For as long as I can remember, whenever I would ask my babyson where he wants to eat for his birthday, his answer would be The Highlands Steakhouse. That’s how much he loves it. That he’s willing to trek 2 hours after school just to have his birthday dinner there -only to come back home right after to make it to their regular bedtime for school.
This year though, for his 17th birthday, I decided to push him to eat some place else for a change. And he requested going back to The Heritage Hotel where he had his birthday party when he turned 1. Yun lang pala eh. Granted!
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My babyson’s 1st birthday & baptism celebration at the ballroom of The Heritage Hotel way back 1997. It was spanking new & that’s where we held the double celebration.
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The time we went to Roxas Blvd. could easily have been the time we would have spent going all the way to Tagaytay. Grabe ang traffic! I think everywhere you go, traffic talaga ang kalaban especially now that it’s almost Christmas.
After his 1st birthday party, we never set foot again in Heritage Hotel because there were other areas far closer to home so that’s what we patronized. It was good to visit Heritage Hotel again after so many years, but sadly, it fell very very short of our expectations. Which is disappointing because we were there to celebrate a highly special occasion.
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Riviera Cafe, The Heritage Hotel
Muy gwapito babyson! <3
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The buffet set-up, although festively decorated, was lacking in choices. Normally, it would take us a good many a rounds before deciding which station to partake of first because everything just looks amazing. But at Riviera Cafe, we went around many a times because we couldn’t find anything that caught our fancy. Everything on the table looked boring & unappetizing. Honestly, we contemplated if we should just leave or bear it & stay. Traffic was horrible, so we stayed.
Sorry, but it was truly a sorry excuse for a buffet and I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone. Least of all if you’re celebrating a milestone. 🙁
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As luck would have it, my kids are really the best & didn’t give me a hard time for my bad choice of restaurant.
You may notice my baby son’s bright neon shoes, a gift from his sisters. He loves his Nike’s! I just got him a pair not so many days ago and yet he was equally delighted to receive another one. Ilan ba ang pas mo anak?
Anyway, going back to the buffet station, this is the salad station which I didn’t bother taking a close up photo of.
The sushi & sashimi station. We are certified sushi lovers but I promise you, we skipped this entirely. That’s how sad & pathetic it looked. </3
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Riviera Cafe has its Asian Corner which highlights Roast Duck, Suckling Pig, Asian Noodles, Hainanese Chicken Rice and Singaporean Laksa. The only dishes we somewhat enjoyed. Btw, all meats and poultry served are Halal-certified.
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The noodles station was quite alright. But 1,500 php is not acceptable to just have noodles the whole night.
Because the limited choices didn’t leave anything to the imagination, we started off with the noodles. Kap & I had the Laksa, normally our favorite.
I was really glad that everyone’s spirit was up in spite of my booboo. <3
My appetizer plate replacing my usual japanese platter.
The hainanese chicken, with the chicken rice, was also welcomed with delight by the GOppets. <3
The grilling station.
I did enjoy the 8 selection of cheese though. <3 I asked for grapes from the kitchen to pair with my cheese platter. #demandingpiglet
This cheese platter could possibly, just possibly, have saved my night.
Nacho station. Some ground meat would have made this okay.
But the most disappointing station that night was this. THIS measly dessert station almost made me cry. Boo!
I drowned my sorrows in sugarless halo-halo. Pero may ice cream. I needed a pick-me-upper. Please don’t judge! 😛
In spite of everything, it was still a night of thanksgiving & celebration. I am so thankful for my happy family. And for my son who is growing up to be a kind, decent, & responsible young man.
The GOppets can clearly make the best of any situation. <3 Basta kumpleto.
Thank you for bearing with mommy, sweetheart. I know I don’t always make the best choices -and I’m not only talking about the restaurant, but life in general. And yet, you continue to listen to me and ask me for advice. I love you babyson, and I’m, so proud of the man you are becoming.
Life is a series of adventures & misadventures. Such is the sugar & spice of it all, don’t you agree? 😉
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I wish you many more happy birthdays, the fulfilment of your every dreams. And may God be always in your life. To strengthen & encourage you in times of trials & struggles, and to rejoice with you in times of success. I love you anak! ;-*
22 Comments
Wow! That is one horrible buffet. There was a time before when Heritage Hotel was the place to see and be seen. How times have changed. I doubt you could’ve forseen it would be this bad.
Happy birthday to Jonah!
