Lin's Grand Buffet — Restaurant in Mesa

I live in a 55+ community, we often go out in large groups for lunch, today we had 20 people signed up to have lunch at Lin’s Grand Buffet on Ellsworth in Mesa. When the restaurant opened at 10:30 AM, I called to let them know that we were having a group of 20 show up at 11:30 AM, I knew the restaurant didn’t take reservations, we’ve eaten there many times before, but the past managers always seemed appreciative of a heads up so they can alert the kitchen, but today was different, when I spoke to the manager on the phone, she seemed irritated that I would even call, she snapped at me and told me they don’t take reservations, I explained that I was aware of their policy, and I was only calling to give her a heads up. At 11:20 when I showed up, there was six people from our group that had already shown up and paid for their lunch, I went up to the counter to pay for my lunch, the cashier and I had a brief exchange about where we would be sitting, the manager came over and told us that we were not going to be seated until the entire party showed up, I explained that there are several people that may come in a little late, but I would appreciate the rest of us sitting down to start our meals since it is served buffet style. I went over to put the tables together for 10 people to sit down, as I had been directed, as I was doing this several more people came in from our group, so we were able to start filling that first table of 10. The manager came over, she seemed very upset that I was putting the tables together, she was obviously unaware that the cashier had told me that that would be the best scenario for us…..the manager then asked me to leave the restaurant! Surely she couldn’t be serious, I hadn’t done anything wrong except put two tables together that were previously 4 feet apart from each other! I went and got some food and sat down and began to eat, she came over and told me again to leave the restaurant, and then she proceeded to call the police! I’ll be 70 years old next year, I was not a threat to this woman or her staff, the tables that we put together were far from any other customers, as there was only five occupied tables in the whole restaurant, the restaurant was 95% empty! The police officers showed up, they escorted me out of the restaurant, with much embarrassment and humiliation, I encouraged the rest of my group to complete their lunch, one couple did decide to leave with me. I’m still in disbelief that a manager would throw out a customer who comes there on an average of twice a month, usually with large groups, bringing much business to their restaurant! So long as that manager is employed by the restaurant, I will not be returning there with the groups that I host on our luncheons! The three of us left the restaurant, we found a much better restaurant 3/4 of a mile up the street called Lotus Garden Chinese Cuisine, the food was fantastic, generous portions, good prices, and the staff was awesome! Attached are the photos of the empty Lin’s Grand Buffet, I can understand now why the place was so empty…..poor management!!! I can’t give any stars for the food or the atmosphere because I didn’t get to have any food, and the atmosphere was darkened thanks to...

I have been to Lin's now 9 times since they originally opened. There is plenty of parking space and it is conveniently located for fast parking and exiting as it sits on a corner. The front desk is efficient in payment and seating. They offer plenty of seating and could easily accommodate a large party/group if so desired. Their current setup as of 07/03/2021 is a table stacked in an alternating over-lapping pattern of plastic plates. A few boxes of plastic gloves for use while serving yourself from the buffet. Their variety of offering is quite substantial at Lin's. Sushi, multiple salad types, several canned fruit varieties and fresh, multiple condiments. Their dessert bar has a mixed ice cream machine with much better quality of mix then most buffets. Plenty of cookies, cakes and pastries and puddings. I find most Chinese buffet dishes to lack in deep rich flavors. But their sauce or gravy based entree dishes are very rich in flavor. I very much like the way their buffet transition from station to station, and itis laid out for a very smooth process of movement. All of their dishes are refreshed extremely fast when empty. The kitchen and prep area is an open style so you can see the happenings of the prep and cooking process.

There is a Mongolian grill option.

In addition to Chinese dish options there are many other option based offerings as well. Corn, crawfish, baked potato, kielbasa, enchiladas, crispy coated wings/dummies, as well as Buffalo style, jojo potato wedges, onion rings, hush puppies.

Lin's offers the option for both a spring roll or a traditional egg roll.

One of my favorite dishes here is the clams in a very rich based brown sauce with exquisite flavor. It is the only buffet I have been to where the clams aren't just sitting in a tray of water. The only issue I have with them is once the original tray brought out is gone the sauce they use for follow-up refreshes the sauce is only 50% of the original sauce and very thin and watery. Please fix this! Another dish I like very much is their Kung pao chicken. I have had this on all visits. BUT, their quality control for the cut if chicken is quite lacking. 8 of the 9 times I have had it there was one if not multiple pieces of chicken with gristle or cartilage fragments in it. Once again kitchen, please resolve this quality control. Overall I believe Lin's is a good value for the price. However, I do find their fountain machine pop/soda price to be rather...

Came here today was charged 20+ dollars for a buffet. Realized that all they had was meat and no vegetables whatsoever. With the exception of broccoli and some fried squash or something which they never restocked . No fresh salad or make it your self salad - the salad was pre-maid with mayo swimming on it. Do you know how gross that looked? The lettuce was soggy and who knows how long it was out there like that. When asked why? They said they had to put something in place of the regular salad because its a holiday ?

Went to the manager asked for discount on my meal she said NO with no hesitation like the customer does not matter just your money. Wasn't asking for a free meal just like half price or something because i was dissatisfied. I asked the kitchen manager to cook me some green beans he agreed then said they were out. I would think twice before you spend your money here. When for that kinda money you can get fresh cooked food and full service elsewhere. The food is ok but all the seasoning seemed like it was the same seasoning just on different things. She sent me to the Mongolian grill but looked like it consisted of more broccoli which I already had broccoli and chicken. Could have went some where and ate a healthier meal better quality. A lot of the pans were empty I was there an hour or a little over and some pans were still empty.

The customer does not matter here just your money. She just kept telling me that i came on a holiday this is why we have less vegetables. I basically ate 10 worth of food but paid 23+ what a waste. I would suggest going elsewhere at that kinda price its not worth it. The fact that you cant take food home its definitely not worth it. Unless your are a steak eater it does not add up it just not logical. Especially with the quality of some of the other food hit or miss. I am not a steak eater but the steaks were freshly cooked and I know how much they cost else where. So you are basically paying for other peoples steaks. The fish was low quality not sure what it was but it wasn't catfish like a cod or pollack or something...Theirs no reason for...