Cafe d' Asie - The Bellevue Manila

Yeeun Kim

4.0

Cafe d' Asie boasts of their colorful selection of choice seafood for their patrons. Located at the reknowned Bellevue Manila, Cafe d' Asie is a busy stop for hotel guests and even patrons from nearby offices. The general circular theme was pleasing to the eye, with round tables with lazy susans, plus the oculus-like opening in the middle that gains you access to the lobby downstairs and a fantastic chandelier up top as the focal point of the restaurant.What impressed me most was the grill station and kitchen, where one can choose from their fresh selections and have them cooked to your liking. They also have several stations - pasta station, Mongolian, Vietnamese and Japanese stations, the bread and salad sections, the fresh seafood stops, a Filipino station and of course, the dessert bar!For their menu of the day, I enjoyed the hot ginger mussel soup or tinolang tahong. It was comforting through and through. One tip I got was to get another bowl of soup after the dessert to kind of wash all the fullness and umay away. This tinolang tahong was gold!From their hot items, I had several helpings of the Asparagus with Hollandaise Sauce. Very light but quite flavorful, I can eat a lot and still have room for the main entrees.I also chowed down on Grilled Fish with Mango and Tomato Salsa. Each slice of fish has those beautiful grill marks and cooked just right, and carefully complemented with the fresh flavor of the mango and tomato salsa.Their Sauteed Shrimp in Garlic was quite appetizing too! Delicate peeled shrimp, cooked perfectly till their pink orange sauteed in garlic with delicious sides of greens. No reason not to get more of this!The Crab ala Pobre was tasty and rich, although I was expecting a little more heat to this dish.We also had trayfuls of their specials including Buttered Garlic Shrimps and Creamy Baked Lobsters. Both dishes did not disappoint and we gorged ourselves with more and more seafood!Their buffet carving for that day includes Baked Fish, which you can season to taste. There is also Ribeye Steak together with a whole arsenal of sauces. I enjoyed mine medium rare this time with some horse radish and Dijon mustard.Ending the buffet right with their wonderful array of mini-cakes and dessert show pieces. One of my favorites was the Sugar-Free Chocolate Mousse, creamy and rich with dark chocolate bitter finish.Another favorite is their Warm Pudding, with Vanilla and Chocolate sauce. I recommend adding a dollop of ice cream too!Apart from this, kudos to Bellevue Alabang's Cafe d' Asie staff who went above and beyond our expectations when it comes to personal requests from our table.It was also sheer luck to be part of the team to experience Cafe d Asie's hospitality on the day of my birthday. Like most restaurants, they also entertain birthday gatherings and even are gracious enough to provide a cake with greetings with matching birthday song.I personally recommend to stop by Cafe d' Asie when you're in the south. Indulge in their mouthwatering seafood buffet for just over a thousand pesos, and experience the world-class hospitality of The Bellevue Alabang as well in a whole new perspective.

Jony Lim

4.0

Starting your day with a Buffet will never be a bad idea. That’s basically what i felt after having a beautiful brunch at The Bellevue Manila’s Cafe D’ Asie, their premier buffet restaurant situated at the 2nd floor of the hotel. The all day buffet goes for P1540 per head and commences at 11am, guests could also avail their breakfast buffet which costs P770 per person up until 10AM. The dining hall was huge and the first thing that really caught my eye was the giant crystal chandelier suspended from the ceiling. It gave a really strong impression and gave the space a sense of grandiosity. The atmosphere at Cafe D’Asie itself felt very intimate and sophisticated which is perfect for celebratory families or for special Work functions.They also picked an awesome day to invite us because every friday they hold their Seafood Fridays buffet where they serve a variety of seafood prepared in a myriad of ways. My personal favorite dish was their Sauteed Shrimp with Garlic. The light handed way they prepared this dish made me appreciate the sweet and delicate shrimp which was accentuated by the fragrant garlic butter.Another hit was their Crabs Ala Pobre which were crabs drenched in a savory, sweet, and spicy sauce. The crabs themselves were really sweet and juicy. The chunky sauce gave the crabs a nice oriental flavor had just the right balance of flavor that everyone could appreciate (even the pickiest kids). Both dishes go so well with their really tasty Fried rice with seafood and Pineapple the bits of seafood mixed in which gave it a nice umami flavor that you might even enjoy just having rice. They also have a really good Grilled Fish with Mango which pared a really meaty and clean tasting white fish with fresh and juicy mangoes and peppers.This dish was really bright and colorful and had a really great contrast of flavors and textures.They also have an impressive selection of fresh seafood from chilled lobsters, shrimp, and clams to a range of the finest locally sourced fish. You can have them cooked to order with your own choice of sauce and delivered to your table. I really enjoyed their grilled Maya-Maya or Snapper which had such a clean and meaty flavor even without much seasoning. Our table was lucky enough to have a special serving of Butter Garlic Shrimp, Creamy Baked Lobster, and Salmon Sinigang. The Buttered Shrimp was a richer and more intense compared to the Sauteed shrimp (and would be soo good with tons of rice) While the Creamy Baked Lobster had a delicious cheesy crust and a sweet interior, the Lobster was noticeable fresh and tender. The Salmon Sinigang was alright but it would have been better if the sourness of the broth was a little more intense.Meat lovers, don’t have to worry either because they didn’t completely forget about us. While a majority of the dishes are seafood there's a huge of roast Rib-Eye Steak at their carving station ready to be sliced by the chef. They also offer a selection of sauces for the steak to give it more personality and pizzaz. The steak itself was a real treat, cooked just around medium well, it had a well developed crust and the tender and juicy interior which was wonderful with the peppercorn gravy that I chose. You should also try their baked Tuna which was like Fish Lechon, the flesh was really meaty while the skin was spiced to perfection. The real treat was their Creamy Pasta with Tartufo which looked so simple and bare but was packed with so much richness in flavor. What really gave this an edge was the copious amount of truffle sprinkles which gave it an earthy and intense umami flavor without overwhelming the senses. Dessert lovers will not be disappointed thanks to the fabulously diverse spread of baked goods, tarts, cakes, mousse and puddings. These desserts are made in house and will surely appease your sugar cravings. I really went to town on their selection of Arce Dairy Ice Cream which had a lot more flavors than you’ll find in even the most well stocked Grocery and Deli. For those who like classic flavors, you will enjoy their Dark Chocolate, Strawberry, and Vanilla ice cream. While those who want something more adventurous could try out their Coffee, Avocado, or Matcha Green tea. I suggest trying their Indian Kulfi ice cream which was more on the unconventional side but the exotic blend of sweetness and spice will surely win you over.Overall, I was quite impressed with the outcome of my Brunch (let’s call it brunch) at Cafe D’Asie. Although this buffet is on the more pricey side and the spread might not be as extensive as other buffets most dishes are executed perfectly and tastes just as good as ala carte dishes in luxe restaurants. Their servers are also performing at the highest level of perfection and cater to your demands and wishes regarding the food. While the interiors might feel a bit dated it still works because it retains a certain sense of nostalgia and novelty that gives buffets at upscale hotels a little more prestige.