Somerset Buffet — Restaurant in Great Britain

Today, 8th February 2025, my family and I attended this restaurant at 12pm as part of a 17th Birthday celebration. Before attending, I checked the website to see what sort of dishes were part of the buffet, drinks options, as well as checking the prices. On the website, it clearly states “Lunch 12pm-3pm (£14.95 kids £8.95 (under 150cm) Dinner Friday lunch closed 4pm-10.00pm (£19.95 kids £8.95 (under 150cm)”

The way that this was written was already odd to me as it’s got some grammatical errors but didn’t think too much into it.

When arriving, we were quickly greeted and seated. Already, the atmosphere wasn’t great. There was no music (or when it was it was cutting in and out), the restaurant was cold and there was a heating unit placed awkwardly next to our table which made it awkward for guests to get in and out. There also wasn’t a lot of room to move past our table while seated. We also felt like we were being watched throughout our meal as when we would turn to face the buffet, there were people at the bar just staring.

Our drinks orders were taken and once given our drinks, we were free to go and select from the buffet.

Although there was a fairly big selection to choose from, the food from the buffet was sadly sub par. Many dishes being either dry or severely lacking flavour. There were however some good selections, some personal favourites for me being the broccoli, green beans and chicken tikka masala.

Something else that wasn’t great was that the deserts selection wasn’t labeled. This is especially difficult for me as I have an allergy to coconut and without knowing what I’m about to pick up and put in my mouth, it can be dangerous. Of course I could have asked a member of staff, however it seems there was a language barrier. My partner tried to ask where some tomato ketchup was and pretty much just got ignored…

When the time came to pay, we were given the full bill on one receipt, no problems there as we would be going to pay separately for our items. And it meant we could double check what we ordered. We were dumbfounded though when it showed that all adult meals were priced at £19.95, even thought we attended at lunch time according to their website!

We tried to dispute this at the bar, but they were refusing to take accountability for what is displayed in black and white on their website. The best they could do was subtract one meal from the bill, and that one meal? Was my 2 year old daughters of £8.95. Mind you there were 14 adults that attended this meal! So for food alone, they were going to be making £279 at least! Severely disappointed.

My suggestion would be to go to Meis in Taunton town centre if you’re looking to go for a buffet type meal. Much bigger selection, more flavourful food and you know exactly what you’re paying for (as they update their website).

The only thing I can’t fault about my experience was the waiting staff coming to check on us. They were well mannered and had a friendly face. Photo attached to show...

A Delightful Evening at Somerset Buffet

Today (Saturday), my family and I decided to dine out and explore something new. After reading positive reviews online, we chose to visit Somerset Buffet, known for its wide selection of global cuisines. We arrived as a group of five at around 5:30 PM and were pleasantly surprised by the overall experience. The ambience of the restaurant was warm and inviting. The interiors were tastefully done, with a subtle elegance that created a relaxed dining atmosphere. The space was clean, well-lit, and comfortable—ideal for both casual and special outings. Another practical highlight was the ample parking space, which made our arrival smooth and stress-free, even on a weekend evening. We opted for their classic buffet, which offered a generous variety of dishes spanning multiple cuisines. The Indian selection was particularly well-executed, with familiar favourites prepared with care and authentic flavours. The Thai and Japanese offerings also stood out—especially the sushi, which was fresh and artfully presented. However, one thing I was looking forward to but didn’t come across as much as I expected was the Mexican cuisine that had been mentioned on their website. It’s possible that I may have overlooked some of it, or perhaps some wasn’t included in the lineup that day. That said, the breadth and quality of what was available more than made up for this minor detail. The service throughout the evening was exceptional. Staff members were courteous, attentive, and proactive, ensuring that tables were promptly cleared and requests were quickly addressed. It’s clear that the team at Somerset Buffet takes hospitality seriously, and that made a significant difference in our overall experience. In summary, Somerset Buffet provided a satisfying and memorable dining experience. From the thoughtful layout and well-curated menu to the attentive service, every aspect contributed to a thoroughly enjoyable evening. I would certainly consider returning and would recommend it to anyone looking to enjoy a broad range of flavours in a...

We will definitely be coming back soon. It is such an asset for taunton to have a buffet where you will find the most incredible curry selection to offer! If you want a decent curry then you won't be disappointed. We were greeted with such friendly and happy staff. They were so accommodating and allowed us to move tables to a slightly warmer location (it was extremely cold day when we visited and the room was colder than expected but we did see that they were aware and trying to help as we seen portable heaters located around.) the kids enjoyed everything that they choose and was so surprised that you could order a burrito and a burger included in the price. The food was replenished quickly and food was hot. A suggestion was made at the end when we were about to leave that the curries could have stated the hotness due to medical reasons one of our party couldn't have to hot of a spice. The owner took the suggestion and shorlty went and put the information on the label, which we were all so pleased and to be honest shocked that it was taken on board and sorted so quick. Nothing was any trouble for any of the staff. The tables were cleaned efficiently and throughly. The buffet areas were also kept very clean. The pudding selection could have been a bit more of a variety but we did visit lunch time so that could be why. Can not wait for our next visit (I think we may be visiting alot over this coming year as it is perfect for family meals out, get together with friends, date nights) we all wish this newly opened buisness...