After killing time at Marriott Manila’s Executive Lounge, we sauntered to the hotel’s in house restaurant for dinner. Dressed in our finest—we would be attending a musical later at the nearby Newport Theater—we sat on one corner of Marriott Café and surveyed supper; we were indeed ready (and dressed the part) to eat.

MARRIOTT CAFE LOBBY

Marriott Café became our go-to place when our stomach dragons beseech us during our two-day stay at Marriott Manila. We ate here twice, during our first night’s dinner and for the next day’s complimentary breakfast buffet.

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CHIC INTERIORS

CONTEMPORARY DECORS WITH A STRONG HINT OF GEOMETRICAL DESIGN

Located at the ground floor of the hotel, I like how beautifully laid out and tastefully decorated the café was. Well, it is part of a five-star hotel, so I guess I really shouldn’t be surprised on that one. It can seat about two hundred hungry souls, but one can still choose little nooks where a bit of privacy can be had.

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OPEN KITCHEN SET UP AT MARRIOTT CAFE

For big groups, one has the option to reserve one of the three private dining rooms which can seat a maximum of ten heads. I heard the fee’s quite prohibitive, but it’s all consumable. So no worries on that part.

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THE SEAFOOD SECTION, PICK YOUR CHOICE AND REQUEST FOR COOKING

From the get-go, we easily saw how varied the dinner buffet spread was; priced at Php1,900.00 per person, well it better be. From what I observed, it’s divided into several sections—seafood, steaks, Filipino, Japanese, Chinese, and of course, desserts.

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NOODLES GALORE!

While most of my companions attacked the seafood table first, I went to the farthest station and asked for a bowl of noodles.

What kind of noodles do I want? A helpful and cheery staff asked me.

Surprise me, I quickly answered with a smile.

JAPANESE PLATTER AND RIBS WITH OYSTERS

Soon enough, our table started to get filled with all sorts of food. If we looked like we were hurrying through dinner, that is because we indeed were. We were set to watch Bituing Walang Ningning an hour after we sat down at Marriott Café.

NOT REALLY A DESSERTS KIND OF GUY BUT THE ICE CREAM WAS SUPERB!

HAKAO AND SIOMAI

We hauled what we can with what little time we have. Sharing a piece of dimsum and shrimp with friends who wasn’t able to get some, getting a few of their chosen dishes in return. It was a bayanihan of sorts, we all wanted to taste every single thing the café was offering.

UNLIMITED SEAFOOD FIESTA; CURACHA, LOBSTERS AND SHRIMPS

And as with any food tasting session with our group, there would always be winners and losers. With Marriott Café though, I can honestly say that everything was quite good.

If I had to choose though, I would have to give the Japanese section the least of my attention. I’m not really into raw dishes and the one thing that I like about Japanese food, ebi tempura, was missing from the buffet table.

SOUPY DELIGHTS, SINIGANG AND CHINESE NOODLES

For the winners, and that is with an s, I’d have to give it to their curacha (slipper crabs) which, surprisingly, easily beat the restaurant’s much more expensive lobsters. The garlic shrimp was also to-die-for, so was the super sour sinigang which made me ask for steamed rice.

And the seemingly innocuous noodles I first asked for? It indeed surprised me. Really good!

Marriott Cafe Manila ► ROOM RATES
Address: Marriott Hotel, 10 Newport Boulevard, Newport City Complex, Pasay City
Contact Number: (02) 988-9990 local 8086
Opening Hours: Breakfast 6:30AM-10:30AM | Lunch: 12NN-2:30PM | Dinner 6PM-10:30PM  
GPS Coordinates Map: 14.520803, 121.018457

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