Buffet Archives ~ NC Triangle Dining Food Blog

March 4, 2016 by Ron Wen Leave a Comment

First Take: A Tasty Lunch Buffet at India Gate in Durham

Front of India Gate in Durham- NC Triangle Dining

Every now and then a craving for Indian food hits me and I’m powerless in its grip. Working in RTP means limited dining options but a quick search online turns up India Gate off of Highway 54. The reviews look pretty good so it’s time to see what spiciness India Gate can offer up for lunch!

You’ll find India Gate tucked away in a slightly sunken plaza full of ethnic businesses and right next door the MEGA Club, cool. Head on to the back corner and you’ll find a small doorway that opens up to a large dining room and space, a bit of a surprise from the outside. India Gate is already a bit busy before noon time and it seems to be a popular spot for Indian food lovers in the know. I get seated at a four-top, order up a beverage and then head on over to the lunch buffet in the corner.

Cold buffet at India Gate in Durham- NC Triangle Dining

It’s a well-stocked buffet with salad, 16 or so hot entrees including two rices, samosas, a garlic naan, saag, stewed chick peas, tikka masala, vindaloo, butter chicken and tandoori chicken. Also a very nice selection of desserts, two which I’m unfamiliar with (meethi chakri and boondi). There’s definitely plenty of Indian options for vegetarians and non-vegetarians alike! I stack up a plate with some veggie biryani, saag and chicken for my first round.

Hot buffet at India Gate in Durham- NC Triangle Dining

As I explore around my plate of Indian eats, I notice a couple of different items on my plate. First some star shaped crunchy bites, sort of like a rice cake. And then the garlic and herb stuffed naan, cool! The biryani is a bit different. I assumed it was a veggie biryani but I taste some sweet stewed fruit in there. The saag is basic and tasty and the tikka masala is also a bit different. Spicy but not as heavy with cream and laced with bits of green pepper. The tandoori chicken is good and a nice option for chicken on the bone. My second round includes the butter chicken which has more of a cream-based sauce which I’m familiar with. Overall everything is well-spiced and flavorful with a touch of heat.

I finish off with some of their interesting desserts, mostly a play on fried flour treats sweetened with sugar syrup, tasty! I pay up front at the counter ($10 for lunch buffet) and chat with the owner a bit. She’s from the Punjab region in the north and it’s always interesting to see how Indian eats always have a bit of a twist based upon the origins of the owner. I’d describe India Gate as more down-home Indian cooking with a great variety of savory and sweet options for lunch which is lovely. Service was very attentive and courteous throughout the meal, another plus! So thanks so much India Gate, I just may have found my Indian eats home when I’m working in the RTP.

India Gate

2223 NC Highway 54

Durham, NC 27713

919.248.9333

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February 27, 2018 by Ron Wen Leave a Comment

First Take: Brasa Brazilian Steakhouse in Raleigh Offers an Amazing Buffet and Meat

Front of Brasa Brazilian Steakhouse in Raleigh - NC Triangle Dining — Front of Brasa Brazilian Steakhouse in Raleigh – NC Triangle Dining

When it comes to meat, I’m a huge fan. Pork, chicken, beef, lamb, I’ll eat it all. So if you’re a meat lover like myself, have you ever tried Brasilian barbeque? Known as churrascaria in Brasil, we’re talking about grilled meats served table-side along with a wonderful cold buffet. I’ve had the opportunity to do Brasilian barbeque both in Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paolo and can tell you for sure, if you enjoy your meat, you’ll love churrascaria. And I finally had the chance to visit the only churrascaria in the Triangle, Brasa Brazilian Steakhouse, for lunch and a work event. I left that visit stuffed and really impressed by Brasa!

Private rooms at Brasa Brazilian Steakhouse in Raleigh - NC Triangle Dining — Private rooms at Brasa Brazilian Steakhouse in Raleigh – NC Triangle Dining

Located up in the Brier Creek area, I really wasn’t expecting to find such a fancy spot in a strip mall. From the outside, Brasa shows off a large and impressive face with large signage and two stone towers complete with burning torches overhead. And inside, Brasa is equally impressive. The space is decorated for the holidays with wreaths, holiday lighting and more, all very upscale. But then what would you expect for a steakhouse? Our group was brought into one of the private rooms in back but walking through the dining room, I was impressed by the sumptuous feel to the space.

