First Meridian Lounge at NAIA Terminal 3 offers a comfortable, spacious place to wait before a flight. The washrooms were clean and well maintained, and the food selection was generous enough to satisfy most travellers.
Food highlights
The marinated eggs and fried vermicelli were the standouts of my visit; both were good enough for a second helping. The lounge also has a bakery and a dedicated coffee-and-tea station.
Service
The staff assigned to the beverage area were not particularly warm or welcoming during this visit, although that did not outweigh the comfort of the facilities or the stronger food offerings.
Verdict
A solid airport lounge with comfortable facilities and enough worthwhile food to make the visit useful before departure.
Route 95 Diner in Makati offers strong value and notably warm hospitality. The ₱899 all-you-can-eat platter is attractive for families, although two cooking issues kept our meal from reaching five-star territory.
Highlights
Service: Friendly, attentive staff made us feel welcome from arrival.
Value: The unlimited platter delivered a substantial meal for the price.
Burger and fries: My son enjoyed the Route 95 burger, while the fries were perfectly seasoned and one of the most dependable items we tried.
Room for improvement
Salisbury steak: Bland, with a noticeable gamey aftertaste.
Chicken: My husband’s serving was undercooked and should have remained on the grill longer.
Unlimited ice cream: Available for an additional ₱100, but the quality did not justify the upgrade for us.
Verdict
Despite the steak and chicken problems, excellent service and the value of the ₱899 platter make Route 95 a worthwhile family option. I would return for the hospitality, burger and fries—while being more selective with the grill items.
At 5:30 in the morning, Plaza Premium Lounge in Toronto Pearson’s Terminal 1 delivered one of the strongest airport-lounge breakfasts I have encountered. The room is relatively small, but the food offering is thoughtfully balanced.
What stood out
The buffet included protein, fresh greens, fruit, oats, bread and hot breakfast dishes. Unlike lounges that rely heavily on sugary pastries, this spread made it easy to assemble a genuinely balanced pre-flight meal.
Where it falls short
Space is the constraint. The lounge became crowded and noisy quickly, so it would not be my first choice for a conference call or focused work.
Verdict
If your priority is eating well before a flight, this lounge delivers. Come early when possible and treat it primarily as a dining stop rather than a quiet workspace.
Lido Cocina Tsina in Better Living delivered several dishes worth returning for, along with a few that are better approached cautiously.
Must-orders
Chinese asado: Smoky, rich and deeply flavourful. It immediately reminded me of Texas Roadhouse and was the standout of the meal.
Shrimp balls: Packed with shrimp, with very little filler and a satisfying crunch.
Salt-and-pepper squid: Tender squid beneath a light, crisp coating that complemented rather than overwhelmed it.
Neutral
Chicken feet: Decent but not memorable. Serving them on a regular plate rather than in a bamboo basket also took away from the dim sum experience.
Creamy leche flan: Smooth and well balanced, although ₱195 felt steep for a serving roughly 2.5 inches in diameter.
Skip or approach cautiously
Chami: Bland and lacking depth.
Mango-gelo: The mango did not taste fresh, the gelo had little flavour, and the components never came together.
Eight Treasure Soup: The flavour and portion were good, but the tofu tasted sour on two servings. The staff promptly replaced the first bowl; after the same issue recurred, I chose not to request another.
Verdict
I shall return. The Chinese asado, shrimp balls and salt-and-pepper squid outweighed the misses, while the staff handled the reported soup problem promptly.
The ramen bar is the clear reason to visit the Turkish Airlines Lounge at Narita Airport. It provides the lounge’s most memorable food experience and is strong enough to justify a stop on its own.
Food
Outside the ramen bar, the buffet was limited and repetitive. Several variations of potato balls occupied a surprisingly large portion of the salad area, reducing the sense of variety. The cucumber rolls were a pleasant exception: fresh, tightly rolled and refreshing.
Seating and atmosphere
There was plenty of seating during my visit. However, one section placed guests facing one another, which reduced privacy and made the arrangement feel less relaxing than it could have been.
Verdict
Come for the ramen. Keep expectations modest for the rest of the buffet.
International Buffet—also known as Buffet des Continents—was once a more animated and efficient part of my dining rotation. On this recent lunch visit with my granddaughter, the restaurant felt noticeably slower than I remembered from its earlier years. Even so, its enormous range of food and theatrical European-inspired setting still make it an easy outing for families, particularly when children are part of the plan.
A Tour of the Buffet
The décor leads diners through stylized European scenes, from colourful storefront façades to grand staircases. The room was clean and well maintained during our visit. Chairs looked polished, tables had been thoroughly wiped down, and there was none of the sticky residue that can make a buffet meal feel less appealing from the outset.
The buffet is arranged in successive stations. The Japanese section is focused mainly on rolls, followed by a soup-and-salad bar with green vegetables and several prepared salads. The beet salad was a pleasant surprise: fresh-tasting, well seasoned, and one of the better cold options on offer.
Vegetables, noodles, and the nicely seasoned beet salad.
The breakfast section offers a practical balance of proteins and carbohydrates. The Italian station comes next. Skip the spaghetti with marinara sauce, which was not a highlight, but make room for the lasagna. It was creamy, cheesy, and satisfying in the uncomplicated way that buffet lasagna should be.
The spaghetti with marinara sauce was not a highlight.
The Chinese station serves familiar Chinese-Canadian favourites, including spring rolls, egg rolls, noodles, chicken balls, and more. Nothing aims to be especially adventurous, but the selection does a respectable job of satisfying a Chinese-food craving. The row of pizzas that follows is best skipped.
At the carving station, the pork roast and smoked meat stood out as very good. The Angus beef, however, was dry. Three soups were available during our visit, and the wonton soup was a welcome exception to buffet heaviness: its broth was light, soothing, and easy on the stomach.
