After a long hiatus due to the pandemic, the popular interactive show kitchens of The Café in Hyatt Regency Manila are back for its sumptuous buffet spread for one of the metro's highly anticipated re-openings. Prepare to feast, at The Café...
The elegant 345-seater space of The Café in Hyatt Regency Manila at City of Dreams of Manila with its multiple live stations and show kitchens opens its doors once more marking the return of its lavish breakfast, lunch and dinner buffet spreads. With its extensive and lavish curated local and international cuisine, The Café is back with even more tempting offerings including savory dishes prepared a la minute by different station chefs highlighting its culinary theater-themed dining experience. Each station presents a culinary destination, regional produce or culture letting you venture on a flavorful journey all in one place. Ready to check in at The Café? Step inside and see what you've missed...
Long known as one of the metro's top buffet dining destinations at City of Dreams Manila, The Café at Hyatt Regency Manila is back on your list with its evolving menu cycles ensuring each visit is different and unique. Since my very first visit more than seven years back, The Café has been the stage for countless memorable dining experiences (for more on The Café, see my posts Eastern Culinary Journeys at The Café with a spotlight on Asian flavors from May 2016, Cantonese Treasures at The Café from June 2016, Quick Bites: A Taste of America at The Café from July 2016, Spice Trades: The Road to Gurgaon Starts at The Café with Indian cuisine as the culinary focus from July 2016, Perfect Weekends...In A Hyatt World on a memorable staycation featuring a feast at The Café from October 2016, Let's Do Sunday Brunch at The Café from November 2017, Fresh Catch for the Weekend: The Seafood Extravaganza at The Café from August 2018 and The Good Taste Series at Hyatt City of Dreams on their culinary competition from six years back). The reopening this year promises even more memorable and flavorful stories at The Café. And admit it, you've missed The Café, right?
A few steps from the reception is your gateway to a world of flavors with its dramatic high ceiling and elegant interiors with a wide range of seating options including an elevated area ideal for get-togethers as well as two private dining rooms for more intimate gatherings...
...with each station and show kitchen tempting you each step of the way. At The Café, you'll find various stations showcasing an array of comforting Asian flavors...
...including roasts, dim sum and noodles. Chinese, Southeast Asian, whatever your craving The Café has it covered all within just a few steps from each other. The variety of the buffet dining format combined with the live station show kitchen concept with dishes prepared a la minute has long been the top draw at The Café, and it's a tradition that continues with its much awaited return.
If Western cuisine is your thing, the Buttered Vegetables, Cajun Seafood with Rosemary Herb, Fish Fillet with Saffron Sauce and Pork Loin with Orange Sauce is waiting for you at The Café.
That day, the always popular Chinese Station offered a selection Asian Fried Rice, Beef Broccoli, Seafood in Szechuan Sauce, Crispy Pork & Pork Asado and Roasted Chicken alongside the equally lavish Dim Sum selection.
A few steps takes you to the Korean Station with its assorted banchan or side dishes like Kimchi, Wakame and Fish Cakes.
At the Salad Station, enjoy a garden-fresh medley of vegetable dishes from their Salads of the Day like the Mixed Seafood Salad with Citrus Dressing, Compressed Watermelon with Feta Cheese Salad, Fusilli Pasta with Chicken Salad & Sundried Tomatoes, Black Fungus Salad and Cucumber & Peanut Salad. Create your own bowl with the Hydroponic Mesclun Salad with fresh salad greens, cucumbers, carrots, cherry tomatoes, corn, Kalamata olives, sundried tomatoes, onions and Feta cheese paired with Roasted Sesame, Italian and Thousand Island dressings. The freshness of the ingredients deliver all the flavors for that perfect start at The Café.
One of the unique finds that day included a selection of pickled items like Green Mango or buro, Cucumber and Turnips. The brined fruits and vegetables offer that delectable sweet and tart palate-cleansing finish as well as that nostalgic vibe preparing you for yet another round at The Café.
At the Cheese & Cold Cuts Station, enjoy a variety of savory cured meats and charcuterie paired with fine gourmet cheeses including Cheddar, Camembert and Emmental. The Café also boasts of a Bread Station with its fresh-baked selection of Walnut Rye Sourdough, Green Olive Bread Loaf, Curry Pan de Sal, Nori Pan de Sal, Pan de Coco, Mini Banh Mi Bread and Focaccia with Sundried Tomato and Garlic.
For the mains, start with a comforting bowl of noodles prepared a la minute at the Pasta Station with Linguine and Penne in Carbonara and Bolognese sauces. You can also customize your pasta with an array of accompaniments like onions, dried tomatoes, capsicum, bacon, ham, Parmesan cheese, green olives and black olives. It's live stations like this that complete your buffet dining experience at The Café. And there really is nothing like a fresh-made meal straight from the live station to your table.
