So I've been here a few times, and the concept is a well known and simple one. Buffet.
The price per head for unlimited access to the buffet varies based upon time and day, but remaining under £10 per head from what I've seen.
Drinks wise, it feels a little limited, depending upon your astes. You have most, if not all, of the usual soft drinks. A small selection of beers (4, I think it was?), and the usual combinations of spirits, wine and cocktails. The catch lies in the following, however; Only the house wines (1 white, 1 red, possibly 1 rosé) are served by the glass. Want a pinot? Bottle only. Finding the house white completely against my tastes, and actually causing me to grimace after every mouth full, I moved to cocktails. The cocktail list isn't fantastically large, but they have an interesting mix, so I was able to forgive it. I usually just go with coke, there, anyway.
Service wise, I'm never too sure how to judge a buffet. They had someone constantly monitoring food levels, so they handled a medum-filled venue on Thursday night without any shortage, which is a big plus in my books - nothing worse than running out of your favourite buffet options. When we entered, there was no checking if we'd been before, if we were to wait for a plate/bowl to be brought to us first, or whether we were simply to go find them ourselves. The tables had a fork and spoon at them - chop sticks have to be found yourself.
Regarding the staff themselves, when it came to trying to attract attention for drinks, it was difficult. Eye contact could be tricky to catch, and even when you did, sometimes it felt like they were simply ignoring it and walking on. Possibly because they did, a couple of times. Perhaps they were busy doing something else, but it was nothing I could see. They did have one sweet lady though, who amused me by being perfectly able to say "Here is your sex on the beach" to my friend, but too embarressed to say "Here is your suffering bastard" when I ordered one out of curiosity. She actually blushed and said she couldn't say it. Quite endearing, and my then decided target for any more cocktail names I fancied trying. Unfortunately, I just couldn't convince myself to go for the Long Hard Screw (Up Against The Wall). Payment is done as you're leaving, no bill brought to you, on any of my visits there - thankfully, however, the person behind the counter who I hadn't noticed at any time during the whole night (We were around the corner) was still able to recall everything we had had to drink, on our un-numbered and unmentioned table - useful!
With all that said, I had to reconsider my 3 star rating as a 2. I don't feel to think too highly of the place - but yet, I remain drawn to it. Not enough to warrant a 4 star, unfortunately, as I HAVE had better chinese - but this is a buffet. I'm there for the ability to mix and match to my cravings' content, and that I can certainly do. I've tried numerous things I've never touched before, and not one has let me down. The things I love are close enough to the standard of the Chinese restaurants I grew up with, that I can devour them endlessly without being remotely disappointed.
All I miss there are, as is maybe to be expected given that they can only have so much out, some of my beloved, 'classic' in my mind, starters. No prawns to be found (outside of the special fried rice) or no dumplings/dumplings. Those desires must be satiated elsewhere. They do, however, have a variety of rice types, noodles, meats, sauces (though no soy, interestingly), soups and fruit. I didn't find much in the way of desert, but then, I didn't look. My housemate tracked down some apple and banana (seperately) baked in dough and drowned in a syrup - Mind blank on the (common) name, however.
What I love most about it, however, is that it is not only incredibly easy to access by anything that isn't a car (good luck parking in Kingston. Ever. Let alone on a non parking road), being right across the road from a major bus stop (every Kingston bus will pass one side or another of The Rotunda), and the train station is also across the road. Better yet, I can walk there from work in about 2-3 minutes, depending upon traffic lights.
For a quick lunch that's filling, with a little more to spend on it and some company, it's perfect. No need to wait for food to be served, wondering if an hour is long enough if there's a delay, and in the evening, it's just flexible and unpressurised to stick to the traditional restaurant food order.
Thus, a reliable and fairly cheap (if you're hungry and rubbish at making decisions for what glorious chinese food to pick, without just having it all as I end up doing, disastrously for my wallet), quick fix of Chinese. I love it in spite of its flaws. read more
