Lin Buffet — Restaurant in Town of Horseheads

I read the recent reviews for this place before coming. Recently, two people left angry 1-star reviews complaining about the servers "begging" for tips.

When you first enter, you pay for the buffet, then you are seated.

When our server saw that we were finished after clearing our table, she gave us a tray with cookies and gestured to it, saying "Thank you for coming, you may tip there if you like," and then left.

My boyfriend hadn't heard what she said, and was going to leave without tipping.

Food service workers are typically paid almost half of the minimum wage in New York state. Given that you pay before eating at Lin Buffet, the fact that tipping is expected (depending on your satisfaction) is not inherently obvious, like it is in other restaurants. Since tips are always inconsistent, food service workers really suffer. My boyfriend is a food service worker, he knows.

Our server was very attentive and polite. Also, the restaurant was very clean. The food was fresh and delicious, including the seafood. It's a very lovely place, and obviously what she had said to direct our attention to the tray's purpose was not impolite or begging or inappropriate in any way.

One more thing: for dinner for two adults, we only paid $31.30 (including tax). That is ridiculously affordable, especially considering the wide range of offerings they provide. I can't believe some people would not only be so stingy about tipping when reminded, but would go as far as to leave a bitter misleading review about it or even have the gall to say that they didn't tip because they were asked to in some way (which even that is a stretch). Excluding tax, you pay less than $15 per (adult) person to eat as much dinner and dessert as you want, and I almost didn't discover this great place because of what those people said. Especially with inflation being as bad as it is and the cost of groceries blowing up. These people have themselves and their families to feed. Grow up!

Anyway, we're super happy with the service and the food,...

If you’re craving variety and generous portions, Lin Chinese Buffet delivers a satisfying dining experience with a wide array of options spread across six well-stocked food stations. From hearty soups to refreshing fruits and indulgent ice cream, they have something for every palate.

What I particularly enjoyed was the variety of proteins and sides—think crispy, golden-battered frog legs and fried shrimp that were tender on the inside, perfectly seasoned, and full of flavor. Their green beans were vibrant, crisp, and coated in just the right amount of garlic, making them a fresh balance against the rich, fried options.

The buffet also included plump dumplings, savory stir-fried mushrooms, and freshly steamed clams for a seafood touch. For meat lovers, there were hearty cuts of steak and pork complemented by sautéed mushrooms, offering a satisfying savory bite.

One of the standout features at Lin Chinese Buffet is their fresh Mongolian-style cooking station, where you can customize your dish with a variety of meats, vegetables, and sauces, cooked right in front of you. It adds an interactive, made-to-order element that elevates the buffet experience.

What sets Lin Chinese Buffet further apart is their thoughtful setup. They offer a separate section specifically designed for friends or group gatherings, making it an ideal spot for celebrating special occasions or just enjoying a meal with loved ones in a more private setting.

The dessert and fruit section rounded things out nicely, with ice cream and fresh options to cleanse the palate after the indulgence. It’s clear that Lin Buffet prioritizes variety while maintaining solid quality for a buffet-style dining experience.

If you’re in the mood for variety and love to mix and match dishes, this spot is worth a visit—especially for their Mongolian-style station and the dedicated space for...

I'll admit, I was impressed by the amount of people that were in the Buffet and I could actually see STEAM coming off the food which was exciting for me (My local buffets barely have the food warm sometimes and sometimes they just don't even really have the warmers on at all).

My major RED FLAG was while I was trying to eat (the crab rangoons were unbearably salty with a weird fishy aftertaste along with the spring noodles having this taste of aged egg and as of the noodles had been sitting in a container for a while, the only saving grace for me was the Sesame Balls and even then the dough was much thicker and gooey-er than any other I've had) I could see the Guy from the register go to the Hibachi (pretty sure it was a Hibachi) get some food for himself (mind you no one is running it which was another big bummer for me because I love Hibachis) and this man SNEEZES so loudly INTO HIS HAND/PALM, proceeds to pick up the plate of food with the same hand and hands it to another guy to take into the kitchen to cook for him.

I have 4 Nurses in my family and I was already feeling ill as it was trying to eat some of the food there and I just wasn't sure if maybe I was overthinking it over the tastes and maybe I was just nervous and that was making me nauseous..... Nope.... Sure enough shortly after we left I ended up puking 4x and I'm not sure what/which of their food could have turned parts of my vomit looking like INK but now I'm still ill and nauseous from the food the next day.

If you're fine with having food served in the same manner as the Elephants serving ice cream in Zootopia this is the place for you

If you have any health issues that affects your immune system then stay as far away from here as possible.

I don't want a business to go out but this is just not ok in the Restaurant...