Forest Buffet — Restaurant in Columbia

Below Average Chinese-American Buffet.

Start with the Pros: *The cleanliness of the tables, chairs, silverware, and plates were all above board. (I did not go into the restroom.) *The flavor of the food was good. I enjoyed everything that I had (except the garlic blue crab: it was mushy inside), and got a variety of dishes, from sushi to Mongolian pork to fresh fruit. *The servers are extremely fast with getting silverware, drinks, refills, etc.

Cons: *I got there at 5:00pm-ish and there were platters of sushi sitting there that appeared to be fresh, but upon tasting you could tell they had been there for a while, esp the tempura fried rolls. It's worth it to tip the attendant, tell him what you want, and wait for a fresh roll. The Wasabi was very dehydrated. It was in a plastic container with a lid that had a triangle cut out for a spoon and it probably had been exposed to air for too long. The spicy sauce, which is mayonnaise-based, was in a squirt bottle, which was sitting on the counter instead of in ice. You all know that the shrimp at these buffet places are 9 times out of 10x NOT CLEANED, right? And that was the case here at Eastern Buffet. So, the steamed shrimp on the salad bar, the smaller fried shrimp, and the salt and pepper shrimp all have been prepared with dirty ingredients. Just FYI. *For the visually challenged (and double whammy... short in stature), some-- I'm sorry-- NONE of the labels above the items are clear and visible. Therefore, you need someone to either go along with you to tell you what each item is, or you'll need 7 plates so you can get a little bit of everything. *The staff is smotheringly attentive. Take a hint from the staff at Golden Corral. I'm not about to steal any food and it's very intrusive. *There was a piece of hair ROLLED UP WITHIN A PIECE OF SUSHI. So, it couldn't have fallen from my head or my purse, or any other accusation on my behalf. I found it at the end of my meal, of course, and it ruined my appetite. I WAS NOT IMPRESSED ON HOW MGMT HANDLED THE SITUATION.

I DO NOT RECOMMEND YOU SUPPORTING THIS ESTABLISHMENT, ESPECIALLY FOR DINING IN. IF YOU DO COME TO THIS ESTABLISHMENT AS A REPEAT CUSTOMER, ONLY EAT THOSE ITEMS YOU KNOW...

I enjoyed the atmosphere and the service. It was clean, orderly and the server was very fast. The signage over top of the food trays on the buffet was illegible or missing. The sushi rolls seemed to have been left out for a while. The Wasabi paste was dry and the spicy mayo should've been on ice, so I question the safe food practices there; which then made me wonder what was going on in the kitchen where I couldn't see! After looking at shows with Chefs Robert Irvine and Gordon Ramsay, where they blast these restaurant owners for their health code violations, it just REALLY gives one pause... Back to THIS restaurant: the food, overall, was well-seasoned, but it lacked a bit of "love" in the cooking. I bet you're thinking, "How much love can food have on a buffet?" Try "Ryan's" or even "Shoney's" and I think you'll enjoy the difference! It's a taste of someone caring about how that food is going to make the eater feel when it hits their lips... It's a taste of cooking that food as if your cousins and aunts are coming over for a card game and you haven't seen them in many moons... It's a taste that you can be proud of and blush when someone says, "You put your foot in that!" I felt no love in Eastern Buffet's food. The crab was mushy inside, the trays of food looked picked over, needing to be refilled. It was like they didn't care. The front of the house did NOT match the back of the house at all. Sorry.... Wish I could give you a...

Too often I eat at buffets and end up disappointed by the same things: loud atmosphere, dismissive staff, and food that sits for too long. This has not been the case the few times I have gone to Forest Buffet. I LOVE Asian food! So, to have a place that has a relaxing environment, an attentive staff, and fresh food is a huge blessing.

The food is always fresh! Each time I have gone, a staff members of the kitchen is always checking on the freshness of the food, removing items that have sat too long and replacing them with fresh trays. The honey and teriyaki chicken is full of flavor. I really enjoy the wonton soup as well. They also have a fantastic sushi and sashimi selection.

The overall vibe of the restaurant is one of beauty and relaxation. From the hanging light fixtures to the wall art, the place is visually pleasing. It is kept clean and smelling fresh. Some restaurants don’t maintain their carpets well, so the place ends up smelling and I lose my appetite. This is not the case here. I appreciate the attention to detail paid to make the dining experience enjoyable and peaceful.

I’m grateful for the experiences I have had here. Thanks for the hard...