Annabel's

Annabel's along Tomas Morato Avenue has been around since the late eighties, and has a well deserved reputation as the first choice for hosting press events and various media functions, being very close to the two major studios, ABS-CBN and GMA7.  I haven't gone in for about ten years now, and was delighted to find that the place has been well kept and still going strong. Its flower shoppe greets you as you enter, and the residence turned restaurant has a very homey, cozy feel to it.

The lunchtime buffet comes to around P1,000 per head, and the variety is pretty satisfying. I started off with lots of sushi and sashimi at the Japanese section, and then moved on to have some soup and salad.

The restaurant is known for Spanish favorites, so I made a beeline for the lengua, which was tender and flavorful.  Unfortunately, the beef skewers were tough and dry, enough for me to warn my friends about it.  The meats at the carving station, however made a favorable impression on my companions; the roast beef was still juicy and the lechon kawali had the crispy skins which they raved about.  The dessert table had plenty of fruits and pastries; however, I was a bit disappointed as the pudding had all run out by the time I got to it.

The restaurant buffet is a good choice for the mid-market segment--elegant surrounding, personalized service, not too crowded like the buffets in mall restaurants, and at the same time, not as pricey as the hotel buffets (which easily run to around P1,700 per head).  And if you hang around long enough, you might even see some big-time politicians, celebrities and movie stars dining alongside you!