Light, soothing wonton soup.Smoked meat and pork roast were among the strongest choices.
Dessert and the Family Factor
Dessert options were extensive. The cakes were dry, but the ice cream was pleasantly restrained rather than overwhelmingly sweet. Brightly coloured gelatin desserts were especially inviting to children, and the fruit station offered a good variety.
A colourful assortment of desserts.
One downside is the washroom, which felt more like one at a busy big-box store than part of a dining experience. It is an area the restaurant could improve substantially.
Verdict
International Buffet is no longer quite as lively or efficient as I remember it, and quality varies sharply from one station to the next. Still, there are enough worthwhile dishes—especially the beet salad, lasagna, pork roast, smoked meat, and wonton soup—to make a visit enjoyable. Its sheer variety, playful décor, and child-friendly dessert selection remain its strongest assets for family dining.
I plan to return on a weekend to try the all-you-can-eat crab offering.
What to Choose
Best choices: beet salad, lasagna, pork roast, smoked meat, and wonton soup.
Better to skip: spaghetti with marinara sauce, pizza, dry Angus beef, and dry cakes.
I visit Golden Corral on International Drive when I want a reliably large, informal American buffet experience. For me it’s as much about the variety and the dessert station as it is about the atmosphere — it still feels like a distinctly Southern, communal meal.
What I liked
Generous, constantly refreshed buffet
The spread is generous, affordable, and constantly replenished, so food stays fresh and hot during my visits. That steady turnover matters when you’re serving a large group.
Standout dessert station
The dessert station is especially impressive. I often find Southern favourites there: puddings, icebox desserts, soft serve, and one of the best hot fudge brownies you’ll find in a buffet.
What could be better
One disappointment for me is the dinner rolls. Golden Corral’s rolls with honey butter used to be more prominent, but now you have to request them and they don’t taste quite the same as before.
Recommended dishes
Apple Pie
Yeast Rolls
Carrot Cake Slice
Golden Corral Sliced Ham
Mashed Potatoes & Gravy
At a glance
Location: International Drive, Orlando
Food: 4
Service: 4
Atmosphere: 3
Group size: 9+ people
Final takeaway
Despite the change with the dinner rolls, Golden Corral remains a must-visit for me whenever I’m in the American South. It’s a cultural dining experience as much as a meal: generous portions, an impressive dessert selection, and an easy option for larger groups.
Sometimes the best meals are found in places that almost convince you to walk away. From the outside, King Cajun Crawfish looks like another casual seafood spot along International Drive. Inside, however, it channels a lively Bourbon Street vibe, with New Orleans-inspired décor and a relaxed Cajun atmosphere.
Venue: King Cajun Crawfish
Location: International Drive, Orlando, Florida
Overall rating: 4 stars
Food: 4
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5
Setting and first impressions
We arrived for lunch and, to be honest, nearly bailed—we were the only diners in the restaurant and wondered if we’d made the wrong choice. I’m glad we stayed. The interior carries a Bourbon Street vibe that makes the place feel lively despite the quiet start.
The food
I ordered the 2-pound crawfish boil along with a cup of gumbo, and both immediately transported me back to Louisiana. The crawfish were perfectly seasoned, coated in a rich Cajun butter that was bold without being overpowering. Every bite tasted fresh, and the spice level let the natural sweetness of the crawfish shine through.
The gumbo was equally memorable. Deep, smoky, and layered with flavour, it had the kind of slow-cooked richness that feels like it came straight from a family kitchen. It was exactly what I had been craving, and I honestly couldn’t have asked for anything better.
Other dishes at the table
Po’boy
Crab legs
Shrimp
Cajun fries
Coconut shrimp
Everything else our table ordered was cooked well and generously portioned; there wasn’t a single complaint from anyone.
What missed the mark
The only disappointment was the oyster bisque. It leaned heavily on cream and potatoes, with very little oyster to justify its name. It felt more like a cream-and-potato soup than an oyster bisque.
I tried Sodiê Doces’ bestseller, a strawberry shortcake-style cake sold by the pound, and I completely understand why they’re so popular.
The cake
Every component works in perfect harmony. The icing is incredibly light, fluffy, and creamy without being overly sweet. Fresh strawberries brighten the filling, while the white chocolate melts beautifully into every bite.
Texture and balance
What impressed me most was how unified the cake felt. Nothing competed for attention; every element complemented the others to create one seamless dessert experience.
Experience
It’s the kind of cake where a single spoonful tells the whole story—and immediately convinces you to take another.
Final takeaway
I found the strawberry shortcake-style bestseller at Sodiê Doces cohesive in flavor and texture: the light icing, fresh strawberries, and melting white chocolate combined into a dessert that made me keep going back for more.
After dining here repeatedly over the years, one thing becomes very clear: Antonio’s doesn’t succeed because of one spectacular dish—it succeeds because everything is consistently excellent.
Service and staff
Their staff are among the best trained in the country. Every visit delivers the same polished, attentive service without feeling scripted.
Food and value
The food remains consistently well executed, and considering the complete experience, the pricing feels justified.
Facilities and attention to detail
What truly separates Antonio’s from many fine dining restaurants is their refusal to cut corners. From organized parking, efficient table management, immaculate gardens, spotless washrooms, and seamless service, every touchpoint reflects careful attention to detail.
What sets it apart
This holistic approach is what makes Antonio’s one of the country’s benchmarks for hospitality.
At a glance
Venue: Breakfast at Antonio’s
Location: Tagaytay
Visit date: July 18
Rating: 5 stars
Final takeaway
Taken together, the consistent execution across service, food, and operations is what keeps me returning and is why I consider Antonio’s a benchmark for hospitality in the country.
