Medley Buffet Of Okada Manila

To celebrate my dad’s 60th birthday, he decided to treat our family and closest friends to a special dinner at Medley Buffet, one of the signature restaurants at Okada Manila, where he was also staying for the night. It was a convenient and fitting choice for such a milestone occasion, with the hotel’s luxurious ambiance and exceptional dining options setting the perfect tone for the evening.

It had been six years since I last dined at a luxury buffet back at High Street Café so I was excited to relive that kind of indulgent experience once again.

Medley Buffet is known for its extensive international spread, open-theater kitchens, and beautifully curated food stations that range from fresh seafood and roasted meats to Asian delicacies, European classics, and decadent desserts. Nestled within the grand halls of Okada, Medley doesn’t just serve food. It offers a refined culinary journey in an equally elegant setting. I knew we were in for a night to remember.

As a cheese and cold cuts enthusiast, The Cheese Room was absolute heaven for me! The attendant was very knowledgeable, taking time to explain the different types of cheese available. He let us sample the Blue Goat Cheese, which was the mustiest I’ve ever tasted but I learned to love it! I was amazed to find out this blue cheese is locally made in Davao. He also gave us a sample pairing of Fourme d’Ambert with cranberry jam, crackers, and almond flakes, which is a delightful combination. If I could stay here all day, I would. But alas, I still had the rest of the buffet to explore.

My second favorite section was the seafood station. While the selection was limited with only blue crabs, mud crab claws, mussels, and clams, they were cooked perfectly. I chose cheese for the mussels and butter garlic for the clams, and I appreciated how the flavors were kept light, allowing the freshness of the shellfish to shine. The crabs, however, were a bit dry. The sashimi was fresh and flavorful, earning its spot as one of my favorites too. Sadly, the weekday buffet doesn’t include lobsters and oysters.

The main course section spans an impressive no variety of cuisines from Asian like Japanese, Indian, Filipino and Korean to Western like European and American. I took small portions of each to maximize my tummy space. The Korean La Galbi was sweet and tender. From the Indian station, I tried the chicken tandoori, lamb kebab, and fish tikka. All were flavorful but, unfortunately, quite dry and uninspiring. The Chinese dumplings lacked both moisture and flavor and had thick wrappers that made them filling. I did enjoy the Panda Bun with bean filling, though. The only Filipino dish I tried was the Lechon Belly, which lacked the savory lemongrass flavor of Cebu-style lechon.

I regret not trying the roasted beef and roasted leg of lamb, which are both signature dishes of Medley Buffet. These were what I craved before coming, but once at the carving station, the sight of the meats oddly made me feel full. My husband said it was his favorite part of the buffet, and now the regret haunts me. I should’ve at least had a tiny slice of each.

The salad station was the largest I’ve ever seen. There were DIY options for Caesar and classic salads with various types of lettuce, alongside ready-made selections like Asian Noodle Salad, Thai Beef Salad, Potato Salad, Quinoa Salad, Caramelized Carrot Salad, and Waldorf Salad. What more could you ask for? I went with the Caesar Salad, which was good, though the Cajun chicken and shrimp toppings made it heavier than I wanted after all I had eaten.

At the drinks station, my husband’s eyes lit up when he realized that the Coke was unlimited, while I headed straight to the towers of juices and iced teas. The apple juice was the best I’ve ever had. It was mild, not too sweet, and not overly wine-like. But my favorite was the tropical passion iced tea, which had rich guava and tea notes without the sourness. The Hong Kong milk tea tasted oddly like smoked leaves. Was I drinking weed milk? The sago’t gulaman was pleasantly not too sweet, and I loved the pandan jelly sinkers. There were also cans of unflavored kombucha and bottles of syrup for mix-and-match fun.

Oh, and yes, there’s a Chocolate Station! This table featured chocolate shards in unusual flavors like spicy chocolate, which is seriously spicy. I only needed a tiny piece. The Oreo shard tasted as expected, though oddly pink. The dulce lollies were sweet like caramel. It was delicious, but one is enough. I’m not a fan of white chocolate, and this buffet didn’t convert me. The cranberry shard barely had a hint of cranberry. It mostly tasted like white chocolate. The matcha shard was decent. I just wished it had a more intense, earthy flavor. The chocolate mendiant was a bit oily. My favorite was the bittersweet chocolate from the fountain, though it hardened quickly once on the plate.

Dessert lovers will be thrilled with Medley Buffet’s generous sweet section. There were kakanin, a crepe bar, fresh fruits, ice cream, and halo-halo. Most of the petit fours were mousse-based. I tried the Almond Mascarpone and Honey Bee Coffee Cake. The almond flavor in the mascarpone tasted artificial, while the coffee cake had a dry chocolate cookie base and lacked both coffee and honey notes. My final dessert was the crème brûlée. I expected that classic melt-in-your-mouth, caramelized top but sadly, it had a dense, leche flan-like texture, maybe because it was almost 11 PM and had been sitting out.

The buffet was so extensive that I missed out on several things I was curious about. I skipped the noodle and pastry stations. I was tempted to have noodle soup, but I knew it would be heavy. The noodles, broth, and toppings looked amazing, though. As for the pastries, I figured they’d be better enjoyed in the morning. After all, they were just buns and jams.

The restaurant interior gave off luxurious palace vibes with its Modern Art Deco and Neo-Classical design. The mix of soft creams, warm golds, vibrant greens, and rich browns evoked a nature-inspired elegance, enhanced by the conservatory-style architecture. Despite the many buffet sections and large dining areas, the restaurant felt spacious and comfortable throughout our three-hour stay.

We didn’t regret celebrating Dad’s 60th birthday at Medley Buffet. It was a delightful experience from start to finish. We enjoyed the variety, the ambiance, and most importantly, the joyful atmosphere. One of the most memorable moments was when the waitstaff sang and danced for my dad, making him feel truly special. As a sweet ending, they even gave us a complimentary slice of chocolate cake to take home.

Now, does Medley surpass Sofitel’s Spiral?

In terms of taste and overall food quality, Spiral still holds a more refined and luxurious edge. However, Medley Buffet impressed me with its unique offerings, especially The Cheese Room, a feature I’ve never encountered elsewhere in the country. It added a memorable and personalized touch to the experience.

So, while Spiral may take the crown for flavor and finesse, Medley earns its place with creativity, variety, and heart. Maybe they can both share the top spot in my foodie heart for different but equally satisfying reasons.