Large complex in the thick of a major cluster of restaurants and shopping centers in Leominster,…read moreright off Route 2. Their features include an all-day Sunday buffet, a hibachi room, a lounge, a semi-private room, bands on weekends, comedy on Wednesdays, trivia on Thursdays, and combination plates available at lunch and dinner. Reviews here don't respect the food here, but I think a) it's definitely nowhere near elite, b) it's gotten somewhat of a bad rap, and c) it seems to be improving. Much of it depends on what you order and whether it's from the buffet.
-- Sunday Buffet: The number of stations has dwindled from 3 to 2 (plus a dessert area), but that actually helps with the turnover, which is critical for a buffet. Many of the items are either bland or have been sitting a while, but I can always find 2 or 3 items that still make it worth it. And at $20.95 for both quantity and variety, a very good value.
-- Hot and Sour Soup: Thick but not gloppy, and a very pleasant mouthfeel and spiciness.
-- Lobster Sauce: More great mouthfeel, plenty of gentleness and flavor, but much of that flavor is salt.
-- Pork Fried Rice: Had on both combos and the buffet. Medium color, minimum flavor.
-- Egg Rolls: Tried on the buffet and on combo plates. They're extra crisp, but still delicate and bendy, with a filling of mostly cabbage that's both crisp and moist. Pork and five spice flavor is very pronounced and very delicious. Even though I prefer a celery-based egg roll, this one is elite, bettering probably 80% of the celery versions out there. These are hand-made, not industrial.
-- Sweet and Sour Chicken: The crisp fingers might be industrial. Not much meat or batter flavor, but the thin sauce has plenty, including a very sour component that outshines the sweet. That sauce is thinner than most, so while you lose the cling, you avoid a chemical tasting glop. Overall, good. Pro tip when having via the buffet: grab some pineapple chunks from the dessert station.
-- Chicken Wings; From the buffet, these certainly look industrial (Weaver or Swanson), but they're actually pretty good if you settle into accepting that they're breaded and not the 5-spice-and-ginger kind. I'm on the fence.
-- Peking Ravioli: Tried on the buffet. The Fireball-sized sausage in the center has some nice flavor, but the wrapper is too thick, stiff, and starchy for my liking.
-- Teriyaki: Beef version tried on a combo, steaky but dry. Definitely needed the duck sauce for both moisture and flavor. Chicken teriyaki from the buffet was actually fresher and slightly juicy.
-- Boneless Ribs: Thin, glazed with both red and clear, but ultimately a dry and needing the duck sauce. Some light char added a flavor dimension.
-- Shrimp Fried Rice: Ordered as part of a combo, this arrived as a large pile, with fresh grains, not the darkest, but not lacking flavor. And definitely not lacking shrimp. I took a chance and this paid off hugely.
Some good, some not so good, and some very good. Not enough good to get the 4, but no way is this a below-3 joint.