Buffet area at Brasa Brazilian Steakhouse in Raleigh - NC Triangle Dining — Buffet area at Brasa Brazilian Steakhouse in Raleigh – NC Triangle Dining

Now while Brasa labels itself a “steakhouse”, it’s a bit different than a traditional steakhouse. Brazilian barbeque is typically a mix of table and buffet service where you start the meal off with a cold buffet and then cuts of roasted meat are brought table-side and served individually. Brasa offers up several lunch and dinner types revolving around either the buffet or buffet with a selection of roasted meats. Lunches range from $13 to $28 while dinners run from $32 to $70, all meals are all you can eat (AYCE)! For our lunch we started at the buffet and had a variety of cold salads, marinated mushrooms, fruits, nuts, and more.

Cold buffet area at Brasa Brazilian Steakhouse in Raleigh - NC Triangle Dining — Cold buffet area at Brasa Brazilian Steakhouse in Raleigh – NC Triangle Dining

Hot buffet area at Brasa Brazilian Steakhouse in Raleigh - NC Triangle Dining — Hot buffet area at Brasa Brazilian Steakhouse in Raleigh – NC Triangle Dining

On the back-wall, Brasa also offered a selection of delicious hot buffet items such as seafood paella, meatloaf, beef stew, rotisserie chicken, meatballs and more. All the dishes on Brasa’s buffet were re-stocked regularly and looked fresh! For the hot buffet, I really enjoyed the meatballs and paella but didn’t want to over-do it before we got to the main course.

Meat or No Meat rock at Brasas Brazilian Steakhouse in Raleigh - NC Triangle Dining — Meat or No Meat rock at Brasas Brazilian Steakhouse in Raleigh – NC Triangle Dining

Now that you’ve got your starter plate, it’s time to dig into your proteins! At your table, each diner has a small painted rock at their table setting, green on one side, red on the other. When you’re ready to chow down, just flip it over to green and the staff will stop by with large skewers of freshly roasted meat! The four-meat lunch option included bacon-wrapped chicken, sausage, garlic sirloin and bacon-wrapped filet. If you want a particular temperature of meat, you can make that request to your waiter (passadore) and they all looked pretty Brazilian to me! I enjoyed all the meats, they were nicely roasted without an excessive amount of salt so I was pleasantly surprised.

Sadly, I didn’t stuff myself silly showing an unusual amount of stomach self-control but I was very pleased with everything Brasa had to offer. Given it’s the only Brazilian barbeque in the area, you don’t have any other options but Brasa Brazilian Steakhouse felt really authentic to me. From the staff to the buffet to the roasted meats, the meals here are actually a pretty good deal if you’re a big eater. And even if you’re a vegetarian, you can enjoy the cold buffet and save yourself some money. So thanks so much and obrigado Brasa!

Brasa Brazilian Steakhouse

8551 Brier Creek Parkway

Raleigh, NC 27617

919.544.3344

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August 1, 2015 by Ron Wen Leave a Comment

Saffron in Morrisville: Still Delivering a Great Indian Lunch Buffet

Front of Saffron in Morrisville and yes, this is an old picture- NC Triangle Dining

RETAKE: When I first arrived in North Carolina from the San Francisco area, Indian food was one of those cuisines I really missed. There weren’t a lot of great options so I was happy to hear about a tasty new Indian spot, Saffron. I made it out to Saffron for a couple of meals but really never had a chance to re-visit in the last five years. Luckily a friend of mine is up for an Indian buffet and she suggests Saffron so it’s time for a re-visit!

Interior of Saffron in Morrisville- NC Triangle Dining

Inside, Saffron is a bit different than most local Indian restaurants. High ceilings, concrete floor, the interior is spacious and a bit more business-like but in all honesty it hasn’t changed much since my first visit years ago, good and bad. The dining room is already busy a bit after noon-time, it’s the RTP lunch crowd piling in. We’re seated in the back and put in our drink orders. Saffron’s buffet is in the back room, set off from the dining area.

