FOOD REVIEW: Starting the Year Right at Quest Plus Conference Center, Manila

Our go-to hotel in the South of the Philippine's capital of Metro Manila, may have changed its name, but the level of service and hospitality has only improved with every visit. Here’s a glimpse of our New Year’s Eve buffet experience at Quest Plus Conference Center, located in Filinvest City, Alabang. 

As someone who lives in the South, Quest Plus, formerly known as Crimson, is our family’s first choice when it comes to celebrations and special occasions. We’ve spent many Christmas dinners and New Year’s Eve celebrations at the hotel over the years.

In the last quarter of 2025, Chroma Hospitality announced that they will be rebranding the Crimson into Quest Plus to appeal not only to tourists but also to business travellers. Seeing this change in name, naturally, we got curious. The change, however, did not deter us from reserving a table at Cafe Eight to welcome 2026. Here’s a glimpse of the experience.

Let’s first go back in time, around the first week of December. I was looking around at the different events happening around the area and comparing prices with the different offers from varying establishments. I eventually made my way to Quest Plus and instantly felt comfortable. Maybe it’s because it’s already familiar, or maybe it’s because of the attentive service; either way, we always find ourselves coming back. 

I inquired at their dedicated events desk about what they have on offer for New Year’s Eve. The lovely lady, who I gathered was new at her post, was very warm and helpful and told me about the different events I could choose from. There was an upscale party with a DJ on the 28th floor at the Executive Lounge, another party with music at the Deck Bar, which is by the pool and has views of the city.

Other New Year's Eve festivities in Quest were a big themed party in their Grand Ballroom that includes games and raffle prizes, and of course a dinner buffet at Cafe Eight, which also had musical entertainment.

The newly branded hotel seemed busier than ever, with plenty of events happening at the same time, which was nice to see. We tend to be creatures of habit, and so we decided on the dinner buffet, which, through past experiences, has always been an impressive spread and good value for its price. The reservation process was pretty speedy and seamless. I paid a deposit to secure our table, got my receipt, and that was that. 

On the evening of the 31st, we made our way to the hotel. They did have packages that included a room or staycation; however, we live quite close by and opted out of the room packages. We arrived a little earlier to take it all in and, of course, to take some pictures. All the Christmas decorations were still up, and there were plenty of areas in the lobby to take a seat and soak it all up. 

Now let’s move on to my favorite part, the food! The first thing I noticed this time was that the buffet was no longer inside Cafe Eight, but just outside it. I like this setup much better as it makes for more space inside for walking around all the tables and people in order to get to and from your seat. There’s also more space in the buffet area, so people can easily walk around without feeling cramped or having to wait in line very long to get what they want. This time, they were giving out wristbands upon registration, to signify which party or event you were participating in, which they didn’t have before. 

Every time we attend a big dinner buffet, there’s always something a little different in the lineup. It’s never the exact same thing, and it is greatly appreciated since it makes for a slightly new dining experience every time. Some years back, it was more seafood-heavy; other times, the dessert table had fewer variations to make room for other things. This time around, there was a more balanced but also bigger selection of everything. 

For seafood, they had plenty to choose from. There was tuna, salmon, shrimp, mussels, scallops, and more for the fresh seafood and sushi section. A special occasion would be incomplete without some kind of impressive roast, and it’s usually beef.

This time around, they not only had a Prime Angus Ribeye but also roasted turkey, pork, and slow-braised lamb shanks. They really went all out, including all the accoutrements, condiments, and sides. They even had Yorkshire Puddings, which I rarely see being served in the Philippines. There were also other dishes, such as Champagne Chicken with Morel and Porcini, King Prawn Thermidor with Cognac Cream and Gruyere Crust, and a pasta station complete with a giant wheel of cheese.

For dessert and little snack bits, there was an impressive spread of cheese and cold cuts to make your own charcuterie platter, including dried fruit and nuts. I must say the dessert table was right to be placed in the center of the buffet spread. It was impossible to ignore the little cake slices, macarons, cookies, chocolate fondue, and whatnot.

For drinks, the regular buffet price included a choice of soda or iced tea; however, if you wanted cocktails and wine, you could pay an additional fee on top of the regular buffet price to have free-flowing alcoholic drinks.   

It also felt like the staff were all out for the occasion. Plenty of chefs, servers, waitstaff, and such in every area. It made for a welcoming and calm atmosphere, knowing that everyone was at their best and ready to serve or help.

We got to talk to some of the staff and learned that a lot of them were new. That’s not totally uncommon when a rebrand happens; there’s always bound to be a shuffle in the staff department when setting things straight. They were all attentive and in good spirits. Some even lingered for a bit during the countdown, and we shared a toast when the clock struck 12.

I love getting to know the people who work hard to curate the perfect experience in the hospitality industry. Here’s to starting the year right and continuing this long-standing tradition of coming to the Quest Plus Conference Center for both relaxation and celebrating both the small wins and special occasions in 2026.