7 Corners: Eat-All-You-Can Buffet at Crowne Plaza Galleria

Being a groupon lover, I find it very hard to resist tempting deals especially when there's good food on the line. So a few months ago, when Deal Grocer offered a voucher of P995 instead of P1,547 for a lunch buffet at Crowne Plaza Galleria's 7 Corners, I didn't even think twice 'cause I just knew I had to grab the opportunity right then and there.
7 Corners at Crowne Plaza Galleria 7 Corners Tables

It wasn't my first time to visit Crowne Plaza Galleria as I've previously enjoyed an eat-all-you-can dimsum session at Xin Tian Di, also courtesy of a Deal Grocer voucher. And since my previous experience at Crowne Plaza is quite commendable, I was more excited to try 7 Corners this time, especially since this buffet destination has been included in Philippine Tatler's Philippines’ Best Restaurants for 4 consecutive years.

Located at the hotel's 2nd floor, 7 Corners exudes a sophisticated yet quaint ambiance. Its space is drenched with browns and hints of blues, with sleek black tables and chairs, and walls filled with interesting trinkets. Although I've visited quite a good number of hotel buffets already, it's the first time I've seen a buffet dining area generously decorated with various knickknacks. I quite like it though as it makes the place seem cozier.

7 Corners Dining Area Round Tables at 7 Corners

My date and I visited 7 Corners last May. (I know, this is a really late post!) And for the whole month, the restaurant has been serving Korean cuisine particularly of Seoul. As a newbie with Korean food, I honestly didn't know what to expect as the revelation came in by surprise. Fortunately, there were still a lot of familiar dishes to choose from.

Even while serving mainly Korean fare, there were still plenty of appetite whetters, hors d'oeuvre, salads and hearty soups both familiar and not at 7 Corners.

Shrimp Appetizer Fancy Appetizer
Appetizer
Caesar Salad Korean Steak Tuna Salad

There were also a few Japanese dishes beside the section for appetizers. I saw some chawanmushi, assorted sushi and maki, as well as sashimi cut and served by order.

Maki

Of course, a hotel buffet isn't complete without its selection of cold and fresh seafood items. And at 7 Corners, they have mussels, prawns, lobsters and oysters on display. However, we were told that there's an additional fee for availing of the seafood. I'm not sure though if it's only for the lobsters as we didn't bother getting some anymore.

Cold Seafood

After the selection of seafood is an area for all the cooked dishes. There were the staples like sautéed vegetables, chicken tandoori and garoupa fish tikka among others, as well as some Korean viands like kimchi, gochujang chicken stew, ojinguh bokkeum spicy squid, Korean beef stir-fry, Korean bulgogi and some curry-based savory dishes.

Tandoori Chicken and Garoupa Fish Tikka
White Squid with Kim Chi Base Marinate
Korean Beef Stir-Fry

For noodle lovers, there's a station where you can have your own hot noodle made. Just choose the ingredients you want and have the chef do all the cooking for you.

Noodle Section and Jae Yook Bo Kum

Then, there's also a pasta station for people like my beau who can't get enough of this Italian specialty dish. Just tell the chef what kind of pasta you like, and he'll cook it for you. Of course, there's also the carving station with a glorious chunk of US rib eye steak.

Pasta Station US Rib Eye Steak

At a separate station across the room, there's a selection of breads, cheeses, dried fruits and nuts. This section also has a display of freshly oven-baked specialty pizzas.

Cheeses, Dried Fruits and Nuts
Pizza Station Pizza

And lastly, one can't simply miss the colorful array of desserts on display. There were cake slices, treats in shot glasses and ramekins, a chocolate fondue station, as well as a selection of ice cream for teppanyaki-style serving, and fresh slices of assorted fruits.

Cakes and Fondue Station
Cakes at the Dessert Section
Fresh Fruit Slices

There were more dishes especially Korean viands which I failed to take photos of. Since we dined on a weekday, there were a lot of people both voucher holders and office folks who visited 7 Corners for a hearty lunch. And of course, you know a blogger can't do her job well when people give her the weird look.

The Pasta Dishes We Got

Since the beau is a big fan of pasta dishes, he went nuts with ordering them. There were 4 kinds of pasta which the chef can use when we dined at 7 Corners -- spaghetti, fettuccine, penne and fusilli, and 8 kinds of sauces to choose from. We got to sample and finish 5 kinds of pasta dishes. Not bad at all since we still got to try other food items aside from the pastas. (The beau isn't quite pleased though, he wanted to try all 8!)

