General Food, Dining and Nightlife News

[Elmira Guy]

I see Chen's Buffet at Weber & Bridgeport has closed. No big surprised really.

Now, I really hope something pubish, with a decent selection of beers and good wings moves in.
There is nothing in the area where us locals can grab a beer. Have to head uptown. This seem like a great location for just such a place.

[MidTowner]

I went there once, and actually thought it was pretty good. But that was a Saturday at lunch if I recall correctly, and there were only a few tables seated...which is not at all what you want to see when dealing with a buffet.

Something like what you describe would be great.

[tomh009]

No one can disagree with that. If the fellow behind Imbibe doesn't see it as a good risk, I guess it won't happen. A different restaurateur might reach a different conclusion.

This might not be the case though.  It could simply be that he plans on doing something else with his life, doesn't want to be an owner, can't get the money together, or any number of possibilities.  I don't think not opening a new Imbibe means that it's not a good risk.

However, if it's not a good risk, it'll be difficult to make the business case and get the funding.

[TMKM94]

That's disappointing I never got to try it. I think a big reason it failed was because it had no website or facebook page etc. There were also a lot of mixed reviews on travel advisor (some pretty frightening) so that's probably another reason. I hope another buffet opens there it would be a bit of a waste gutting the place since it just opened last year.

[Elmira Guy]

It wouldn't need to be gutted so long as another food (+ drink) place moved in.

It also suffered because there is a very good North American-style Chinese take-away in that plaza.

I had also heard lots of bad reviews. Very limited choices, empty serving trays, and not always the best value.

I hope like hell it isn't another buffet place.

[MidTowner]

What are the chances of another buffet place? I'm presuming a buffet restaurant's kitchen is more-or-less like any other, and that a buffet restaurant's space doesn't need to be torn apart to accommodate a full-service restaurant. I feel like the buffet format is a lot less popular than it used to be.

My hope is that it's not vacant for long. I fear a "family-style" restaurant will replace it, but obviously anything is better than nothing. Something like the Duke of Wellington might be nice, and maybe realistic. That might even be too much to hope for here.

[timc]

I was really glad to see Waterloo get a Chinese buffet, many years after the Tien Hoa left that corner. It was disappointing. Maybe someone else can come along and do better. Or maybe there just isn't enough demand in Waterloo.

[plam]

What are the chances of another buffet place? I'm presuming a buffet restaurant's kitchen is more-or-less like any other, and that a buffet restaurant's space doesn't need to be torn apart to accommodate a full-service restaurant. I feel like the buffet format is a lot less popular than it used to be.

I think you're right. Or maybe it's just you and me who don't go to buffets anymore. I did notice that one buffet restaurant I used to go to in Montreal downsized and part of its space got taken over by a non-buffet restaurant.

[tomh009]

What are the chances of another buffet place? I'm presuming a buffet restaurant's kitchen is more-or-less like any other, and that a buffet restaurant's space doesn't need to be torn apart to accommodate a full-service restaurant. I feel like the buffet format is a lot less popular than it used to be.

I think you're right. Or maybe it's just you and me who don't go to buffets anymore. I did notice that one buffet restaurant I used to go to in Montreal downsized and part of its space got taken over by a non-buffet restaurant.

At least for me, it's a question of quality over quantity.  And I suspect that with the number of high-quality restaurants compared to a decade or two ago (as well as higher-quality ingredients and prepared foods in grocery stores), there are many other people who would prefer to have something delicious rather than mountains of mostly mediocre food at a buffet restaurant.

I will admit that I make the exception for the lunch buffet at Indian restaurants ...

[Markster]

I think we're also seeing a trend away from "Canadian Chinese" food, which is the staple of "Chinese Buffet".
More people are eating at places featuring more "authentic" Chinese cuisine, or at least are somewhere in the middle, featuring authentic dishes alongside the traditional "Canadian Chinese" ones. And not to mention increased competition from all the other asian cuisines.

[Viewfromthe42]

I think you're right. Or maybe it's just you and me who don't go to buffets anymore. I did notice that one buffet restaurant I used to go to in Montreal downsized and part of its space got taken over by a non-buffet restaurant.

At least for me, it's a question of quality over quantity.  And I suspect that with the number of high-quality restaurants compared to a decade or two ago (as well as higher-quality ingredients and prepared foods in grocery stores), there are many other people who would prefer to have something delicious rather than mountains of mostly mediocre food at a buffet restaurant.

I will admit that I make the exception for the lunch buffet at Indian restaurants ...

Indian buffets I've been to always seem to have fewer options to choose from, and less of each option out and prepared. I would like to think that it means each option has higher quality ingredients and preparation, and is fresher.

[tomh009]

At least for me, it's a question of quality over quantity.  And I suspect that with the number of high-quality restaurants compared to a decade or two ago (as well as higher-quality ingredients and prepared foods in grocery stores), there are many other people who would prefer to have something delicious rather than mountains of mostly mediocre food at a buffet restaurant.

I will admit that I make the exception for the lunch buffet at Indian restaurants ...

Indian buffets I've been to always seem to have fewer options to choose from, and less of each option out and prepared. I would like to think that it means each option has higher quality ingredients and preparation, and is fresher.

Yes.  And the curries keep well, too, as opposed to many other foods that will get either dry or soggy (take your pick) under the heat lamps.

[jgsz]

I think we're also seeing a trend away from "Canadian Chinese" food, which is the staple of "Chinese Buffet".
More people are eating at places featuring more "authentic" Chinese cuisine, or at least are somewhere in the middle, featuring authentic dishes alongside the traditional "Canadian Chinese" ones.  And not to mention increased competition from all the other asian cuisines.

If anyone is interested in some authentic Chinese food try the Easy Earthen Restaurant at 197 King St. East.  That's where Fiedlers Delicatessen used to be until they closed.  This restaurant has more unfamiliar items then I've seen at any Chinese restaurant in the area.  For example, have you ever tried Duck's blood with Beef Tripe in Spicy soup or are you now suddenly turned off??     Unfortunately, people either don't know it's there or they don't like the menu items.  We had lunch there and we were the only ones in the restaurant.  The server told us that to increase business they are going to offer lunch specials consisting of sweet and sour chicken balls, lemon chicken, etc.  In other words, Chinese pablum that Canadians like so much.  She was shocked to see my expression and I told her I try to avoid restaurants that serve that style of food.  She promised that the unusual items will still remain on the menu but the lunch specials were meant to drum up more business.

[JoeKW]

I think AYCE Japanese restaurants are todays Chinese Buffets (in terms of popularity).

[clasher]

The huge places like Mandarin seem to have the volume of customers one would need to make it profitable. A smaller buffet would likely cost too much in food waste to be sustainable these days.