Manila group offers biggest buffet in town

FOUR years after opening its first premier, luxury buffet restaurant near Seaside Boulevard in Pasay, Manila-based Mega Resto Group, Inc. has decided to branch out to Cebu.

Buffet 101 Cebu, located in City Times Square, Mandaue City, is the first of its kind in the Visayas and Mindanao region, said business partner Robert Chua.

It is the biggest and has the largest buffet table, at 145 meters, in the Philippines. Other Buffet 101 outlets are located at Seaside Boulevard, Eastwood Mall in Libis, Robinsons Magnolia in Quezon City, and Glorietta 2 in Makati City.

“This is a hotel-setting buffet concept,” Chua said, citing its high ceilings, marble flooring, and elegant layout.

“The group felt that it was time to expand to the southern part of the Philippines,” he added.

According to Chua, feedback from customers so far has been positive. Lunch is priced at P599 per head while dinner costs P799 per head. On top of this is a 5 percent service charge.

“I think economically, Cebu is matured enough to accept the price range we are offering. If you check out other restaurants, this is a very affordable one,” he said.

Over 300 dishes are available, with 5 different cuisine spreads to choose from, namely Japanese, Korean, Filipino, Western and Chinese. A spread of desserts and salad items is also available.

“We cater to the different tastes of people. You can come here as a group and you can choose what you really want,” Chua said.

The executive added that they change the menu every five days, to provide more variety.

Buffet 101 is also the first restaurant to offer free-flowing drinks as part of the buffet. It offers draft beer, wine, coffee, tea and several types of juice.

The group’s mid-market buffet restaurant, Yakimix, is slowly expanding in Cebu. After opening a Yakimix buffet in Escario Central earlier this year, another Yakimix will be opening in SM Seaside City Cebu in February 2016.

“Yakimix and Buffet 101 are at a different price range. Buffet 101 is a little bit more expensive, but the food and atmosphere is also better,” Chua said.