Vegetarian side of lunch buffet at Saffron in Morrisville- NC Triangle Dining

Non-vegetarian side of lunch buffet at Saffron in Morrisville- NC Triangle Dining

At the buffet we dove into their steam trays! Vegetarian on the right: corn fritters, veggie fried rice, saag, cabbage with potates, peas and chick-peas. A good assortment for you non meat-eaters. On the left, they have chicken biryani, chicken tikka masala, tandoori chicken and more. Gulab jamun for dessert and some tea for a bit of sweet.

Well-made naan at Saffron in Morrisville- NC Triangle Dining

Back at the table, they bring us a basket of naan and it’s time to dig in. My plate is nice and colorful, love the stewed cabbage and potatoes, the tikka masala is solid but the tandoori chicken is probably the stand-out. Soft, charred drums with that delicious spicing, excellent. Paired with the great naan, you are in for a good lunch here at Saffron. Bonus is that given all their customer traffic here, the steam trays are well-stocked. Service for our water glasses was also very good.

Yummy plate of Indian food at Saffron in Morrisville- NC Triangle Dining

Overall lunch at Saffron was a pretty good experience. The lunch buffet had a nice range of meat and vegetarian dishes and it was well-stocked. Service was prompt and polite but a limited experience given the buffet. And the interior, while a bit dated, still works ok if you’re not up for fancy-shmancy. So nice job Saffron! You’ve kept up the good Indian eats that I remember from years back and people still love you for it. If you’re in the area and up from some aromatic Indian food, stop on by…

Saffron Morrisville

McCrimmon Corners

4121 Davis Drive

Morrisville, NC 27560

919.469.5774

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September 4, 2013 by Ron Wen Leave a Comment

Bacchanal Buffet in Las Vegas for a Foodie Extravaganza!

Desserts at Bacchanal Buffet, Las Vegas NV- NC Triangle Dining

I’m not a frequent visitor to Las Vegas because I’m not much into gambling but every now and then, work brings me to the area. And of course, when in Las Vegas, do as Las Vegasians do! (Awful English, I know). So last year I ended up at Gordon Ramsay’s Steak which was an amazing and expensive meal. This year, I started off my Las Vegas visit on the other end of the spectrum, the Bacchanal Buffet at Caesar’s Palace. Not to say that Bacchanal was cheap at $45.99 (non-alcoholic beverages included) but still a casual eating affair.

Entrance to Bacchanal Buffet, Las Vegas NV- NC Triangle Dining

The entry to Bacchanal is adorned in white and glass, a clean modern look. A serpentine waiting area hints at long lines here but coming in at 5:30pm meant I breezed in. Pay up at front, I get a pair of silicon pinchers used to pick up hot dishes off the buffet. A short wait and I’m led in back to a large open space filled with families, young adults and elderly couples. There are 5 or 6 different dining areas all decked out in modern organic decor so Bacchanal feels a bit upscale for a buffet. Sort of. There are six or seven different buffet areas: cold seafood bar (oysters, mussels, shrimp, etc), a carving area with American favorites (prime rib, fried chicken, sausage, etc), a Mexican area with tacos and more, a salad and charcuterie area, an Asian area (dim sum, Chinese favorites, sushi), along with an Italian area with Alaskan king crab legs. And finally, a large dessert spread in the middle of the floor with all sorts of pastries, sweets, candies and more, phew!

Dining area at Bacchanal Buffet, Las Vegas NV- NC Triangle Dining

I admit that I’m a bit overwhelmed by it all, there are tons of choices and I’m not sure how to attack. So a glass of chardonnay gets things started, Bacchanal has a short list from $7 – $13 a glass. My first plate is focused on the meats along with some cheesy broccoli. The prime rib is decent and carved to order, my kobe slider is very well done as is the sausage. Bacchanal definitely uses quality meats and ingredients. Love the cheesy broccoli but know I shouldn’t be filling up on greens! My next visit is focused on the Asian area where I grab some shu-mei, har-gow, roast pork and duck but I skip the rice and carbs. And the taste is here in these ethnic dishes. But unfortunately steamed goodies like dim sum needs to be served really fresh so the Bacchanal version is a bit off.

