Manila Prince Hotel affordable buffet at P999 - is it worth it?
Manila Prince Hotel, particular its Marcelino Cafe, is gaining traction in the internet with its P999 nett buffet promo, and unlike other establishments, the rate is the same for lunch or dinner regardless whether it’s a weekday or weekend. Here in this article, I’d be walking you through with what you can expect from their buffet.
For ease of reading, I’ll be making this post in a question and answer format, and for most cases, I’ll just let the photos speak for themselves.
The sushi and sashimi station offers a hefty selection, with 4 kinds of sashimi to choose from
Q: Do they serve sashimi here? Is it fresh, and how frequent do they refill them?
Yes they do. In fact, most of the time, they have four (4) options to choose from: salmon, tuna, lapu-lapu and tanigue. All of which are fresh, and readily available. In three instances that I walked there for a refill, there are always available fresh cuts of these sashimi. This is a major selling point of Marcelino Cafe’s buffet.
Straight-forward salad station of Marcelino Cafe, Manila Prince Hotel
Q: Now, how about tempura? Do they have it there?
Of course, they have the buffet “starter pack” — they have salmon, and they also have tempura! Aside from tempura, they also have katsu, lumpia and even Pinoy street food such as fish balls and kwek-kwek!
Fried Station of Manila Prince Hotel Buffet
Q: Are drinks included in the buffet rate?
Yes, basic options like iced tea and juice are included. However, don't expect too much in this department. The great news is they offer unlimited coffee, not just the brewed kind but espresso! You can enjoy a latte, cappuccino, or mocha depending on availability.
Q: Do they offer 'paluto' for seafood?
As far as I recall, they don't offer 'paluto' for seafood. Alternatively, there are seafood dishes available in the Chinese entrees. This is reasonable considering the buffet rate. 'Paluto'-style services are more common in hotels charging P1,500 and up.
Q: How does their carving station look? Any interesting selections?
They feature roast beef and bagnet, both of which are particularly tasty! The beef is tender, well-seasoned with a good layer of fat for extra flavor. The bagnet is crispy and equally delicious. This is another highlight for me, along with the sashimi.
The carving station of Marcelino Cafe offers tasty meat!
Q: Is there a pizza and pasta station?
Yes, there are pizza and pasta selections, making the buffet kid-friendly. You can request freshly cooked pasta, and there are usually two flavors of pizza to choose from. I highly recommend the four-cheese pizza; it's fantastic!
Pizza and Pasta Station of Manila Prince Hotel
Q: Do they have a wide range of desserts?
This is where Marcelino Cafe falls short. They barely have any dessert options — mainly cookies and pudding. Since I'm not big on sweets, I didn't mind, but some might find this disappointing.
Q: What's the catch? Is it really worth the price?
There is no catch. The price even includes the service charge. However, the P999 promo rate might change since their website lists the regular rate as P1,500. So, enjoy it while it lasts. Remember the Japanese buffet at Century Park Hotel (read more) that started at P999? They are now at P1,299.
In a nutshell
Overall, the buffet at Manila Prince Hotel for P999 is worth the price. They offer a reasonable range of selections, many of which are actually good. When I think of an affordable yet worthwhile buffet, this is the first place that comes to mind.
Marcelino Cafe of Manila Prince Hotel is located at 1000 San Marcelino Street, Ermita, Manila. It's advisable to call ahead and reserve a table because they usually have a long queue if you walk in. Here are the contact numbers you may call: +632 53282222.
