Blue Moose — Restaurant in Topeka

Today was our second time having the Mother's Day brunch buffet at the Blue Moose...but also our last.

Brunch is a Mother's Day tradition for our family. We went to the Blue Moose last year, and despite the decent sized line, we enjoyed it enough to return this year.

I made this reservation in April. I made our reservation so early that the manager thought it was for the Easter brunch. 🤣 When I called to confirm my reservation last week, the manager even recognized me by name and stated I was the first one to make a reservation for this brunch.

I have a large family. It was myself, my husband, our 4 young kids (5, 3, 21 months, and 2 months), and my mother. With a family this large, we go in with realistic expectations. We know taking this many young children anywhere is chaotic, let alone a buffet. Having gone last year, we felt we knew what to expect.

We showed up shortly before our 10:30 reservation. We had to wait about 10 minutes for a table, which was no big deal. They seated us at the first available large table, but it happened to be the absolute worst spot in the restaurant. The buffet line was right up against one side of our table, meaning, I had people lined up right up against the back of my chair the entire time we ate. It was a complete circus. It felt like we had an audience the entire time we ate our meal, and I know it made some of the bystanders uncomfortable too, as they felt they were in our space. I had to nurse my infant a couple of times while there, and while I am not shy about public nursing, this was a new level of public audience. I shouldn't feel like I have to leave the table to feed my baby (and I did not leave the table). We couldn't even make conversation amongst ourselves at our table, as we couldn't hear over the crowd around us.

The line was out of control (as we have established). We were there from 10:30 until noon, and it was a constant stream of people wrapping around the restaurant. We were seated closest to the hostess stand, and the line was always AT LEAST to our table, and sometimes wrapping the corner. The line moved incredibly slowly, as there was only one. You had to wait 20-30 minutes each time you went up for food. That's a really long time to wait when you have so many young kids to look after. 😅 The long wait kept us from eating the amount we wanted to. It went from an "all you can eat" buffet to a "eat what you can grab in one trip" buffet. They absolutely needed two lines going.

We paid $35 per adult and $9 per child over age 2. As a large family, we don't eat out often, and this will definitely be the most we spend on a meal all year. The long wait and the table location completely ruined our experience. I do not feel like the experience or the amount of food we were able to consume was worth the amount paid.

That being said, the food was very good for the most part (ham was a bit mushy, and the prime rib was super small portions and mostly fat). Our server was very kind and as accommodating as she could be. She did an excellent job given the circumstances, and we are grateful.

So, we are taking suggestions for best Mother's Day brunch spots in Topeka. Would prefer one that isn't a buffet, but am open to a buffet with smaller or more efficient lines.

Overall, it was a very underwhelming experience at the Blue Moose this Mother's Day.

*Please note...I did NOT speak to management at the restaurant. No one stopped by our table to check in on us and I honestly wasn't sure where the manager was. I didn't request to speak to someone because my kids had already been patient enough, and we were just...

I usually LOVE coming here but my experience was horrible.

Blake was our server. We waited a very long time for our food (Mac n cheese & braised pork with mashed potatoes and a side of Mac n cheese). I worked in the restaurant business before so I’m very understanding BUT it gets to the point where it’s ridiculous. Blake avoided our table and it was painfully obvious. I wasn’t sure if he was nervous or just didn’t care.

Eventually the table of 6 who were sat and taken care of AFTER us got their appetizers… and then their entrees. While us, a table of two, hasn’t gotten anything… not even a “sorry it’s taking a while, I’m going to check on that for you”. And then follow up with an explanation on why it’s taking forever.

Since our waiter refused to look our way, I, a pregnant women, had to get up out of my seat and complain to someone who was maybe the manager? I think they were. I’m not sure as they didn’t say who they were. They were in a nice blue Christmas suit. Very festive and fun.

There wasn’t really any true concern coming from them but they said they would find out the problem.

A while passes and they said it was because they ran out of mashed potatoes… but we just seen mashed potatoes get ran out to the table across from us AFTER she left. There was no apology from them.

Anyways…by the end of it, they took off the additional side of Mac n cheese we ordered.

A quick explanation and an apology would have went a very long way for our server, as I used to serve myself. I don’t know if this was a race issue or just a mess up. I love eating here but this was an experience that made me question if I’ll ever come back. Blake seemed like he didn’t care so we didn’t care to tip.

I understand having a bad day… but we felt we were being discriminated against. and that’s why apologizing goes a long way…

WE ALWAYS TIP 20% … this was...

I wish I could have experienced this place the way many Topekans have claimed they experienced it. Experiencing places in Topeka the same way Topekans do is near impossible, though.

On a particularly misguided day of naive enthusiasm I decided to come here with my girlfriend to see what all the fuss was about. If only the experience could live up to the delusional hype.

Upon entering there was already an air of snoot on the individuals working there. I expected as much, I was dressed in my lounge wear but I scoff at the attitudes of the workers none the less.

My girlfriend ordered a steak medium-rare, that came out well done. Luckily that was the only issue she had, and enjoyed the steak regardless.

Myself, I believe I ordered the Mahi fish tacos. I wasn't particularly hungry and I don't expect much of Topekan establishments nor Kansas seafood in general; they still managed to disappoint.

The Mahi was overcooked and cold upon reaching me. The rice had been cooked too long and would've been less salty if I threw it in the ocean before eating it. We notified our waiter, who was shaking in his boots (probably new), immediately.

A manager, who had presented himself as the king of snoot, thankfully comped my meal and dropped the snooty act. Though he did come back to tell me the chef said the rice was fine, I still laugh about that.

Perhaps next time I will come in with a trophy wife, my business casual wear, an alcohol problem, and an over-inflated ego and will be treated as a valued customer. Fat chance I return, ever, though; no sane person of good judgement and class would dine here.

I still feel bad for that waiter, though. I hope he enjoyed the large tip we left him for being so kind in the face of his pretentiously...