Dining at Luxent Hotel

MANILA, Philippines - There is always room for one more. If this one happens to impress with its international and local cuisine, then it is welcome. Need we say more then that Luxent Hotel will see itself more often in people’s “must-visit” lists.

Found at the ground floor of Luxent, Garden Café and Lush Bar & Lounge are the hotel’s food and beverage outlets. Lush Bar & Lounge serves as the hotel’s bar and lobby lounge, and lives up to its name with an abundant array of snacks, pastries, and quick meals. There are also alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, from wine to signature cocktails.

Lush Bar & Lounge is as laidback as it gets: there are musicians playing easy-listening music in the evening. The lounge’s Bread Indulgence is one to watch, as its selection of freshly handcrafted baked delights is available daily from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. So for those looking for a cozy spot in Quezon City any time of day, Lush Bar & Lounge is the answer.

For people in the mood for something familiar and closer to home, Garden Café is the right place. The relaxed ambience should do the trick, but the restaurant offers so much more. For starters, it has a main dining area that can seat 80 people; the private rooms VIP 1 and VIP 2 can accommodate 20 and 50 people, respectively.

Of course, the main attraction here is the food, an inviting buffet that consists of local and international dishes. Aside from the main course, there are appetizers, salads, and soups to choose from. How could one skip the oh-so sinful dessert section, as well as the eat-all-you-can (or, should we say, brain-freeze-all-you-can) ice cream.

One has got to love their take on well-loved dishes, which can be enjoyed a la carte. Steaks, ribs, chicken, and lamb hot off the grill are bound to please and excite, and even convince repeat orders. For diners looking for low-fat, less-guilt-inducing dishes, the Garden Café offers a fair number of fresh salads and juices.

“The Garden Café is a restaurant specializing in all-time favorite cuisine,” explains Luxent Hotel general manager Melanie Siy-Pagkalinawan. “Each meal period features some ‘live-cooking’ dishes from one, or more, cooking stations at the buffet.”

Pagkalinawan adds that good word has traveled fast. “On weekdays, we attract a lot of guests from offices and homes within the city area. They would usually come in for a quick, hearty, and fairly casual meal. There are some diners who would dine here after their workouts, usually bringing along their friends to discover the Garden Café.”

Sous Chef Fred Velasco adds that the Garden Café becomes a weekend haven of families. “They always crave for food that reminds them of home. With our repertoire of Filipino dishes — presented in our own unique way — they have simply made us their go-to source of comfort food.”

Velasco volunteers that being able to read and understand a diner’s preferences is essential in achieving their desired end. “When a balikbayan comes here, for example, we know that he will be looking for the types of Pinoy food that he missed. So we present dishes in such a way that his craving will be fully satisfied.”

Fellow Sous Chef Christian Martinez chimes in: “Our team of 25-plus kitchen staff is dedicated to provide more than a meal for our guests. We want to give our diners an experience they will always remember and revisit. We can assure them that, in our book, quality is our priority. Everything is fresh, and it has to be that way.”

The Garden Café encourages prior reservations for guests holding a birthday or an anniversary, or any type of celebration.

“There are more surprises and offerings in the works for both Lush Bar & Lounge and Garden Café. Here in our part of the metropolis, with so many dining possibilities on offer, we want to make known the special kind of gastronomic possibilities happening at Luxent Hotel,” concludes Pagkalinawan.

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Luxent Hotel is located at 51 Timog Avenue, South Triangle, Quezon City. For more information, call (02) 922-8888, fax at (02) 411-3030, e-mail at sales@luxenthotel.com or visit its website at www.luxenthotel.com. Photos by Fernan Nebres