Puttanesca

First we had was Puttanesca, a tomato-based pasta dish with olive oil, anchovies, garlic, olives, capers, chili flakes, basil and parsley, then topped with Parmesan cheese. Being a fan of tomato-based pasta dishes, I was suat tsed at the quality of this plate. The sweet, tangy and salty flavors blend harmoniously and definitely made my palate happy.

Vongole

We also got to try the Vongole, pasta cooked in olive oil and white wine with garlic clams, chili flakes and parsley. Although this dish only has a few ingredients, I really liked how simple yet flavorful it was. It had a light yet sharp taste to it, as well as a slight heat.

Marinara

Next we had was Marinara, and by the name itself you'd know that it has seafood. This dish has pasta tossed in olive oil, tomato sauce and white wine with garlic, onion, artichoke, assorted seafood, chili flakes and parsley. Just by the looking at it, you can already tell that this is one tangy and savory pasta dish perfect to awaken the taste buds.

Seafood Pesto

Fourth on the table was the Seafood Pesto, a hearty pasta dish cooked in olive oil, white wine and pesto, with garlic, onion, artichoke, mixed seafood and chili flakes. For pesto dishes, I quite have a bias for the seafood variety. So of course, this earthy and savory pasta dish got my nod for approval, as well as two thumbs up.

Pomodoro

Last among our pasta escapade was the Pomodoro, another tomato-based pasta dish with olive oil, garlic, onion, basil, parsley and oregano, then topped with Parmesan. I'm not a big fan of this pasta item, but I liked how tangy, earthy and herby this dish tasted. It was truly refreshing on the palate, perfect for summer if I may say.

After trying out 5 among the 8 pasta dishes available at 7 Corners, I can definitely say that this buffet really knows how to make quality pasta items. Our spaghetti and fettuccine were cooked al dente, and the sauces were all made with high quality ingredients. Even the beau who's picky when it comes to pasta was very much satisfied.

Other Food Items I Got

Of course, we didn't visit 7 Corners just to drown ourselves in pasta dishes, however good they may be. It's not just pasta all-you-can anyway. So aside from our Italian favorite, we tried to sample as much as we can from the buffet spread.

Bowl of Jogaetang

I can't remember correctly if there were no other soup items available that day. But for a warm hearty start, I got a bowl of Jogaetang or spicy clam soup. The clear soup looked harmless at first, but it was indeed really spicy after a couple of spoonfuls. And since I don't have a high tolerance for spicy dishes, I just finished all the clams.

Salmon sashimi, sushi, meats and chawanmushi

Next on my plate was a selection of mostly Japanese food items. I got a few freshly-sliced Salmon Sashimi, a piece each of Saba Sushi and Spicy Salmon Roll, a bowl of Chawanmushi and a few strips of the Korean Beef Stir-Fry. The sushi, maki and chawanmushi were good albeit not extraordinary. The sashimi on the other hand, tasted fresh and buttery so I guess it really helps that these are freshly-sliced upon order. On the other hand, the beef slices are okay though I'm not really a fan.

My Plate at 7 Corners

On my next round, I had small serving each of Jae-yook Bo-kum (spicy pork and stir-fry kimchi), Dakgalbi (chicken in spicy sauce), Pajeon (Korean savory pancake), a seafood entrée which I forgot the name, and Korean Kimchi Fried Rice. I'm not too acquainted with Korean flavors yet, but I like how savory yet spicy most of these dishes are.

US Rib Eye Steak

Even if we already ate quite a lot already, there's always room for a tender and succulent slab of US Rib Eye Steak. The beau got our steak medium well which explains why it was a little dry inside. But if I were the one ordering, I'd have it medium.

Grilled Marinated Beef

We also got some Grilled Marinated Beef which despite not looking too enticing was a delight to eat. Each piece was soft, juicy, quite fatty and has a sweet and smoky flavor.

Pistachio and Strawberry Ice Cream, Creme Brulee and Cakes Pistachio and Strawberry Ice Cream

Since we had a lot of food, it took us quite a while to finish everything up. Actually, up to the point that the staff were already cleaning up the buffet spread. And since we haven't had desserts yet, we hurriedly took a trip to the sweets section and got anything we can. For my last plate, I had a slice of Cheesecake and Pistachio Cake, Crème Brûlée and a scoop each of Pistachio and Strawberry Ice Cream. It was a shame I missed the teppanyaki ice cream, but I guess I was still satisfied 'cause they were good even as it is.

Iced Cappuccino Shirley Temple

The lunch buffet has an included round of hot tea or coffee. However, we opted to avail of other beverages as much to our surprise, the drinks were reasonably priced. Still a little expensive compared to casual dining restaurants, but not bad for hotel restaurant pricing. The beau enjoyed his Iced Cappuccino, while I got a Shirley Temple. I can't remember the exact prices, but if I'm not mistaken, each beverage was a little less than P200.

