La Nacional Mexican Buffet — Restaurant in Columbus

I really miss the buffet. The part I miss the most is me being able to serve MY OWN food portions. Mixing a little bit of this with a little bit of that... on a solid plate NOT the cheap flimsy styrofoam... This is really just a take out only place. Sure you can sit down. but it's not the same.. I don't know why it's not a thing anymore. Covid isn't around. I don't need someone else handling my food!

Like I get costs have gone up. Why not make the option to have all you can eat, self serving, food on actual plates like it used to be.

Someone else mentioned this in the reviews. Why not give the OPTION at least? Why not? If you have to charge 15, 20, even 25 dollars or more. Look, even if it can't be all you can eat... I'd pay more just to be able to put my own food on my own plate! That's what I miss the most. But I feel the need to express this reading the reviews because I agree why not have the option? The demand is there.

This is not a buffet anymore, it should be renamed to the La Nacional Mexican cafeteria or something because I feel like I'm back in elementary school with how food has to be served... I'd come back more if they ever give this option. Think about it. Seriously, having options provided to people allows for more people to come buy it. If people can't afford 20 or more dollars for my suggestion then they can do what they've been doing for the past 4 years. But if they can, more people will buy. Think about it. It can't hurt. At least let people serve their own food.

Why are we still treating people like it's 2020 covid 19 pandemic?? It's over. EVERY single other buffet here in Columbus has opened up back to normal. This is the only place that still is stuck in the past.

Oh yeah, I almost forgot to mention this until I read Jesz Kali's review. Yeah I felt that too. Being rushed. I have been a regular so it's not even about being new or a regular because I like to see and think about what I want. I like buffets because sometimes I don't know what I want to get. I like to take my time. I also felt like there was a rush. Hence... why I would love to be for ME to be able to be the one to put my own food on my plate.

Why is...

This family run hole in the wall authentic Mexican restaurant. We went in late on Valentine’s Day and we were able to get a seat right away. It is a buffet style eatery but when I say the food is hot, fresh, authentic, and delicious.... I AIN’T LYING!! as soon as we sat down we were asked if we wanted fresh quesadillas for our kids (which they wanted and were made fresh), we were then told that if at any time we see something on the buffet that we don’t think is fresh enough to just let her know. To be honest though, they kept the food on the buffet as fresh as you possibly could. All the family member workers were very polite and attentive. With all this being said, it looks like they are doing their best to the best they can. Some of their equipment leaks water on the floor (not bad and they try to keep it cleaned up). There is also a little convenient store attached to the restaurant with a lot of things to look at and buy. The restaurant also gives a military discount. This will be our go to for Mexican food for sure! I highly recommend this...

We visited here last year and I would rate 5/5 but it's not an actual buffet, it's a cafeteria style restaurant with buffet in the name for some reason. We drove all the way over here expecting a nice sit down buffet so I feel really disappointed to be served food in Styrofoam containers.... although the food was great. I read some other reviews saying it used to be a buffet. I don't get why they list it as a buffet if it's not, and if it's because of food prices why not give people the option to have a buffet if they pay more?

Also, I REALLY dislike not being able to serve my own portions. This is partially why I like buffets. Like, it's really difficult to say like 1 and 1/3rd of a spoon full of something. I'd much rather just be able to put it on there myself. Covid 19 is over so I'm not sure what the germaphobia is about??? Some of the old pictures showed people getting their own food.

So my biggest complaint is the name is misleading and they don't have options...