Photo c/o Vikings Website
Yesterday was Paul's Birthday and we have this yearly tradition to eat on an all you can eat buffet on our birthday, why? because we're free of charge! We usually go to dine at Vikings a Php 888 (+5% service charge) buffet resto decent enough and almost fine dining if you ask me. This Php 888 (+5% service charge) buffet here in the Philippines ain't cheap (that's $16.64 in US Dollar) usually that cost could feed a family of 3 for dinner.
THE PLACE
First, Let's talk about the place.
Our spot
The Alley is perfectly located at UP Town Mall, Me and Paul would say that it's a North and East people's safe haven of mall. The mall has a-lot to offer in terms of entertainment at least 'cause me and Paul went to the mall early to secure a reservation for that day. Folks, don't do the same thing. Usually they have an online reservation but We have decided to celebrate Paul's birthday there really on the last minute that online reservations are full. Luckily, there was Timezone to the rescue to kill our waiting time, Heck! Paul even won a plushie on the claw machine.
So, that's for that. But the other main issue that happen yesterday is that Metro Manila was hit by a short but very heavy rain. It was so bad that when we went inside the alley, power interruption went on twice (not sure) or maybe thrice? but it was an on and off kinda situation. Some people, including us was even relocated because of the leaking pipes at the restaurants vicinity.
It was an unfortunate but the eating must go on.
Every food stall or whatever they call it have a store name like it's a real food park and when the line is packed, some stalls have electronic ticketing system for you to hold on to while waiting for your food to cooked. You'll know your food is ready when the saucer lights up.
THE FOOD
We came on only eating a light snack in the morning to prepare our tummy for the ultimate eating fest. We went first, head on the steak section of The Alley called Just Steak A Minute.
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| That's me looking at the steak choices |
They had 3 selection of sizzling steak, I got beff and Paul got pork.
After that we went full on buffet hunters. Few yummy to mentions was the Pork Siomai. It was really good! It had an authentic chinese taste because of the diced mushroom. Next was the Bagnet Kare-Kare.
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| A beautiful peanut butter sauce mess. |
And lastly the Truffled Parmesan Cheese Pasta cooked on a parmasen wheel.
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| I miss you already |
Truffled is a newly introduced flavour to my palette. I only had truffled food like this year and I can't get enough of it. The strong flavour works really well with cheese. I am no food expert but I know what decent food would taste like, and The Alley offered some-some quality. I might get a-lot of hate for saying this but the food was only ok compare to Vikings which is the mother company of The Alley.
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| Dessert Buffet (Strawberry Cheesecake was the bomb.com) |
Their sushi bar option are mostly crazy sushi flavours, I suggest to stick to the classic ones.
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| NORD'S Coffee bar drinks was good! Order their frappe |
I love the drinks options, unlike other buffets here in the metro, they do offer best options of drinks to choose from. They also serve Mojito which was the drink of the day. Do they change it up everyday? Probably. They also have beers that came from other countries. We only tried one Tiger beer and shared on it, Paul will be driving so no booze for us.
THE VERDICT
If your like me, You have probably eaten a-lot of buffet here in Manila and being that The Alley is new, you would probably would like to try to go here. The following next statement and words are only based on my opinion so here it is, I have also been to Sambokojin lately (like 2 days ago) and in terms of price, they are the same but food not even close, It's like apple vs. peaches. If you like ready made food and looking for a high-end food park experience, The Alley is perfect for you! but personally I feel like The Alley lacks more food option, I know. But my comparision is based not on Samobokojin but on Vikings as well. Being that The Alley is under Vikings, I expect food quality near or at least same as The Vikings. I feel like most of the possible food options was replaced with drink options. Well, I do love the drinks selection but I came there to eat food. I also feel like they could also trim down the price to at least Php 750 'cause Php 888 (5% service charge) is same price with Vikings and Sambokojin and that it's instantly became it's direct competition. So, If you ask me, I would choose Vikings and Sambokojin easily over The Alley. But for the one time dining experience, sure! you could dine there but for moneys worth dine in other Php 888 buffet.