THE VERDICT

Our trip to 7 Corners was a nice buffet experience despite still being flawed. The choices may be limited, but everything is of great quality. The servers were all friendly and courteous, while the ambiance delivered that of what's expected from a luxurious hotel.

However, there were 2 things that gave me quite a bad impression about 7 Corners. First, it wasn't clear if the cold seafoods were part of the buffet. I believe it should be as proven by other bloggers, but why were we told that we had to pay an additional amount? Next, it's sad that no one called our attention before the buffet tables were to be cleaned up. I thought servers should ask the guests first if they would like to make a last trip before closing time? Anyhow, I still enjoyed the buffet lunch so I'll now rest my case.

Taste - 4/5
Ambiance - 4/5
Service - 3.5/5
Promo Price - 4/5
Original Price - 3/5
Overall Value - 3.5/5

(Note: Overall Value rating is for the discounted voucher amount we paid.)

Lunch Buffet Rates:
Voucher Amount - P995
Weekdays & Saturday - P1,547 nett
Sunday Rate - 1,879 nett


7 Corners, Crowne Plaza Galleria
2/F Crown Plaza Galleria Manila, Ortigas Ave.,
Cor. Asian Development Bank
Mandaluyong City, Metro Manila
Philippines
(02) 633-7222
Facebook Page

55 comments:

  1. Promise gusto ko na talagang mag-buffet uli! Haha. Sarap ng food!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Go Mrs.Kolca! :) Don't hold yourself back. It's nice to treat yourself to buffets once in a while.

      Delete
  2. I really want a buffet that'll make me forget my name, hehe

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Most hotel buffets have really good food! :) 7 Corners has great dishes, as well as Corniche and Market Cafe. I'm sure you'll find something so good that you'll forget your name! ;)

      Delete
  3. grabe dami nyong kinain na pasta!! may additional fee pa ung seafood? bkt gnun? tsk!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Haha.. Kaya nga ata inabutan na kami ng closing, tagal ubusin ng pasta! Anyway, yun actually yung hindi clear. Supposedly, the seafood should be included in the buffet, but we were told that we have to pay extra.. >.<

      Delete
    2. Haha I had the same exact impression when I saw all those pasta! I think its a long time na since I last ate here. I remember they used to have more meat selections and I don't recall any charge on the seafood. Oh and they have the teppanyaki ice cream.

      Delete
  4. I think I would need to fast for a whole day before I head over here to enjoy this feast.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Ouch, they should ask the customer for last call. I haven't been to 7 corners but I already ate at Xin Tian Di... Love the Peking Duck.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Looks delish! Hmmmm the best buffet I tried so far is the Mariot Hotel at par with and I think much better wit Sofitel Spirl. I'll try this soon :)

    ReplyDelete
  7. I heard the cook wants to strangle him for making the former cook not only 5 but 7 pasta dishes..I thought there were 10 pasta dishes all in all.

    ReplyDelete
  8. oh my. medyo expensive but it's so worth it. i so wanna try eating here. to hell with diet kung ganito nakaharap... hahaha! xD

    ReplyDelete
  9. You know how much I love Korean food. This is my dream come true! hahaha I wish I bought that voucher. I will watch out for more vouchers at hotel. They serve the most lavish buffets!!! My gosh! I'm jealous (as I always am of your food adventures!) hahahaha

    ReplyDelete
  10. being an HRM graduate, I am able to know the tastes and names of international cuisine.. and trying 7 corners is really worthy. love it :)

    ReplyDelete
  11. those prawns and lobsters look so yummy :)

    ReplyDelete
  12. It kind of puts one off when the rules are not clear. And not informing the customers that they're closing shop is another pet peeve, after all, you've paid good money to be there and experience what they've got to offer.
    Though everything looks good, like what you've said, their buffet spread is not that impressive but they sure made up on the taste as you've defined in this post. Despite that, I still hope to try this place in the near future. Ill watch out for vouchers! =)

    ReplyDelete
  13. You really took nice photos! What camera are you using? My dad would surely enjoy dining here because it has his favorite, chawanmushi. Oh, wow! 7 Corners included US Rib Eye Steak? Not bad for PhP995! The dessert station looks tempting too!

    xoxo
    MrsMartinez

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Mrs. Martinez! :) I'm using a Canon EOS 550D.

      Delete
  14. wow... super sarap naman! all those japanese food won me over already but the rest of the pics (and food), just put this place on my "to visit" list when we get the chance to have a vacation in the phils...

