Five hundred pesos are all it takes to savor the world!
Foodies on a shoestring budget can embark on a culinary journey to Eastwood City as it holds the “Amazing A La Carte” buffet featuring Asian, American and Mexican cuisines, among others. For only P499++, the promo seems like a magnet that attracts shoppers, office workers and call-center agents in search of quick, easy, and satisfying meals.
The choices are endless as each of the seven participating restaurants – Shanghai Bistro, Ebisu, Heaven ‘N Eggs, Seafood Island, Agave, Serye and Somethin’ Fishy – has churned out a special buffet menu taken from their main offerings.
Diners may order and consume as many food items on the list as they can. Well, it’s easy to get lost in a sea of dishes so study your options first before ordering. Better yet, ask the wait staff for the house specialties to get your money’s worth. Remember, you will be charged an additional P499 for leftovers.
“With a la carte buffet, diners need not line up to get food. The waiters are on hand to take their orders. Plus, they’re assured that the dishes are served hot and fresh,” explains Rommel Orbigo, Megaworld’s VP for marketing and communications.
Megaworld is the company behind Eastwood and other leading real estate developments in the country such as McKinley Hill at The Fort. It’s also into condominium development and mall operations.
Shanghai Bistro’s 31-selection buffet spread is a comprehensible introduction to basic Chinese cuisine. It gives patrons an opportunity to munch, nibble and sample the perfect blend of sweet, spicy and salty flavors of Cantonese dishes such as the Hong Kong-style fish fillet in XO sauce, beef cake with black pepper sauce, curry pork fried rice, sweet and sour pork belly, among others. The roasted pork belly is a must-try. This tender, juicy meat is seasoned with salt and pepper then baked to perfection. Its simple taste goes well with a cup of either minced beef fried rice, curry pork fried rice, BBQ pork fried rice, or fried rice with shredded chicken.
Yakiniku or grilled meat is the specialty of Ebisu Grill, Inc. Located at the second floor of Eastwood Citywalk 2, the Japanese resto offers several types of prepared raw ingredients (bite-sized pork, beef, chicken, and veggies) that the diners can grill right on their table.
The yakiniku selections featured on the a la carte buffet are a steal. Diners can feast on as many meat slices as they want for only P499. The regular price of, say, the short ribs yakiniku is already P290 per order. You’ll get your money’s worth on your next serving. Plus, you get to try other delectable Japanese treats on the menu as well. We just couldn’t take our chopsticks off the Ebisu roll filled with scallops and shiitake mushrooms drizzled with sesame cream sauce, and the deep-fried salmon with cheese sushi.
For a taste of heaven, check out Heaven ‘N Eggs. This all-day dining and café restaurant tempts food aficionados with over 45 buffet dishes to choose from. The flavor-packed and tender minute steak and Manila spare ribs are sure hits.
Known for its American-size serving, the buffet meals now come in small portions to give diners enough room to try other dishes. However, customers can order their fave food over and over again. The Manila spare ribs are so good it got the repeat order treatment. Don’t leave the place without a sinful bite of the dulce de leche pancake.
Seafood lovers can choose between Blackbeard’s Seafood Island and Somethin’ Fishy. Named after Blackbeard or Edward Teach, the most notorious pirate in the history of seafaring, the restaurant serves the fresh catch of the day based on the diner’s preference. It can be grilled, steamed, pan-fried, marinated or roasted.
Seafood kare-kare, a winning combination of fresh prawns, squid slices, mussels and chunks of fish with a medley of vegetables in a thick peanut butter broth, was so good that it made the must-order list for a second visit. The mixed seafood in coco adobo, another specialty of Seafood Island, boasts layers of flavor that linger.
True to its tradition of specializing in buffet dining, Somethin’ Fishy (a member of the Kamayan group) whips up a feast of marine bounty – from crispy tuna tail to inihaw na pusit, inihaw na tuna belly, among others.
Those craving for homecooked Filipino meals are in for a gastronomic treat at Serye, a sister restaurant of Aristocrat. Lovers of Filipino merienda fare will respond favorably to the yummy combination of dinuguan at puto and kilawing tokwa’t baboy.
Fajitas, burritos, empanaditas, enchiladas, hard and soft tacos, on the other hand, are the Mexican feasts that await foodies at Agave Mexican Cantina.
We loved the shrimp Chile relleno — crisp-fried Poblano chilies stuffed with sautéed shrimp and Mexican cheese.
Although drinks aren’t included in the “Amazing A La Carte” buffet menu, it wouldn’t hurt to shell out extra bucks for a glass of Agave’s blended margarita or fresh fruit mojito which comes in strawberry, mango or pineapple flavors.
“Eastwood City’s ‘Amazing A La Carte’ buffet gives diners the liberty to sample bits of a number of dishes, and the chance to reorder those that they really like minus the long wait, hassle and waste. Isn’t that amazing?” enthuses Orbigo.
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Eastwood City’s “Amazing A La Carte” buffet is available every Sunday (12 noon to 3 p.m., and 6 to 10 p.m.) and Monday to Thursday (6 to 10 p.m.) until Dec. 18. A group of two or more persons gets free parking every Sunday from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. only. Just present your receipt at the Eastwood City Information Counter (beside Fazoli’s) to redeem your free parking stub to be given to the parking attendant upon exit.