How to make the most out of your Vikings Buffet experience

Vikings Luxury Buffet finally opened this week at SM City in Cebu. The restaurant brand prides itself to be the largest of its class in the Philippines, not only in terms of floor area but also with the quality and quantity of dishes to choose from.

During my visit there a few days back, I counted at least 16 food stops that showcased Japanese, Italian, Thai and Chinese cuisines among many others. The variety can be either mouth-watering or staggering. I went there on a very empty stomach but I still wasn't able to sample even a quarter of the dishes on display.

Nonetheless, I still enjoyed my 2-hour dinner at Vikings. But I made a mental note to myself as to how to make the most out of my buffet experience next time. Here are some of them:

Survey the sceneAs soon as you are seated at Vikings, do not make the fundamental mistake of grabbing food from the station nearest your table. Walk around the restaurant to admire its urban chic interiors and to survey all the dishes being offered. Draft afterwards an imaginary route in your head as to which stations you must visit and also those that you can actually skip.I actually did this which saved me from being overstuffed and overwhelmed that evening. This is not an eating marathon so it is perfectly fine if you missed the chocolate fondue or the hot-pot or the pastas on your maiden visit.Start with something lightThe first items on my food itinerary were a few cold cuts, some sashimi and a medium rare slice of lamb slathered with truffle gravy.Well in retrospect, I did not start as light as I would have wanted to. The principle is just to pace yourself and build a manageable progression during your buffet meal - appetizer, mains and then dessert. If you start with the lechon, you might not have enough space for everything else. Explore unfamiliar dishesSince salmon is one of my weaknesses, I made frequent trips to the Japanese counter. But I also saw to it that I try unfamiliar dishes in between. If I didn't do that, I would have missed the utterly homey seafood cioppino near the Greek station.While we refrain from 'eating everything once,' you should be open to 'eat something new' every time. You might discover a new flavor to add in your growing culinary playlist.Don't miss the carving stationAlthough there's a dedicated lechon shrine at Vikings Cebu, I was more mesmerized with the slabs of meat gloriously resting at the carving station that night.

A Vikings chef adding finishing touches on the US Beef Entrecote.

I asked myself this - "When was the last time I had a properly roasted turkey, complete with sides, for dinner?" That my friends, is only one reason why this spot at Vikings should not be missed.Leave room for coffeeCap your Vikings experience with dessert- a slice of Mango Calamansi cheesecake perhaps, some churros and native kakanins. Pair then your sweets platter with a cup of coffee or tea.The coffee helps you digest your guilt, along with the artisan pizza, the braised pork ribs and the grilled scallops you devoured earlier.If you want a similar effect but with a stronger finish, Vikings also has draft beer and sake wine.

Beverage options at Vikings Cebu.

Share the Vikings experience with family and friendsFinally, it's best to experience Vikings in the company of family or friends or those who will never judge you for both your political inclinations and the number of makis you've downed in one sitting.

#Dresslikeaviking

These after all are the people that matter in your life, the very special ones you'd like to share a delicious memory with at Vikings in Cebu.---------Vikings also has function rooms for large groups. But do expect a long queue outside the restaurant so it's recommended to call in at their contact information below or message them in Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/vikingssmcitycebu - they reply very promptly) to reserve the best seats in the house.Vikings Luxury BuffetSM City Cebu 032 255-3888, 032 255-4888, 0917-576-9888, 0998-996-9888Lunch - 11 AM to 2:30 PMDinner - 5:30 - 10 PMAdult Rates:Weekday Lunch: Php 688 (+5% service charge)Weekday Dinner: Php 888 (+5% service charge)Weekends/Holiday Lunch & Dinner: Php 888 (+5% service charge)Kids Rate:Kids below 3 ft: FREEKids 3 ft - 4 ftWeekday Lunch: Php 188 (+5% service charge)Weekday Dinner: Php 288 (+5% service charge)Weekends/Holiday Lunch & Dinner: Php 288 (+5% service charge)Kids 4 ft - 4 ft 6"Weekday Lunch: Php 388 (+5% service charge)Weekday Dinner: Php 588 (+5% service charge)Weekends/Holiday Lunch & Dinner: Php 588 (+5% service charge)For promos and updates, visit http://www.vikings.ph/ Disclosure: While the blogger was invited during Vikings Luxury Buffet Cebu's media launch, he maintains full editorial control of this blog entry.