Royale Lounge which opened during the recent Tuna Festival is actually the newly-renovated restaurant of the East Asia Royale Hotel, known before as Kalilangan Coffee Shop. It is the first in a series of massive expansion moves being undertaken by the 11-year old hotel.
I first went inside the place during the night of the Tuna Fest’s Foam Party at the hotel carpark after being drawn inside by the brightly lit interiors walled in by glass panels from floor to ceiling.
Tastefully designed by Architect Brix Teng, using earthy hues of brown and mocca on its furniture including its soft leather seats, the now bigger dining establishment exuded class but does not overwhelm the visitor in its sophistication because it still feels homey and welcoming.
I only took coffee with that time and did not stay long but vowed to come back soon.
I finally had the chance last Saturday upon the invitation of GenSan’s hotelier gentleman Romeo Bartolome, known to his friends as Rombar to check out their latest offering, the Royal Lounge’s Weekend Buffet Dinner.
The place was packed when my partner and I arrived around 8pm. We found out later that the whole dinner costs only P250 while kids below ten are charged half at P125.
After finding a vacant table across the Sushi Bar beside the glass panel facing the hotel arcade, I immediately did what I had to do which was to line up for the food.
Other than the Sushi Bar, the new Royal Lounge also has a Salad Bar and a separate Fruit Bar for the diet conscious. Of course, I feasted on the sushi first because I couldn’t resist their California Maki and Tempura.
Last stop before the Main Course, the Fruit Bar, which was truly a food carver’s masterpiece.
Then I partook a little of everything from this gastronomic feast: Beef Medallion in Brown Gravy, Squid Ball in White Sauce, Royale Fried Chicken, Pancit Canton Hong Kong Style and the star of the night, the Barbecued Pork Ribs.
Everything was delightful especially the Squid Roll which was a new discovery I would consider making part of my “must-eat” list. The tangy white sauce dip was a good complement to each lightly breaded slice.
But being a pork person, I fell in love with the barbecued ribs which were glazed with Royale Lounge’s secret barbecue sauce (peppered with yellow corn) that I didn’t mind licking with my fingers. Each grilled cubed serving was so tender and succulent. If there was a dish here that I would recommend to my friends, this would surely be it.
I wouldn’t know if Royale Lounge would continue to serve their Barbecued Pork Ribs during their Buffet weekends or will make it part of their regular menu, but I strongly suggest that they do. It is one thing that would make the generals come back again and again, buffet weekends or not
Royale Lounge Weekend Dinner Buffet is available every Friday and Saturday evening at the East Asia Royale Hotel, National Highway, Gen. Santos City at P250 per adult and P125 per child below 10 years old. For reservations, contact (63) (83)553-4119 to 28.
NOTE: Photos were taken by Marz. Please click on them for larger views.
Bariles is Tagalog word for “Tuna”, the primary source of income of the people of General Santos City which hosts 6 of the Philippines’ 8 tuna canneries and more than 80% of its tuna processing plants.
