Islandia Buffet — Restaurant in Town of Islip

UPDATE: After reading many other reviews I agree and changed my review from a 4 star to a 3 star because the place IS dirty and rundown and outdated, the food overall is not as good as it used to be, the staff can be annoying if you dine in, and dinner is overpriced, but, it's not so dirty that it's unsanitary and I wouldn't eat there. I'll still get a lunch plate to go. I would avoid the bathroom there though. And they literally haven't changed one thing there in like 20 years.

I've been going here for years. As far as chinese buffets go its not the best but its good. They have many good things to choose from and a few I would skip. The Mongolian beef is decent. I usually get boneless spare ribs, roast chicken, salmon, dumplings, green beans, pork fried rice, chicken w broccoli, General Tso chicken, etc. Siu's kitchen in Islip Terrace has better take out, and there's a sit down chinese place in Nassau that has the best chinese food on earth (can't remember the name or the town right now), but this place is not bad. The reason I gave it 4 stars is because I'm big on value and portion size and when I'm hungry I can go here at lunchtime and get a heaping takeout plate to go, at a fair price, and won't be able to finish it most times. For dine in at dinner time I think its a little overpriced, because they charge you more because they put out the crab legs, but the crab legs there aren't very good, or as good as they used...

Update: The place is completely run down. The tables bathrooms and floors are horrifically dirty (I'm not sure how this place passes inspection). Lunch was $12 +tax, Diner is $19+tax (which is a rip off). The food was not good this time and everything besides the sushi (which I'm guessing they get done next door) was bad including the sodas which were watered down. Won't be coming back anytime soon.

Our family used to frequent this place 10-15 years ago, and for better or worse, very little has changed. The food was good, fresh, hot and frequently replenished (they had a surprisingly large assortment of Sushi for the price). They even had enough variety to accommodate people on a diet. However, aesthetic wise, like others have said, the place is just run down. Its the same sticky chairs and tables that were there when I was a kid, the booths are beyond beat up at this point and overall the place just needs an update/deep clean desperately. That being said, I don't eat at places for the interior design, I eat there because the food is good, the service is decent (I was seated quick and the table was cleared quickly), and its affordable. It's hard to complain at $10 a person when other buffets in the area are charging double. If you're on a budget or prefer food quality over looks it's fine, I just wouldn't take someone here on a date or business lunch. Easily a 5 star review if the place was just cleaned and neatened...

I saw a handful of reviews about this place before going but wanted to give it a try anyway. I feel like a lot of people review buffets with the same mindset as restaurants which is unfair as the quality and service aren't matched correctly. I've also noticed more buffets handing checks out early and people seem to dislike that but I don't particularly mind it. Anyway, I came here and the front of house was very kind and I was quickly seated. Glossing over the buffet options, I tried some staples that are offered at several buffets to mixed review. I tried some new things too and the quality was decent. Nothing crazy but I was planning to give a decent rating. Things took a turn as I was finishing up. As I was finishing my last dinner plate, the check came. As I said, this is fine with me, and when I finished the plate I gave my card to the hostess and got up to view their dessert selection. I chose a few different desserts and came back to the receipt for my meal. All of the desserts tasted awful. I decided to cut my losses and sign the receipt and as soon as I picked up the pen, one of the hostesses was trying to grab the receipt tray and rush me out. As I'd already paid, there really isn't any reason in my mind that they would need to collect the receipt urgently, and it really brought...