5/5 Lyn G. 2 years ago on Google
If
you're
looking
for
a
memorable
dining
experience,
look
no
farther.
Manila
Hotel's
Café
Ilang
Ilang
offers
an
All-You-Can-Eat
buffet
that's
hard
to
beat.
After
months
of
being
cooped
up
at
home
due
to
strict
lockdowns
and
travel
restrictions,
it
was
indeed
a
pleasure
to
reunite
with
family
and
friends
for
lunch
at
Café
Ilang
Ilang.
The
indoor
restaurant
reopened
last
May
2021,
after
community
quarantine
levels
were
eased
to
Alert
Level
2,
with
dine-in
allowed
for
vaccinated
customers
(18
years
old
and
above),
and
children
17
and
below.
Getting
There:
The
iconic
Manila
Hotel
(opened
in
1912)
is
accessible
via
Roxas
Blvd.,
with
ample
guarded
parking.
Before
entry
into
the
hotel,
you'll
need
to
present
your
vaccination
card
to
the
doorman,
then
proceed
to
the
x-ray,
and
fill
out
the
contact
tracing
form.
You'll
have
to
go
through
their
grand
hotel
Lobby
to
access
Café
Ilang
Ilang.
Taking
photos
with
their
towering
Christmas
tree
is
a
must
to
record
your
visit.
At
the
Café's
front
desk,
a
receptionist
will
take
your
reservation
name,
and
escort
you
to
your
table.
Gastronomy:
There
will
be
plenty
of
delicious,
healthy
and
fresh
food
selection
among
the
8
food
stations,
that
include
Asian,
Mediterranean,
European
and
Western
dishes.
All
stations
now
have
partitions,
and
you
order
from
or
point
at
the
food
you
want
from
the
chefs/food
servers,
and
get
the
plate/bowl
from
an
opening
on
the
partition
or
on
the
side.
This
is
unlike
the
type
of
buffet
where
you
take
food
by
yourself.
These
partitions
are
for
hygiene
and
health
purposes.
It's
challenging
for
the
chefs
to
hear
our
orders
because
of
the
partition
and
our
face
masks, so
we
used
our
hands
and
sign
language
to
make
ourselves
understood.
The
food
stations
and
tables
are
spaced
apart
and
at
specific
locations
to
prevent
congestion.
A
bar
for
drinks
will
be
the
first
you'll
notice
upon
entry
at
the
restaurant.
Next
the
pizza
station.
There
are
a
selection
of
Filipino
favorites
like
Lechon.
I
queued
up
for
their
extensive
array
of
Japanese
dishes
including
Sushi,
Salmon,
Maki,
Tempura,
noodles,
etc.
I
like
their
authentic
Samosa,
curried
vegetables
and
shrimps
from
their
Halal
food
selection.
The
Korean
soup
with
seaweed
and
mussels,
their
prawns,
steak
and
Halo
Halo
were
some
of
my
favorites.
The
kids
enjoyed
the
wide
variety
of
desserts,
cold
cuts
and
salads.
As
an
added
treat,
birthday
celebrants
are
serenaded
by
restaurant
staff,
complete
with
cake
blowing
at
the
end
of
the
meal.
Additional
Notes:
Make
your
reservation
in
advance,
due
to
the
limited
seating
capacity
and
the
Café's
popularity.
Some
of
the
reasons
it
is
popular
are
the
wide
selection
of
delicious
local
and
international
cuisine,
the
cosy
and
safe
ambience,
the
health
protocols
that
they
adhere
to,
the
discounts
(BDO
and
senior
citizens)
and
promos
they
offer,
and
their
highly
efficient
service.
They
boast
of
sanitizing
the
premises
using
UV
light,
air
filters,
with
all
their
serving
staff
fully
vaccinated.
The
atmosphere
inside
the
restaurant
may
be
a
little
confusing
to
navigate
between
your
table
and
the
food
stations.
But
there
are
friendly
hosts
and
staff
who
can
guide
you,
they
also
go
around
collecting
empty
plates,
taking
requests,
and
reminding
diners
(who
are
walking
around)
to
wear
face
masks.
One
suggestion
is
for
them
to
open
a
Mexican
food
station,
highlighting
the
cultural
and
historical
ties
between
our
two
nations.
With
Tacos,
Tortillas,
Nachos,
etc.,
these
would
have
added
a
more
festive
ambience
to
the
restaurant.
Now
that
I've
enjoyed
the
delicious
and
wide
selection
of
food
at
Café
Ilang
Ilang,
with
its
safe
and
clean
ambience,
and
efficient
services,
I
can
say
that
it
is
highly
recommended
for
a
cosy
twosome,
a
family
gathering
or
a
group
dining
experience.
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