World Buffet — Restaurant in Monona

The only reason I'm not giving it 1 star is because the food isn't terrible. It's not particularly great, but it's definitely not bad either. It's difficult to find little places which have a lot of vegetarian options, but this one has a good few. The first time I had a problem here at all was with their own coupon. They have stamp-cards for visits, free meal after a certain amount. I had accidentally put one stamp on a different card by mistake. They refused to honor these together. Even though it's really in the best interest of keeping their customer base, they really fight about any kind of discount unless it's exactly how they want it to be. Also, if you get a drink with your 'free' lunch, you have to pay for that too. Whatever, no big deal. But as I kept going there I kept noticing the service was worse and worse, as if everyone has just been getting comfortable with being more and more rude. They do what they are supposed to, but with dirty looks. If I smile and say yes, please, I get a dirty look and no response - no polite 'sure!' or really anything to acknowledge my being pleasant. You go to pay and are met my someone saying as little as possible to you as they can - other places people might ask how things were or even just say hi, not here. They don't initiate conversation and will say nothing the whole time if possible. If you say thank you, you are ignored in a very obvious way, creating an awkward silence. It's not just one person. I don't know why they want to be mean and rude to customers for no reason, but if they want people to stop coming there...

Here's a personalized review:

A Birthday Celebration at World Buffet

We recently celebrated a family birthday at World Buffet, and overall, it was a satisfying experience for our family of five. The highlight of the evening was undoubtedly the sushi selection – a vast array of fresh, expertly prepared options that impressed even the most discerning palates. The spicy tuna rolls, salmon sashimi, and crab tempura were devoured with glee!

However, we found the orange chicken, a staple for our kids, to be just average. If you're craving a mouthwatering, plate-filling orange chicken experience, there's a better spot in town. But for a buffet, World Buffet's variety and quality shone through.

Pros:

Sushi Galore: Fresh, delicious, and abundant sushi options stole the show! Global Flavors: Something for every taste bud, from Asian to Italian and beyond. Affordable Celebration: Great value for a family birthday dinner.

Cons:

Orange Chicken Overrated: Not the best in town, but still a decent option. Crowded: Popular spot, be prepared for a lively atmosphere.

Overall:

World Buffet is a solid choice for a family celebration or casual dinner. While not every dish impressed, the sushi selection and variety made up for it. We left satisfied, with full bellies and happy memories.

Rating: 4/5 stars

Recommendation: Don't miss the sushi, and arrive early to...

I go there frequently enough that the staff recognize me and are fairly friendly, though of the waiting staff can be a bit aloof. I doubt they're high-paid, so that's probably why. It seems to be affecting a bunch of people. Me, I don't care. I go there to eat from buffet tables and it's not like I have much interaction with the waiting staff to begin with other than when they come to refill my soda or when they take me to my table. Because of the minimal interaction, I don't expect they see much point to maintaining any extended interaction with the customers. It IS basically a self-serve restaurant, after all. At any rate, the food's generally pretty good. Especially their baked mussels. Gotta be careful with those, though, because four of those will hit your stomach like a rock and you'll be full before you get to anything else. Sometimes the food's started to dry out a bit, typically on the slower hours of the slower days, but I'm not exactly seeking perfection at a place where I can devour 4+ plates of food for twelve bucks, you know? The sushi is actually pretty good, they always have a bunch of different types I've never heard of before, and the sushi-makers themselves are actually quite friendly and talkative when they're not too busy. Overall, I like the place. Can't really find much to complain about and my experiences have generally been...