It doesn’t really show on me but our family loves eating buffet-style (yes, I am gifted with eating like a starving hyena and never gaining weight). Over the past year, two establishments opened along Seaside Boulevard in the Mall of Asia Complex that didn’t weren’t just Buffet Restaurants but Luxury Buffet Restaurants. Naturally, we had to try them out.
So, here’s a comparative look at two of the hottest “luxury buffet restaurants” this side of EDSA:3
ROUND 1: SUSHI – MAKI – SASHIMI
In most lunch/dinner buffets I go to, the first round would always have to be at the Japanese food station.
Though both restos didn’t disappoint, Vikings provided a wider range of available makis and sushis than Buffet 101. Not a fan of picking my tuna and salmon from the fish body, though. It makes me relate to my food in ways that I’d rather not.
ROUND 2: SEAFOOD
Vikings' seafood selection is a lot pricier than that of Buffet 101’s, though. With lobsters, oysters, squid and others, the restaurant had me at Gindara.
ROUND 3: SALADS
Do yourself a favor though, DO NOT EAT olive and grape salad from Vikings unless you like saggy grapes. It looks promising but no, I promise you it disappoints.
ROUND 4: MAINS
Vikings' selection seems to be more savory because of the sauces while Buffet 101 tends to be on the spicy side.
But Vikings pulls out an ace in its steak section with a selection of Australian Lamb Steaks, Batangas Tenderloins, Australian Sirloin Steaks and Roasted Beef Tenderloin. You have to move fast though, these run out pretty fast.
ROUND 5: BEVERAGES
While some buffet restos don’t include the beverages in the buffet, the owners of both Buffet 101 and Vikings prove to be more sly by allowing people to gorge and immediately get full on drinks.
Though both restos offer fruit shakes, Buffet 101 has a wider range of fruits you can choose from. Viking only offers the ‘shake for the day’, if you can find where to ask it from (near the ice cream station). But! Vikings has sago’t gulaman in exchange.
Both of them also have soda, coffee and beer dispensers. I’m biased towards Vikings in this round only because they offer Dalandan juice.
ROUND 6: DESSERT –oh glorious—DESSERT
The cakes served at Buffet 101 are from Red Ribbon while their ice cream’s from Magnolia; the must try dessert is their blue lemon jelly. I don't really know where Vikings' desserts come from but I urge you to try thei r straberry ice cream.
Both restos have frozen yogurt machines and a variety of toppings top choose from. But remember that at this point you've probably already eaten a lot, drank fruit juices which may not sit well with frozen yogurt. Just saying.
Vikings also has a crepe bar but it only offers banana crepes. The must try desserts include the white chocolate mousse and strawberry ice cream. It also has two chocolate fountains which is a hit with the kids.
ROUND 7: VALUE FOR MONEY
It’s also a lot harder to book. If you want to eat at Vikings, you’d better book at least a week in advance and confirm on the day itself, otherwise, you’d land on their lengthy waiting list. And since it’s a buffet and they can’t tell when people’ll finish eating, there’s no telling when you’d finally be able to eat.
Unfortunately, people have started trooping to Buffet 101, too, so you might want to also call for reservations in advance just to be sure.
The lighting, spaces between tables and the food areas in Buffet 101 seems to be more suited for family gatherings than Vikings. The latter would be better suited for yuppies out with friends.
In general, I’d lean in favor of Vikings because the range is wider and for personal reasons like that strawberry ice cream, dalandan juice and steaks.
VIKINGS
846-3888, 846-4888, 846-5888
0917-5653888 & 0923-7303888
Bldg. B, By The Bay, Seaside Boulevard, SM Mall of Asia, Pasay City
BUFFET 101
556-2888, 556-3888, 556-9888
Bldg K, Seaside Boulevard, San Miguel by the Bay, SM Mall of Asia Complex, Pasay City
