by Kenneth K. Ong
When I think of Christmas, I visualized food, and I mean LOTS of it! Many thanks to Durianburg’s new buffet restaurant trend, many affordable eat-all-you-can places have sprouted around the city, luring many a hungry Christmas shopper and urbanite foodie into their doors to have a delicious no-holds-barred meal. For this week, I have chosen three restaurants that blend Filipino and international favorites into their menus.
Chippens
Established well before the buffet restaurant trend started, Chippens Buffet Restaurant used to be located at the Paseo de Roxas compound along Roxas Blvd. and has since moved across the street to a bigger area. The menu of the restaurant is an eclectic mix of Filipino and International favorites such as Lengua, Chapchae(Korean Noodles), Kare-kare, and Iberian Chicken among others. The buffet at Chippens is at Php330 net with drinks for adults and Php221 net for children three to seven years old for both lunch and dinner.
For private functions, Chippens has two function room that can accommodate 20 and 50 persons each and has a parking area for exclusive for guests.
Chippens is open daily from 11am to 2:30pm and from 6pm until 9pm.
Ranch and Reef
If international cuisine is more your type, then Ranch and Reef is the place to be. Located beside Davao Convention Center, Ranch and Reef is a cozy restaurant with a beautiful buffet set-up that fronts the restaurant’s impressive show kitchen. For only Php329 net for lunch and P399 net for dinner on weekdays, you can have all the US certified steak and ebi tempura you can eat. Go there on a weekend to catch your favorite surf and turn along with an eat-all-you-can sushi and maki bar only for Php359 net for lunch and Php429 net for dinner on weekends. Children below 48 inches get a fifty percent discount while Children below 40 inches eat for free.
Parking is not an issue at Ranch and Reef as the area has adequate parking slots. What I also like about the restaurant is its comprehensive wine list that compliments the US steaks it serves.
Ranch and Reef is open daily from 11am to 3pm for lunch and from 6pm until 10pm for dinner. I suggest you make reservations ahead of time since the restaurant can seat only 60 to 70 guests at a time and is almost always full. You can call Ranch and Reef at 300-4018.
Wild Safari Grill
One of the newest buffet restaurants in Durianburg, Wild Safari Grill, also located beside the Davao Convention Center, features barbecues as well as classic Filipino favorites on the menu. Some of the favorites that are staples in the menu are grilled Cebu chorizo, lechon kawali, and the make-your-own halo-halo station. Dinner also adds the sinfully delicious crispy pata to the already sumptuous spread.
The interiors of the restaurant is a playful mix of green and framed African safari vignettes which liven-up and add character to the place. A function room is also available that can accommodate up to 80 guests.
The buffet at the Wild Safari Grill is Php229 net for lunch and Php269 net for dinner inclusive of bottomless iced tea or lemonade. You can make reservations at the Wild Safari Grill at 222-3748.
