The brunch is dead.

For years, this was my favorite brunch spot. The reason? The best buffet outside of a Vegas hotel - prime rib, eggs benedict, waffle bar, cheese bar, chocolate fountain...incredible. It was expensive but worth every penny.

Then, COVID happened and the buffet stopped. I stopped going, because aside from the buffet this is merely a decent (albeit pricey) restaurant. The kind of place that's good at a few things but great at nothing - a pleasant but unremarkable experience that makes you feel like you paid too much.

But then COVID started to shrink into the background and the buffet was back! We went here for Mother's day just a few months ago and were thrilled to have our old spot back...or at least until today.

Our confused and inexperienced server seemed symptomatic of some sort of collapse. A bartender explained the buffet was too expensive, with too much food waste to justify it.

And while I might believe that (the buffet was $40/person, which buys a lot of waste), it was crystal clear every single person in the restaurant was brand new. Perhaps the old staff revolted against a cheap or boorish manager, and the current staff simply couldn't execute a buffet. I'm not sure.

My meal was fine. My server was nice enough (she was very new but whatever). But the restaurant was nearly empty this morning, as if everyone knows it's over but me.

If you don't mind the prices, I'm sure you'll have a decent meal here. But I wouldn't go out of my way if I were you, and I definitely would find another spot for breakfast or brunch.