My buffet plate at Bacchanal Buffet, Las Vegas NV- NC Triangle Dining

My final savory visit brings me to a lasagna, seared sea bass, shrimp and grits which are all quite good but a bit luke warm. The lasagna is made with thin layered noodles and a rich bechamel sauce which worked out nicely but I was filling up quickly. A challenge to any buffet is finding the freshest food so look for items with high turnover or stay good under a heat lamp. And finally a visit to the dessert bar where I grab a chocolate creme brulee, key lime tart and blackberry parfait, all very good. The beauty here is that the desserts don’t need to stay warm so the buffet model serves well in keeping the taste and quality decent.

Impressive dessert spread at Bacchanal Buffet, Las Vegas NV- NC Triangle Dining

I’ll be honest, I’m not a huge eater no matter how much I pretend to be. And even after starving myself all day, my visit to Bacchanal was barely 2 hours long, I have some friends who would have unbuckled their pants and sat there for 3 – 4 hours chowing down! The portions at Bacchanal are all small individual portions but I still found myself filling up quickly. And the overall hectic nature and binge eating at Bacchanal doesn’t make for a relaxing meal. Think people buzzing around with heaping plates and noisy kids which is about par for any buffet.

So if I ever came back, I think you’d be much better off doing lunch which is less money and meant to be more casual. For dinner, I’d rather pay more money and get a bit of personal service, call me a dining snob it you’d like! But Bacchanal does a very nice job with their eats, in particular their desserts. There’s no doubt it may be the best buffet I’ve been to but in the end, the whole concept has mixed interest to me. But make no mistake, if you have a big appetite and like a large variety of cuisines, Bacchanal is a great place to be. Just come early, come hungry and you’ll be having a great meal, bon appetit and more…

Bacchanal Buffet

Caesars Palace

3570 S. Las Vegas Boulevard

Las Vegas, NV 89109

702.731.7928

Location on Google maps

May 26, 2014 by Ron Wen 1 Comment

First Take: Hibachi China Buffet in Cary for Unfettered Asian Deliciousness…

You know the deal when you hit up a Chinese buffet in the Triangle. A bunch of steamer tables, sushi bar, Mongolian grill and pair of stretchy pants are all part of the standard deal. Off of Kildaire Road you’ll find Hibachi China Buffet, a smallish American-Chinese buffet in Cary. Located right across from the Trader Joe’s Hibachi China Buffet does a busy lunch business and is a lot more subdued than some other buffets in the area. No day-glo colors, the decor is full of dark woods, chandeliers and polished brass. Three long buffet lines cover the usual Chinese fare, some fried American eats and a long option for sweets and dessert.

Inside of Hibachi China Buffet, Cary- NC Triangle Dining

Buffet at Hibachi China Buffet, Cary- NC Triangle Dining

Hibachi China Buffet has the usual culprits: beef and broccoli, chicken and broccoli, sesame chicken, lo mein, fried rice, and more. Some of the better food options in my opinion are the peking ravioli, sushi and soups. You can get your broccoli mixed with beef, chicken or shrimp, you name it! Key to any buffet is turnover and thankfully Hibachi China Buffet is pretty popular, so the steam trays are kept full and fresh, at least for lunch time! I’ve eaten here at least 10 – 12 times for lunch and always had a decent experience. The staff here is on point and makes sure to fill your glasses up regularly which is about all you can expect at a buffet! Cashing out at the register is also usually pretty quick here too. So you can get in, stuff yourself and get out in 45 minutes flat.

While it’s not the biggest Chinese-American buffet, Hibachi China Buffet does a decent job at delivering a tasty lunchtime experience. It makes good use of its smaller space and while it may not be the best buffet around, it’s still pretty darn good… And with two other Chinese buffets within blocks it has to be to compete. So check out Hibachi China Buffet if you’ve got a hankering for Asian fare but not sure exactly what. I’m pretty sure it’ll deliver the goods and happily fill you up for lunch.

Hibachi China Buffet

111 Shannon Oaks Circle

Cary, NC 27511

919.388.1686

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First Take: A Tasty Lunch Buffet at India Gate in Durham

First Take: Brasa Brazilian Steakhouse in Raleigh Offers an Amazing Buffet and Meat

Saffron in Morrisville: Still Delivering a Great Indian Lunch Buffet