Buffet 101 — Restaurant in Mandaue

We went to Buffet 101 for a Thursday dinner and came in as a group of 12. Thankfully, we had reserved a day prior, so we were accommodated right away with no hassle. It was a bit unfortunate that we couldn’t avail the big group promo since that required a reservation two days in advance, something to keep in mind for next time. That said, the overall experience was still smooth and organized.

Despite being a weekday, the place was surprisingly packed. It’s a testament to Buffet 101’s popularity, though the crowd remained manageable. The ambiance is still one of its strongest points. The lighting, layout, and feel of the restaurant exude a more upscale vibe. Air conditioning was strong and consistent throughout the evening, which was impressive given the volume of guests. Tables and chairs were clean, and staff assisted promptly when we needed extra plates or requests.

However, some plates and cups had noticeable cracks or were unevenly tipped, which is a bit concerning for a premium buffet restaurant. It would be great if they could do a check on their dinnerware and replace worn-out pieces to keep up with their polished look.

Food-wise, having visited Buffet 101 multiple times before, we couldn’t help but feel that the variety and quality have dipped a bit. The Western section, especially the pastas and meats, was a bit of a letdown. The carbonara was watery and quickly dried out on the plate. The Angus steak, while promising in name, was overcooked and chewy when served. Even the beef and pork options in the carving station felt subpar, with dry textures and cuts that were mostly fatty.

On the other hand, the Asian section fared better. The flavors were more vibrant and well-seasoned, and the variety was noticeably more satisfying. Some dishes took a while to be refilled though, so timing your plate rounds was key.

The dessert section, unfortunately, was the weakest link. The halo-halo station ran out of ice quickly and wasn’t refilled promptly, and the ice cream was frozen rock solid, nearly impossible to scoop. Kids crowding the area added to the slight chaos, and the lack of cheesecake refills was disappointing. Even the soft-serve machine had a “warm-up” time of 15 minutes after refills, which added to the waiting. While there was a good selection of drinks, we found that the soft drinks at one point had lost flavor. It was mostly just fizzy water.

Another observation was the lack of floor staff, especially noticeable in a buffet setup where clearing tables and refilling food needs to happen regularly. The staff on duty were friendly and accommodating, but they were clearly stretched thin.

Overall, Buffet 101 is still a decent place to splurge when you want variety or aren't sure what to eat. It has the space, ambiance, and potential, especially for big groups or celebrations. But it would greatly benefit from more consistent food quality, quicker refills, and tighter maintenance of both the stations and the dining tools. It’s still a satisfying experience, just not as stellar as...

Had a wide variety of really good food, from appetizers and mains to desserts 💖 Various cuisines were included, and almost every dish was superb in taste and quantity ✨️ HOWEVER, our dining experience was ruined by the EXTREMELY rude and unprofessional staff (most of them). Seriously, I could barely count the only accommodating and attentive employees with one hand. And I'm not exaggerating. Extremely disappointing how poorly they handle issues (again not all of them).

We had a bit of confusion with the number of reserved seats, so we properly addressed this to the staff. They only informed us of the total number of pax we have reserved for and then assisted us no further. We kept readdressing the issue since we still couldn't figure out what was wrong, and they just kept repeating the same answer. A few of them blatantly showed their irritation. This was the point my mood turned sour. Notably, SUPERVISOR Paulo raised his voice before walking away. He also glared at my cousin after bumping into her previously. Not only that, but he also didn't move out of the way and just continued instructing an employee when my nephew was trying to get to his table (despite knowing full well my nephew was behind him since he turned around and saw him there). And to think all of this is coming from a supervisor. I am left speechless.

Despite the establishment having really great food, the horrendous service kinda outweighed the positives. But I'm also not saying that I'm fully closing my doors on Buffet101. I could still see myself dining there again (with caution, that is). Also, shoutout to Ate Pearl and the other female staff wearing a beige sweater (didn't catch her name sorry) for being attentive and empathetic.

I've seen several reviews complaining about the rude staff. When will you actually do something about it? To conclude, if you cannot even create an enjoyable and smooth dining experience for your customers, what is even the purpose of your business aside from...

Major complaint:

Front desk staff (Leah) is very rude, unpleasant attitude and poor customer service.

We asked her to speak with their manager/supervisor for a complaint but talks a lot and asked unnecessary questions w/c she can’t solve.

The said employee needs to be re-trained for active listening, politeness and creating value to customers.

Other Complaints:

1.) When we walk-in no staff assisted as to the location of the specific table we are assigned. Numbers is not that visible and so we have to go back to the front desk and ask assistance.

2.) Two (2) birthday celebrants have no ID to present. So we just ask to make a plate with a blessed birthday message with their names in w/c the assigned staff agreed and submitted the info. (Names were written down and we waited more than 20 mins but later was informed by one staff who collects the card for bill payment that no one’s available to make. Time wasted!

3.) Asked the staff to expedite the card payment since we have to leave and already waited for more than 10mins but later was told that they need the card pin and we have to go to the front station. (It would’ve save the time if staff told us the time she took the card)

4.) Overall Supervisor assigned that night (Feb. 06, 2023) has a poor handling management skill to his subordinates. He’s not there when I escalated the case and was told he’s outside even when requested to come in and address the issue. Employee under his care especially front desk Leah and the lady assigned to collect the bill needs serious training at least about good customer service.

ATTENTION: Owner or Manager PLEASE TRAIN your...