Review : Ramada Manila Central’s Sunday Big Brunch Buffet, Binondo, Manila

Small cafe and bar at the lobby

In addition, News Cafe at the second floor boasts a new and improved buffet lineup that showcases various international dishes. That kind of goodness is not something I’d pass up for. So, discount vouchers for their Sunday Big Brunch buffet in hand, I dragged ze sister and niece to Ramada, and were they glad to be dragged!

And this is News Cafe at the second floor

Ramada Manila Central’s Sunday Buffet may not be as diverse as other three star hotel’s. There is no carving station, no delightfully greasy lechon Macau, or fancy schmancy desserts and appetizers. Neither is their restaurant eye-popping big. It can accommodate approximately 50, 55 people tops, and at times there’s no elbow room as you scoop food into your plate at the miniscule buffet stations. 

Nonetheless, the hall has that sophisticated, eye-candy design. It is well-kept and the seats, comfortable. Sepia portraits of Old Binondo hang on the wall, reminiscent of how kempt Chinatown was back in the day. Across the framed photos is a widescreen LCD TV that at that time, played a Mayweather fight. While limited in selection, food is well-presented and packed with all those yummy goodies that your ‘buds could ever desire.

The service can get a little slow when the room is full, but the servers are accommodating and pleasant (except for a captain waiter who shall not be named. He’s kind of a jerk, taking away unfinished plates and approaching guests with that I’m-far-more-superior-wait-aren’t-you-leaving-yet attitude. Anyhoo.).

Sushi
There’s a small but nice selection of sushi rolls which includes five sushi types including tekka, kani and a caviar-rolled California maki. Nothing premium, but good enough when you crave a roll.

Salads
Adjacent to the sushi are two kinds of ready-made, basic salad: fruit and crouton-topped vegetable salad. If you prefer DIY, there’s plenty of available ingredients and dressings on the counter too. Fresh slices of tropical fruits (melon, watermelon, mango) sit nearby.

It was a bit surprising that Ramada’s Sunday buffet consists of too little Oriental dishes, considering they are primarily a Chinese hotel in Chinatown. There was siopao and sharksfin, but that’s just about it.  I hear they have a wonderful all-Chinese buffet on weekdays though, which can be worth coming back to.

Sukiyaki is also available, but geez, I wish they have a burner for the soup. It’s not even warm, so understandably the noodles were tough, nearly inedible.

Main Course
There are five entrees in the main course section, one for each type of meat plus roasted chicken. That day they served pork barbeque (which, oddly, was swimming in sweet sauce), chicken in olive oil, creamdory in tausi sauce, mixed vegetables and beef stroganoff. They’re all above par (meats are very tender, for one, and if you notice, I’m particular with that), but I liked the beef stroganoff best. Oi so lavishly topped with melted cheese (nomnomnom). 

Pasta and pizza
This is perhaps my favorite station. The pizza is the usual thin crust Hawaiian and bell pepper kind, albeit a bit cold. But the pasta choices are excellent. They only have spaghetti noodles, but I say, to hell with the noodles, I’m here for the sauce. And the sauces are goood!

Desserts
In the desserts section is an assortment of petit fours, leche flan, cupcakes, ice cream,and dessert shooters (fruit jello topped with either corn or choco cereal. Unusual, I know). They also have a make-your-own halo-halo station!

View of Binondo Church from News Cafe Plus, they are so kid-friendly! Lia found instant friends and they all ran around like insane little gremlins at the far end of the hall.

Buffet price : P595 (Kids below 12 eat at 50% off).