December 3, 2014 at 8:12 amOo nga Niel huhuhu. They should really do something about it. Super empty, sayang hotel pa naman.
December 3, 2014 at 8:19 amWow,Mommy Jane, you’re so pretty in the pic when Jonah turned 1! Mukhang hindi naman photoshop hehe no wonder you captured Kap’s heart instantly 🙂
Happy birthday to your muy gwapito ,mr. delicious,babyson! 🙂 good morning,Mommy Jane! :*
December 3, 2014 at 8:37 amWow you certainly made my morning nice with that wonderful compliment Jing! <3 Thank you! 🙂
December 3, 2014 at 8:46 amAnd amoy usok pa sa lobby pa lang. Or they improved na? Happy Birthday to
December 3, 2014 at 9:42 amJonah!
Hi Tara! <3 To be fair wala kaming naamoy na usok sa lobby haha. Mej presentable sya kasi may holiday decors. But we certainly won't be stepping foot there for a loooooooong time. 😛
December 3, 2014 at 9:44 amHappy birthday to Jonah! Nako, I would have probably cried if I were faced with a sad dessert station. Super love your throwback pics! You looked just as fab then as you do now. Mwah!
December 3, 2014 at 9:48 amYou are too kind. Which is why I love you Patty!! <3 Thank you. And yes, I was crying on the inside hahaha. nag-dessert station pa sila diba, waaaaaa!
December 3, 2014 at 10:13 amMommy Jane, you were one hot momma then! I thought it was Donita Rose carrying Jonah. Looks like all the kids took after their dad.
I am soooo happy to see that despite the underwhelming buffet you still had a grand time. It is, after all, the family that truly matters.
Love the GOppets!
December 3, 2014 at 10:07 amAnd I love you Candy! <3 Thank you for loving us. Yes, kahit swan ang GOppets masaya basta magkasama sa hirap at ginhawa hahaha! :-*
December 3, 2014 at 10:14 amWow, you have always been a stunner, Ms. Jane! No wonder you have great looking kids kasi ang ganda ganda mo and couple that up with Kap’s equally good genes = good looking children!
Anyway, that’s one sorry excuse for a hotel buffet… 🙁 When we stayed there, the breakfast buffet was the same and we ended up eating just bits and pieces and then went to the nearest Kenny Roger’s to eat another round of breakfast. Not worth the money talaga yung spread nila. Plus, the executive suite room we were billeted in have lots of mosquitoes! We had to ask them to transfer us to another one pero since the hotel was full at that time nag spray na lang sila ng insecticide much to our chagrin! 🙁
Buti na lang,Ms. Jane, buo and masaya pa rin yung buong family mo to celebrate Jonah’s special day(kahit disappointing yung dinner buffet sa Heritage)…Anyway, Happy Birthday again to your GOwapo babyson.
December 3, 2014 at 11:07 amAwwww you are really so sweet Kei! Thank you so much for your compliment to the whole fambam. Yes, for the price hindi talaga uubra. Mas madami pa choices yakimix, buffet 101 et al for the same price or maybe even lower pa nga. They need to revamp asap. Sayang.
December 3, 2014 at 11:10 amBawi na lang next time, Mama Bear! 🙂 Happy birthday Jonah! 🙂
December 3, 2014 at 11:42 amnever-ending bawi hahaha. Thank you bbbeary! :-*
December 3, 2014 at 11:52 amYung year 1997 and 2014 pic mo Ms. Jane proves that age is just a number… fab ka pa din and gorgeous..
Pangit ang experience sa Heritage…tsk tsk… glad ur family sees the sunshine after it… :3
December 3, 2014 at 2:46 pmThank you Mich you are too kind. Mwah! :-* Love You!!!
December 3, 2014 at 2:47 pm🙂 Hoping we do cross paths soon…
December 4, 2014 at 11:30 amme too! :-*
December 4, 2014 at 1:13 pmMs. Jane, ang sexy sexy mo nung 1st birthday ni Jonah!!!! well, maganda ka pa din today…
December 4, 2014 at 1:11 amhaha iba yung sexy sa maganda! :)) How I wish both. Wala nang pag-asa! 😛
December 4, 2014 at 2:13 amHappy birthday to your babyson! Bawi na lang, balik na lang Highlands! 🙂
Miss Jane – mukha kang artista then and now!
December 4, 2014 at 5:48 amhay naku malamang nga balik-highlands this weekend. Tamang tama end of exams. 🙂 Thank you Chel! :-*
December 4, 2014 at 9:14 am