The day's freshest catch is not to be missed at The Café with its haul of succulent Tiger Prawns, Hard Shell Clams, Chilean Mussels...
...and Spanner Crabs or curacha. You can enjoy it as is paired with condiments like vinegar, lemon, lime, sweet chili sauce and Thousand Island dressing or have it lightly sautéed in garlic butter or chili sauce.
A buffet dining experience isn't complete without Sushi and Sashimi, and the Japanese Station has all the fresh Tuna, Salmon and Kani along with assorted Maki Rolls complete with Japanese soy, pickled ginger and wasabi. Miso Soup? Absolutely. You'll find it all at the Japanese Station of The Café. Further down, you'll find the Soup Station as well with Tomato Soup and Pork Sinigang Soup.
At the Noodle Station, have a fresh bowl prepared in minutes and served to your table. Simply choose from Yellow Egg Noodles and Vermicelli Noodles, Chicken Stock and Laksa and leave it to the station chef to fix you up with a hearty bowl. Add some squid balls, fish cakes, shredded chicken, bok choy, carrots, white cabbage, hard-boiled egg, XO sauce, fried garlic, spring onions, fish sauce, calamansi, Sriracha chili sauce, light soy sauce, red chili sambal and chili oil to complete your bowl.
Like a well orchestrated ballet of movements, the station chef prepares your bowl of Laksa...
...and served steaming hot to your table. The richness of the broth with just a whisper of soothing heat is perfectly tempered and smoothened by the coconut cream along with the other ingredients for a satisfying bowl. And yes, you can go back for seconds.
Craving for local dishes? The Filipino Station with its offerings of Chicken Adobo, Pork Menudo, Bistek Tagalog and Stir-Fried Mushrooms hits the spot for any craving best served with extra rice.
The Carving Station that day featured two savory treats for an already impressive buffet at The Café starting with the Baked Salmon...
...served with roasted vegetables, dill sauce and lemon butter sauce...
...and the mouthwatering Roast Beef Striploin with a choice of red wine sauce, black pepper sauce and mushroom sauce.
You can have your Roast Beef Striploin carved and grilled to your preferred thickness and doneness...
...with your choice of sauce and vegetables on the side. At The Café, the number of show kitchens and live stations serving different cuisines are definitely a highlight of your buffet dining experience. And this same show kitchen concept is reflected in their indulgent Dessert Station...
...with a wide selection of sweet treats for the perfect sweet ending to a hearty and satisfying buffet. Gianduja Crème, Leche Flan, Almond Sans Rival, Strawberry Dome Cake, Choco Crunch Cake, fresh Mango Tartlet, Raspberry and White Chocolate Roulade, Dark Cherry Compote with White Chocolate Crème, Dark Chocolate Crumblewith Yogurt Crème and assorted Doughnuts, take your pick. Whole and sliced seasonal fruits are other options. You'll also find Filipino dessert staples like Kutsinta, Maja Blanca and Sapin-Sapin.
Go ahead and make your own customized Halo-Halo...
...or have the station chef whip you up the specialty Croffle with your choice of toppings like fresh green grapes, fresh mangoes, blueberry compote, strawberry compote, Chantilly cream, Yema sauce, Caramel sauce or chocolate sauce. Ice Cream? Can't say no to that. Enjoy your scoop with toppings like chocolate chip, sprinkles, mallows and crunchy chocolate pearls. Plus, have your fill of jelly beans, jelly bears, jelly snakes, sour strips and gummies too.
The extensive and diverse variety of buffet offerings has always been a core strength of The Café, and it's back and better after a long hiatus from the pandemic. And it's good to see The Café up there high on your list of top must-try dining destinations again.
The Breakfast (P 1,150 net per person from 6:30 am to 11:00 am), Lunch (P 1,250 net per person from 12:00 nn to 3:00 pm) and Dinner (P 2,350 net per person from 5:30 pm to 11:00 pm) buffet at The Café are definitely back, and the station chefs are eager to serve you once more. Book your table via the contact details and links below...
For inquiries and reservations, call 8691 1234 local 1163 and 8800 8080 or email guestservices@cod-manila.com. For more information, visit www.cityofdreamsmanila.com.
Dude for Food is now on Facebook and Instagram, check out the FB Page, IG Feed, Twitter and YouTube for regular updates on good eats. Better yet, click "Like" and "Follow" and enjoy the ride...just look for the FB and IG widgets on the right sidebar.