Monthsary date at Zab's Buffet

January 18, 2012- Monthsary Date at Zab’s Buffet

Over the years, I lost track of the order of our monthsaries.. cause we usually greet each other with… “happy 18^th of the month!! J “ 

This month, we decided to de-stress the best way we know how..  by eating our hearts out! I suggested we go to Zab’s buffet since I had very fond memories when I celebrated my 24^th birthday back in September of last year.. Mr. Big agreed. We met at around 5:50pm, 10 minutes before they normally open.. we were greeted by very polite servers and guard. The place was still being prepared and the aircondition just recently turned on.. so we waited for about 20 minutes more. Not  problem since we arrived early. 

The place

Upon entering the restaurant (to the right), there is a mini bar showcasing the desserts.. but more on that later.. in front, you will be greeted by an array of cooking stations with one or two chefs inside either preparing or waiting for your orders. You may stand and watch them do the magic or you may wait in your seat and the servers will deliver it to you. we were very fortunate that we were the second on in there, because service was quick!

The cooking statons 

The chef was even the one inviting us to try this or that because he was not doing anything at the moment. But mind you, 30 minutes upon opening, the place was jampacked! Much similar to our experience last year, we had to wait for about 45 minutes to get a good seat because the place is quickly becoming popular among Davaoenos. 

Let's gooo to the fooood! 

There is of course the shrimp station. There was a fresh stock of raw shrimps on ice all waiting to be cooked either Buttered Garlic or Chili Garlic.

two servings of buttered garlic! yummy!

There was the pasta station. I love pasta! You may ask the chef to cook you favourite Carbonara or Sweet Style Spaghetti.

sweet style spaghetti

carbonara

Surprisingly, I prefer their spaghetti. The sweet sauce left a good aftertaste.. the carbonara was too starchy and buttery for my liking.. 

There was a Roast beef station. Pure, soft, tasty and tender beef with gravy on the side! This has got to be their best seller! 

One order of roast beef

Sorry for the appearance. We couldn't help but devour it immediately! hehe!

There was a crepe station with either bananas or mangoes as filling. We didn’t even get to try it cause we were too full! But I did try it last September. this was my photo back then. 

Banana crepe

There was the Mongolian station. You can ask the chef to cook you Mongolian rice. I am not sure what other variety they have. Didn’t check it out.

To the left of the stations, they have the usual food warmers/ buffetwares containing several varieties of rice and viands. I have noticed that they usually serve different kinds of viands. The ones we had back then weren’t the same thing they served now. That is a good thing. However, their main courses or their offerings aren’t something I want to rave about.. for me, it’s too “lutong pambahay” for my liking. That part of the restaurant is my least favourite. They have three types of rice, plain, carrot and oriental (?). they had the different ingredients for a vegetable salad all laid out so one can make his/her own choice. Their viands also did not have any label, so just I knew these viands basing on their appearance and taste. They had mixed vegetables, beef steak with onion rings, sweet and sour fish and fried chicken..

My plate- rice, mixed veggies, beef steak, sweet and sour fish

They also had a bar dedicated for different appetizers/desserts. This is what I call the ‘mixed bar’. 

the "mixed" bar

Cause they had Japanese (sashimi and maki with soy sauce and wasabi), they had appetizer (pomelo salad). They had a pomelo salad, pizza, maki (before we had California maki now, they served  a different one, teka? I am not so certain what this kind of maki is.. but I am not a fan!). and they had dessert too…

maki. tera maki? i dunno

their pizza is simple yet delish

sweet and cheesy

In the same bar, they had an ice cream machine which serves vanilla ice cream, they had big bowl of chocolate (syrup) and chocolate chips, marshmallows, sprinkles and different candies!! You can make your own ice cream or play with the mix of toppings to make your chocolate dessert! Yumm! They also had small squares of chocolate brownies and chocolate chip cookies. You may top that with chocolate syrup! What did I tell you about being creative? Hehe!

choco brownies and choco chip chewy cookies

Back to the separate station of chilled desserts located near the entrance. This is part two of dessert because as I said, there is already one you can choose from in the salad/Japanese/pizza station. You can choose from this selection: Coffee jelly, Blueberry cheesecake (my favorite!!), churros with chocolate dip and kreme brulee.. did I go for seconds? Thirds perhaps!! =)

My eternal beloved

Blueberry cheesecake shots!

other desserts.. choco mousse and churros

Churros, blueberry cheesecake and kreme brulee

The main attraction for me in any buffet place.. great desserts! 

Look who I bumped into!!

HI Vern! Long time no see! 

Ay haggard! tsskk. 

Buffet price costs Php 329/ person with 1 glass of iced tea for free.

With its wide variety of menu selections, polite and friendly servers and accommodating chefs.. you’ll get more than your money’s worth! Two thumbs up!

Zab’s Buffet Restaurant is located at Paseo de Roxas where Chippens Buffet used to be.. Til next time!