3 extraordinary dining experiences at Solaire
MANILA, Philippines – Almost nothing brings Filipino families closer than food. Food is not just a matter of sustenance, it’s a way of bonding and connecting with others.
While family potluck dinners will always be special for us and especially to the titas who equip themselves with to-go microwaveables, buffets are the new black. Not only do buffet setups let cooks of the family rest from the troubles of food preparation, they are also a great venue to try something new.
When eating out, where to eat is always an issue—whether one prefers a certain dish, another’s craving for something else, or one has a dietary restriction.
Luckily, Solaire’s fine selection of restaurants has it covered. The integrated resort houses three restaurants which have buffet services that will surely fill up and satisfy your cravings.
There are at least two things that are common among restaurants Yakumi, Fresh, and Red Lantern. The three present quality food and dining experience, and despite offering mostly foreign cuisine, Filipino hospitality remains paramount.
As for what makes each of them distinct, read on and get to know which buffet you should book for your next milestone celebration or just-because get-together.
Yakumi
Fresh from the Tsukiji Market from Tokyo
Saturday Brunch Buffet
Rates: Php 2,688+ per person | Php 688+ per person for unlimited drinks
Saturday: 11:30AM –2:30 PM
Yakumi’s minimalist interior takes its cues from old Japanese architecture and the centuries-old art form of origami. The team gives you the option of enjoying your meal with a perfect view of the seaside or the buffet with chefs seen at work.
Upon sitting, the first thing you’d notice is an orange origami crane. In Japan, this is a way of showing guests that they are most welcome.
Yakumi is ideal for those who want to have a classy and formal dinner with the family.
Unlike most buffets, Yakumi has limited selection of first and second courses, but is tops in quality and taste. Ingredients are shipped in twice a week from the Tsukiji Market in Tokyo, a famous fish market known for offering some of the best seafood in the world.
The produce are chilled from transportation to Manila’s shores all the way to their storage in Yakumi’s kitchen. This preserves the seafood’s freshness, something a freezer will not be able to do.
The kitchen is headed by Norimasa Kosaka and his sous chef Shinobu Endo. Expect nothing less of an authentic Japanese buffet.
Aside from your sushi and sashimi stations, Yakumi also has a soman and soba bar, a fresh seafood grill, and some signature Japanese dishes. But if you’re looking for the tempura or the ramen, you’ll find it on a menu on your table. This process of made-to-order tempura and ramen assures you that you get a hot and fresh batch of the crispiest tempura and the heartiest bowl of ramen from their kitchen.
While it might cost extra, you can add unlimited drinks to pair your meal with some sake or Japanese beer.
To cap your Yakumi experience, Yakumi has its own teppan station where you can have your own crepe customized and topped with a dollop of ice cream. However, I also recommend picking up some of the scrumptious sweets at the dessert section. You won’t be disappointed.
Eating with your eyes: Check out Yakumi’s warm yet modern interiors.
Spice up your life: Get your fresh wasabi grated right before your eyes!
It’s getting hot in here: Fried rice? Fried Skewers? Fresh Crepes? Check out the Tepannyaki and teppan section.
Get your japanese food fix, from Soba to sashimi to sushi!
Fresh
Dish around the world
For buffet rates and schedules: https://solaireresort.com/dining/casual-dining/fresh
For groups simply cannot form a consensus on which cuisine to eat, Fresh is definitely the Solaire buffet for you. It is a culinary food journey from start to finish.
We’re talking about Japanese sushi, Italian pizza, Indian curry, Korean noodles, Asian classics, and Filipino comfort dishes among others. Variety of choices is definitely what makes Fresh special. And living up to its name, the food is definitely fresh. Some are also prepared upon request.
For those who are still quite conscious while eating buffet-style, you have a selection of gluten-free bread which you can pair with cold cuts and cheese or you can also go for their selection of salads or build your own. For those who are less conscious, the savory carving stations with roast beef, deep-fried pork belly, roast lamb to name a few, will surely make you happy.
A large allocation of Fresh’s buffet space is for the seafood stop, tiger prawns, clams, oysters, tuna, salmon and Boston lobsters are waiting for you at Fresh.
When it comes to dessert, you can create your own ever-so-Pinoy halo-halo or dip some French macarons into the chocolate fondue. It also serves ice cream, a variety of cakes, and some skilfully crafted pasties.
We highly recommend the chocolate pops, tiramisu, and any of the cakes that actually taste as good as they look. If you have a sweet tooth, their dessert section is worth a visit.
For those who have kids, they have a decorate-your-own cookie sandwich in one area.
To keep things interesting Fresh highlights a specific cuisine every month, during our visit it was Mexican food. Nachos should be done with lots of cheese!
DIY halo-halo and Pinoy street food
Fresh has a private area that can accommodate a group of 16 to 20.
Create your own soup!
Red Lantern
Sit-down Chinese dining
Available at Php 1,088+ per person
Monday –Friday from 11:30 AM –2:30 PM
Saturday –Sunday from 10:30 AM –3:30 PM
What makes Red Lantern stand out is when the staff make you sit down throughout the entire dining experience.
Offering a checklist menu, you select dishes you want and they serve them to you fresh from the kitchen. Everything is unlimited, so you can tick off as many as you want several times.
With almost 50 dishes from soup to dessert, choosing is not easy. Luckily, the Red Lantern team made it easier by marking their chef-recommended dishes. Serving size is adjusted to your liking or according to your group’s size. The kitchen is also more than willing to alter the dishes if you have medical or dietary preferences—a privilege you don't get from a regular restaurant.
The Hot Prawn Salad, the Oven Baked Egg Tartlets with Peach and the Katafi roll are only some of the dishes that made me fall in love with Chinese cuisine again. No artificial flavorings, no after after-tastes, just fresh and authentic Chinese food.
While waiting for your orders, Red Lantern is a visual feast of yellow chairs and stylish red lanterns. It also has private function rooms for groups of eight to groups of thirty.
Celebrate in grandeur with Red Lantern’s private rooms.
Must-try: Katafi Roll with Avocado, Yang Chow, Hot Prawn Salad
Craving for Chinese food? Get an unlimited dim sum fix with Red Lantern.
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