Photo Credits to: Vikings Restaurant
Battle of the Big Buffets: Restaurants Review
I love food. Pretty food, tasty food, and artistically created food. When it comes to quantity and a nice pig out session though, nothing beats a buffet.
What’s better than walking into a buffet on a hungry stomach and seeing the rows and rows of choices beckoning you? Tables with happy chefs tempting you with cuisine from around the world all waiting for your taste buds.
I recently arrived in Cebu and decided I had a mission.
I decided it was my mission to find which was the best buffet in Cebu. I went to both Buffet 101 and Vikings to see who who was the biggest, bestest and baddest of the buffets.
Both of them have the same price and both claim to be the best. Here’s my review.
INTERIOR
Buffet 101 is gorgeous. Settings are well done, and the whole place feels upscale. I’d happily take clients or business meetings here.
Vikings is nice, but it feels a little more casual. They sing hilarious and silly birthday songs which I loved. It’s more of a place for friends and hanging out.
Photo Credits to: Vikings Restaurant
SERVICE
Buffet 101 never let my empty plates sit longer than the time it took me to get my next plate of food.
Vikings fell a little short here, where my empty plates would sometimes still be there when I came back. I’d be back and those little plates would be still there accusingly asking me “are you STILL eating?”
FOOD QUALITY
Both restaurants were clean and the quality was good. Definitely a tie. No problems with either.
FOOD CHOICES
Again a tie. Depending on your palate they both had great selections. I’ve been to some buffets and you are left struggling to find something decent to eat. Both Buffet 101 and Vikings left me stuffed and happy.
WESTERN FOOD
Vikings wins this one hands down. I loved their choices of western food. While Buffet 101 has western food, it’s not as interesting or varied as Vikings. The oddest thing about Buffet 101 was the large portions they serve here. At buffets I want small portions so I can try different things. Buffet 101 serves dinner sized portions in their western area. I didn’t try several things because I knew if I did I’d be too full to eat other things.
ASIAN FOOD
Buffet 101 has way more Asian food than Vikings 101. My particular favourite was the live shrimp that was done Chinese style. Whole areas are dedicated to rice.
SUSHI , SASHIMI AND MAKI
Technically this should be in the Asian food category, but I think people that like sashimi would agree that this is an important enough to get its own category. Vikings beats Buffet 101 here with more choices and tastier sashimi. One thing Vikings did that was super cool was you could see them preparing the sashimi right in front of you.
MEATS
Vikings wins this hands down. The biggest winner here was the way they handled the all important roast section. Instead of just slicing off a section of roast for you, as they do at Buffet 101, they actually slice off a seared but rare slice and then grill it to how you want it. I’ve been to buffets around the world and never seen this done.
DESSERTS
Both restaurants do a stand out job with desserts but I’m giving the win to Vikings. Their duo chocolate and candy fountains are impressive and I loved their selection of pre made desserts. The crem brûlée I had at Buffet 101 was only so so.
BIGGEST WINS & OUTSTANDING AREAS
Vikings biggest win is their meats area, with the ribs and roasts.
Buffet 101 wins for its live shrimp, and seafood grilling area where they bring hot grilled seafood to your table.
THE WINNER?
If I had one last meal in Cebu I would go to Vikings. I love the meat, the sashimi and the selection of western food. If my mom (who loves Chinese food and hates sashimi) had a choice she would choose Buffet 101. This is definitely where I would take her for Mother’s Day.
Both restaurants are fantastic, and they both have an audience that would like one more than the other. Try them out and let me know what you think.
Leave a Reply