MANILA, Philippines - It was a visit that surpassed our expectations. It has been months since we last sampled the dishes served at Luxent Hotel. From time to time, our minds would wonder, and wander, whether the hotel has been able to stay consistent with that level of quality.
The good news is, Luxent Hotel has taken its food and beverage offerings to another level. At the flagship F&B outlet Garden Café, overseen by executive chef Christian Martinez, the menu used to offer only Asian dishes. Now Garden Café has expanded its selections to include international fare, from pastas to flatbreads.
“The menu has gone beyond the Philippines and its neighboring countries,†says Luxent Hotel general manager Melanie Siy-Pagkalinawan. “We have included Mediterranean and American favorites to the lineup. So far the response has been positive and very encouraging.â€
Pagkalinawan says their success in the F&B area is due to their commitment to quality. She explains: “We try to maintain a consistent level of quality in our offerings. The food has been consistently good. There are many buffets being served in restaurants near Luxent Hotel. The others may have bigger selections, but ours have better quality. The constant flow of people coming in to dine with us proves that.â€
The restaurant gives provisions for people who want to “eat healthy.†Thus, Martinez volunteers that they only source the best possible ingredients and produce. “We do not cut corners,†he says. “The best ingredients make for the best dishes.â€
Luxent also takes pride in its freshly baked breads, made in-house by the hotel’s talented chefs led by head baker Jommel Sibug as early as 4 a.m. “Everything we bake is fresh and new. The proof is in the taste, and we are happy to see that our breads move quickly during breakfast,†Pagkalinawan shares.
Luxent’s other F&B outlet, Lush Bar & Lounge, serves as the lobby lounge, with snacks, pastries, quick meals, alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, wines, and signature cocktails. They will even accommodate particular orders from the Garden Café menu.
Also in Luxent Hotel’s growing menu of offerings are its new business center as well as well-appointed guestrooms, a modern fully equipped fitness center, an infinity pool, and a kiddie pool.
“Since we are a business hotel, we are focusing on our big business market. The rooms are configured to suit a businessman’s needs. We have a big function room that can fit up to 280 persons,†Pagkalinawan adds.
The ballroom can be divided into four rooms, making each ideal for smaller gatherings. Whichever one chooses, these are great venues for conferences, social events, wedding receptions, children’s parties, anniversaries, and the like.
Luxent Hotel is strategically located very close to Quezon City’s leading companies, headquarters, offices, BPO firms, and television stations.
“We also found that Luxent is the choice of medical tourists,†Pagkalinawan says. Indeed, the hotel is practically a stone’s throw away from leading aesthetic clinics and centers and a few minutes’ traffic-less ride to hospitals and health centers.
“Luxent Hotel has evolved into a well-rounded establishment catering to leisure and business travelers,†Pagkalinawan concludes. “Our goal is to fully satisfy our clients. At the rate things are happening, I say the returnees validate our offerings. We are doing the right thing, and we will continue to do so, all for the delight of our guests.â€
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Luxent Hotel is located at 51 Timog Avenue, South Triangle, Quezon City. For more information, call (02) 922-8888, fax at (02) 411-3030, e-mail at sales@luxenthotel.com, or visit its website at www.luxenthotel.com. Photos by Fernan Nebres