Leslie's Alabang - Early Lunch Buffet Down South

I celebrate the rare occasion when Yam randomly invites me to go out. It is certainly not like him to do that. He is always the uptight, “no-plan-don’t-go” kind of guy. So when he decided (out of the blue) to bring me out for an early lunch on a Sunday, I was a happy child.

We went for a brunch buffet at Leslie's Alabang. We always pass by this massive restaurant but never got the chance to dine in. It is located along Commerce Avenue in Filinvest Corporate City just behind Alabang Town Center. For people with cars, going there is easy but if you commute along Zapote road, the best drop off point would possibly be ATC. You would just need to walk a few meters towards the other side to reach Leslies.

Leslie's is a restaurant cum multifunction hall that caters to different special occasions. Its massive size conveniently accommodates big gatherings such as weddings, corporate functions, and more. In fact, when we arrived at around ten in the morning, there was a wedding going on inside one of their function rooms (the groom was a foreigner).

The place is reminiscent of a Spanish Castle. Its façade gives it a very green atmosphere due largely to the trees surrounding the area. A koi pond and an array of ornamental plants are strategically placed just under the bridge leading towards the main door. For a first impression, Leslie's did not disappoint.

Main Entrance

As you go inside, you will be greeted with what appears like a miniature falls. Beyond that is the main hall which can probably accommodate a hundred people. But since the brunch buffet was served upstairs, we didn't get the chance to check it out more. On the second floor, several dining tables are set along the veranda. I suppose that area would be best experienced at night in an al-fresco dinner.

Best for dramatic wedding photos. Just look at that terrace. 

Their buffet boasts of Filipino cuisines ranging from the traditional Kare-Kare to the more exotic Ginataang Kuhol (I’m sorry but I really find Kuhol exotic). Apart from these servings, there is a separate section where you can ask the staff to cook several raw ingredients displayed on the table. There you can have a fix of Buttered Oysters, Sinigang sa Miso Tuna, or Sinigang na Baboy - freshly cooked and served. Another section is allotted solely for the  “inihaw” where you can choose a variety of skewered dishes. And then there are also two other sections for the drinks and desserts.

Some of the raw ingredients that you can choose from.

It's weird how the galunggong fish was part of this.

Their main buffet selection.

Tiny skewered stuff. Yam had these so I'm not sure.

It's good to note that Leslie's offers an exceptional customer service. Their waiters were very accommodating and they served our food right on time. The food though, was not as grand and overwhelming as the place. Some dishes were average in taste and there was nothing special in the menu. I have eaten the same viands in my favorite "karinderya" and some of them even fared better (the sweet and sour pork was very, very sour). But their Buttered Oyster and Sinigang sa Miso Tuna were exceptional!

These buttered oysters and mussels are delicious. 

One of my favorites, the Sinigang sa Miso Tuna.

Among the many selections of Buffet restaurants available, Leslies can be a good gut filler. We might be going back for the romantic ambiance, but if we want to binge in sinful gluttony, there are other buffet restaurants in the area that offer more variations of dishes at the same price.