Crazy Buffet & Grill

Oh my gosh. I visited Tidewater and wanted some good food. First, let me say that the HOT & SOUR SOUP was the best I ever had. Not too many other items mixed in. The broth was just right. It's not too thick or thin. And the spice was flavorful to my whole mouth. I counted 16 stations. A bar as soon as you walk in. The service was on point. Note:big spacious restroom. When I go back to Tidwater, this is my first stop. Yes, the name is appropriate. Crazy Buffet Bar & Grill.

It's really bad. I couldn't eat anything here, save for some miso soup and wontons. The salmon tasted like something out of a WWII military ration. I'm not shy around food by any means, but I had to spit it out. Every time I chewed I just got the ick even more with different foods. I tried some chunks? of beef that were too dry to really even bite through. The rice was incredibly dry and..crunchy? We talked to the manager and he refused to drop off my buffet portion, even though I couldn't eat anything. He kept encouraging us to just try again another day. Trust me, I'm no stranger to forcing down food just to be polite, but this was inedible. I wouldn't even give it to a dog as punishment. I wouldn't recommend anyone coming here. It's a hike, but Buffet Star in Hampton is so so much better!

I’ll preface with this, we went 30 minutes before close. With that out of the way, I must say the taste and quality of the food here was abhorrent. I’m sorry, but I’ve never had an experience with food like this at a buffet anytime in my life even this close to closing. There was very little that was notable, and a few things that were downright disrespectful. The thing that ended it for me was the hibachi rice. There was just this caustic, old, straight up poisonous taste to it. Like I was tasting week old grease with an air of bitterness. I made a whole third plate with that on it and sadly I started with that, and it completely shutdown what little I had left for the experience. The prime steak was leather. The grilled steak was alright. Yellow rice was okay, even though it kinda masquerades as having flavor. The Mac was better than most, but still what you’d expect from a buffet. The pepper steak and hibachi chicken barely crossed the line of being edible. The salmon fish was unseasoned, unloved, and tough like a doormat. The green beans were great. The ribs were alright. Cheese pasta wasn’t good. There just wasn’t much I could imagine actually being good if it were fresh The fact it was dinner for two and we got creamed for full price ($40) for dumpster food is a well enough reminder to cook at home. Oh and they make you pay before you even seat or try anything and they don’t refund you; so your fate is sealed. Disputing the charge.

It's a hard review. Let's start with the positives vs. negatives. Nice decor, but old and worn. Friendly staff, but overworked. One person getting drinks or non-buffet orders, clearing dishes and tables, giving checks, and taking payments in an area of 15 or more tables is too much. Vast variety of foods from Sushi to Mongolian Grill and everything in between with fish, seafood varieties, chicken and beef varieties, multiple soups and rice/noodles dishes, salad bar, fruit bar, desert bar. When I walked in, I was truly excitedly anticipating a great dinner! Then the food. While it all looked terrific, there wasn't that mouth-watering smell. And the reason? No smell equals no flavor. The General Tso chicken was soggy and bland. The Beef and Broccoli were tough and bland. The coconut shrimp was soggy and bland. I kept trying different items and was repeatedly disappointed. I HATE throwing food away, HATE it with a passion, so I take very little of anything I try, so if it's not worth eating, I'm not wasting much. Most of the time, I don't throw anything away. Even if I end up taking too much, I'll sit there until it's gone. Occasionally, I will leave something behind if it's too salty, or so dry or tough, I just can't choke it down. I'm embarrassed to say that we left 2 1/2 plates of food between myself and my boyfriend. I hope it was an off night, but $45 for 2 with only extra being 1 cup of coffee and 1 glass of hot tea was too expensive for the meals we received. We won't be going back.

We (party of 8) arrived around 820 thinking we had at least an hour to enjoy the buffet, but they started closing it down at 9 and by 915 was being rushed to pay and leave. Food was being taken from the bar that we wanted along with utensils being removed. If you requested the items, which were being loaded into a cart, they would offer it to you.... BUT not up to temperature, from stacked pans, using uncleaned tongs from whatever they were serving- so second or third rounds became disappointing. Up until this point, Most of the food was pretty good, or at least good quality considering it was near closing. They should advertise closing at 9 if food becomes unavailable at that time. The servers were not that great. We sat with empty cups multiple times waiting on refills. AND we were conveniently sat near the servers station where we observed them just sitting unattentively not noticing or checking on guests frequent enough. Hibachi station wasn't cooked that good. The finished portion wasn't as good as I'd expect. They have a variety of seafood options and kid friendly items. Didn't have much sushi available to try at that time. It's a large and clean facility. 11yo is considered an adult!