    ReplyDelete
  15. I love the pasta dishes, nakakagutom tuloy....

    ReplyDelete
  16. I agree with Mrs. Martinez, your photos are great :)

    the ambiance and the buffet food presentation are classy, it show elegance which we could not ordinarily see in most buffet restos in the metro. I like to try their rib eye steak

    ReplyDelete
  17. Wow, super sarap naman nito with all the foods available this buffet can truly satisfy one's hunger. :)

    ReplyDelete
  18. They have a very wide selection for their buffet and it would definitely be worth their while and appetite for food lovers.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. And the food is really presented well so it's really a treat.

      Delete
    2. Actually, the selection isn't as wide as other buffets I've been to. They make it up through quality though :)

      Delete
  19. wow looks so expensive! and at 1,547 regular price quite expensive nga but if someone will pay it for me, of course who am I to say no? hehe.. hope to try this place soon. :0

    ReplyDelete
  20. That's a lot of food to choose from, I'm not a big eater so I might overwhelmed seeing those..Enjoyed watching all the photos here, that already made me full, lol..

    ReplyDelete
  21. amazing! love all that food, sumi...mouthwatering

    ReplyDelete
  22. Just the sight of it makes me hungry. And knowing Korean dishes are also in the house, just thinking that it might be a good idea to visit it too. As always you never disappoint. Good job!

    ReplyDelete
  23. Yummy! Just looking at the pictures makes me soooo hungry already. The last time I dined in a buffet setting in May at Mandarin Oriental. :)

    ReplyDelete
  24. oh my....the food all look so delish! i so want to ditch my diet now!

    ReplyDelete
  25. I must agree!! Me and my husband has been there last month and we love it soo much. Its so worth it!

    ReplyDelete
  26. Seems a good place to spend a night and eat and eat and eat. Uhmmm.. are they affordable? :D

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Buffet rates are posted at the end of the post :)

      Delete
  27. I love groupon too! :) Been buying from them since hihi...Looks like a good deal here, not the usual ones I see where customers ain't satisfied...yummy!

    ReplyDelete
  28. Sumptuous looking food! Love to try this foods especially the Jae-yook Bo-kum (spicy pork and stir-fry kimchi), Dakgalbi (chicken in spicy sauce), Pajeon (Korean savory pancake), and Korean Kimchi Fried Rice. These foods are so new to me.

    ReplyDelete
  29. Nakakagutom ito tingnan ah. Why did I open this post? IT is already late a night and I want to eat! Good job on the review, Sumi!

    ReplyDelete
  30. looks yummy, personally i love puttanesca... great photos also

    ReplyDelete
  31. Thanks for this photo-loaded entry! Looks like you ate a lot here! Teehee :)

    ReplyDelete
  32. I have been contemplating to try this too but I don't quite find it reasonable... sorry kuripot kasi ako. I think it's quite pricey but to those with huge appetite, this deal is a must try!

    ReplyDelete
  33. "I thought servers should ask the guests first if they would like to make a last trip before closing time?"
    small stuff like this, however, can change the full dining experience

    ReplyDelete
  34. Not only the foods look good but the place as well.

    ReplyDelete
  35. You got all these for P995? not bad! I hope that Deal Grocer will offer this deal again. Thanks for sharing.

    ReplyDelete
  36. Wow This is sooo nice but sooo expensive for me :).. But I will definitely try this. I just need to save first hehe!

    ReplyDelete
  37. I have tried 7 Corners dinner buffet, food was good. it wasn't excellent for me...hahaha...feeling expert. Choices were a bit limited too. This gives them a lot of room for improvement.

    ReplyDelete
  38. I am soooo tempted to try this. . what persuaded me are those amazing-looking pastas and myghaaad the dessert corner too! Me likey mucho! :p

    ReplyDelete
  39. now i'm thinking of booking 7 corners for v-day!

    ReplyDelete
  40. Hope Crowne Plaza Galleria's 7 Corners have promo for the couple this valentines day. hope to eat at 7 Corners someday!

    ReplyDelete
  41. The food photos look so delish! our favorite bonding time dinner buffets! :)

    ReplyDelete
  42. I envy you for tasting all these heavenly dishes!

    ReplyDelete
  43. waaaa..i like to try their pasta dishes nakakagutom naman.

    ReplyDelete
  44. I want to try this! It is so near in our office...

    ReplyDelete
  45. Im a fan of buffet and I make it to the point to try almost everything! :) Wish I can get a good deal so I can try 7 Corners! :)

    ReplyDelete
  46. so much variety of foods :) will definitely enjoy lunch here esp. on a voucherprice meal :)

    ReplyDelete

Powered by Blogger.