spice Cafe boasts of a wide, sumptuous breakfast and lunch buffet spread featuring a variety of international favorites conceptualised by Executive Chef Dennis Peralta.

I recently got to try their lunch buffet, available from 11:30AM to 2:30PM daily, and was impressed with the number of stations and dishes on offer in each. They don’t have that many items in their Mains Station, but the amount of filling dishes in the other stations more than made up for it. They have an extensive selection of canapés and desserts, too. A lot of my personal favorites come from their popular stations.

One of the most popular stations is expectedly the Carving Station. I had just a thin slice of juicy steak topped with gravy, but what I really enjoyed was getting a side of Baked Potato and putting as much bacon, sour cream, spring onion, and grated cheese on top of it as I liked. I daresay my creation was delicious, haha.

Carving Station, where I got my baked potato

I also had seconds of their two popular prawn dishes. While I was surveying the buffet spread, I overheard people asking for their “famous prawn” that was really good. I wasn’t sure which one they meant, so I asked for both the Ebi Tempura at the Japanese Station and the Prawn Kataifi by the Italian Station, and loved both. The delicious tempura was served with a sweet dipping sauce; wait for a warm batch so the batter is slightly crisp. The Kataifi, meanwhile, is made of prawn covered in shredded fried potatoes and placed on a bed of sweet and spicy tomato sauce. I enjoyed its texture and bold flavors.

Prawn Kataifi

Another station that had people lining up for orders when I tried the lunch buffet was their Takoyaki Station. The soft, warm, and tasty ball-shaped Japanese snack made of flour-based batter is topped with bonito flakes and nori bits and infused with Japanese mayo and Takoyaki sauce, a mix of banana ketchup and Kikkoman sauce.

Takoyaki

View the gallery below to preview the various buffet stations and a list of dishes usually served in each (dishes circulate and may vary each day). Drinks that go with your buffet feast include Infused Water, Iced Tea (regular and house blend), Brewed Coffee, and Tea. Click the first thumbnail to enlarge the image, see the descriptions, and launch the photo gallery.

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City Garden Grand has more exciting dining offers this year. Browse their Gastronomic Calendar below.

VINO INFINITO – WINE UNLIMITED
Spice Café and Firefly Roofdeck’s wine buffet at P650 net.

COCIDO DE ESPAÑA, August 2015
A monthlong feast with an endless Hispanic Especialle Smorgasbord from Tapas to Antipasti, Soupa, Paella Negra, Chorizo and Albondigas con Salsa de Perejil nightly at Firefly Bar.

MOON CAKE FESTIVAL, September 2015
Delight in eating moon-cake and appreciating the spectacular blessing of the mid-autumn festival, served all month at the Firefly Roofdeck.

TEX MEX OKTOBEER FEST, October 2015
Feast on Jalapeños de Nachos Grande, or perhaps Shrimps New Orleans and Mexicana. The monthlong Cerveza Fiesta – Oktobeer Fest comes with an endless American-Mexican Feast.

YULETIDE SEASON, December 2015
Celebrate with friends and loved ones over a sumptuous Christmas Eve dinner and Christmas lunch buffet at Spice and Firefly Roofdeck.

NEW YEAR COUNTDOWN GALA
Join the grand new year dinner countdown at the 32nd Firefly Roofdeck.

Spice Cafe is located at the 7F of City Garden Grand Hotel, Makati Ave. cor. Kalayaan Ave., Makati City. For reservations, call (02) 888-8181. To book your stay at the hotel via Agoda, click here.

Photos by Trixie Reyna and courtesy of City Garden Grand Hotel