CombatCritic's TravelValue™: buffet

Showing posts with label buffet. Show all posts

Sunday, March 3, 2024

Faro, Portugal; Great Expectations, Oustanding View, But A Disappointing Breakfast Buffet

Harune Restaurant - AP EVA SENSES HOTEL

Av. da República, 1

8000-078 Faro, Algarve, Portugal

Phone: +351 289 540 100

Email: book.eva@ap-hotelsresorts.com

Website: Harune Restaurant

Prices: €€€€

I had heard about this restaurant, its buffet breakfast and lunch, and the amazing view of Faro's boat harbor, Ria Formosa, and the Atlantic Ocean, so we reserved for a Sunday breakfast.

I had reserved for 9:30 am, but when we arrived we were told that our reservation was for lunch. No worries, the hostess took our money (€16 each even though their website says breakfast is €13).

The restaurant is modern with big plate glass windows overlooking the sea and terraces where you can sit when the weather is warm enough. It was a tad chilly that morning so we parked ourselves near the buffet.

They have cheese and ham, a small salad bar, fresh fruit, cereals, and yogurt, but our focus was on the hot breakfast buffet They made omelets, but the choice of ingredients was sparse. The freshly cooked sunnyside-up eggs were very well done and they had a big quiche with egg and potatoes, but it was gobbled up an hour before breakfast ended and they did not bring out a fresh one

The bacon looked very strange, some kind of processed meat made to imitate bacon, but it was not very good. How hard can it be to provide real bacon? I can find it in numerous local supermarkets, but we get this processed garbage. Instead of breakfast sausage, they had chorizo and there were no potatoes except for the ones in the disappearing quiche. A breakfast with no potatoes? I don't think so!

There was a nice selection of bread, but the toaster was pretty much useless, having to put the bread on the conveyor belt three or four times to get it even lightly toasted.

The coffee machine was extremely popular and the line was very long because the machine was terribly slow. There was another machine at the other end of the room, but it was not working. The coffee situation was the long pole in the tent because everybody wants coffee with their breakfast yet only one slow machine.

The dessert selection was minimal and not all that appetizing so I did not partake.

This place desperately needs REAL bacon, a breakfast potato offering or two, a couple more coffee machines, a few more omelet ingredients, and a price that matches the one on their website.

I doubt we will go back.

CombatCritic Gives Harune Restaurant - AP Eva Senses 3 Bombs Out Of 10 ... More Bombs Are Better!

Three Bombs Equates To:

Translation for Civilians: "Situation Normal, All Fucked Up"

Friday, November 27, 2015

Tulsa, OK: WORST THANKSGIVING MEAL OF MY LIFE ... Thanks Hard Rock!

Hard Rock Casino (Tulsa) Buffet

19250-19254 Timbercrest Circle

Catoosa, OK 74015
Phone: (800) 760-6700
Website:HardRockCasinoTulsa
Prices: $$$$

At $22 a pop for the Thanksgiving buffet, I expected more, much more.

We had to wait in line for 30-40 minutes just to get in. The selection of entrees was dismal and what they had was poorly prepared. The turkey was obviously from turkey rolls, not whole birds, the pork loin was overcooked and dry, and the "prime rib" was bloody. I asked the carver if I could get an end cut or something medium-well or well, but he told me "no". Really? You don't have another piece of meat in the back with two ends on it at 3PM when the buffet is open for another 6 or 7 hours? I passed on the prime rib, one of the main reasons we drove 30 miles out of our way to eat there.

I know the mashed potatoes were mashed from real potatoes because there were massive un-mashed chunks of potato throughout and they were extremely dry, not creamy as they should be. The brown gravy, there was no "turkey gravy", had little chunks in it, so I asked if it had giblets. The nice lady told me "we were thinking the same thing, so let me ask the chef" who just happened to be passing by. He confirmed that they were giblets, so I asked if they had gravy without giblets, to which he replied "no, we made 80 gallons and they all have giblets". I passed on the gravy as well.

The salad bar was decent, the pizza was OK, and the desserts abundant, but of poor quality. I have been to many buffets in my lifetime and large casinos usually have good ones. Not the Hard Rock Tulsa. Turkey roll, dry pork, bloody beef, dry, half-mashed potatoes, and nothing but giblet gravy ... WORST THANKSGIVING MEAL IN MY LIFE ... thanks Hard Rock!

CombatCritic Gives The Hard Rock Casino (Tulsa) Buffet 2 Bombs Out Of 10 ... More Bombs Are Better!

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Hard Rock Casino Buffet

Title: WORST THANKSGIVING MEAL OF MY LIFE ... thanks Hard Rock!

Key Words: Hard Rock Casino, Hard Rock, Hard, Rock, casino, Tulsa, OK, Oklahoma, Thanksgiving, buffet, CombatCritic, TravelValue, travel, value, restaurant, menu, review, Yelp, TripAdvisor

Translation: "Tango Uniform" - tits-up; dead; awful

Sunday, June 29, 2014

LOTS O' TACOS ... Border Bandido Offers Abundant, Fresh Ingredients At A Fair Price

First off, if a Mexican restaurant's name is spelled incorrectly, that is not a good sign. There is no such word as "bandido". "Bandito", Mexican for "bandit", yes ... "bandido", absolutely not. The reviews on Yelp were mixed, so I did not get around to trying Border Bandido until a rainy Saturday afternoon when I found that I had little to do, so why not eat tacos!

The facility is clean and functional with the taco bar prominently placed in the middle of the room in front of the kitchen. The sign on the wall stated "Buffet Hours: 11am - 2pm, 5pm-etc" and because it was a little after 4pm, I was a bit confused. I asked the woman behind the counter if they were open and she told me "yes, the buffet is open all day on Saturday and enchiladas are included in the price ($9), so let me know and I'll make them to order".

I took my plate and selected my tortilla shell, a choice of crispy corn or flour, soft flour, and a crispy bowl shaped tortilla for taco salads I presume, I chose crispy corn. I added taco meat (ground beef - shredded chicken also available), a guacamole-type concoction that looked like something out of a container, shredded cheddar cheese, pico di gallo, diced white onion, shredded lettuce, and salsa. There were also jalapeńos, black olives, tomatoes, potato salad, chocolate mousse, and cookies if so inclined. Chili con carne and chili con queso are also available. The tortilla shells were crisp and the other ingredients appeared fresh, the taco meat well seasoned. If your in the mood for lots of tacos, Border Bandido is an inexpensive option.

Enchiladas Included On Saturday Buffet

The enchiladas were an added benefit, so I ordered one beef and one cheese and onion. The beef enchilada's tortilla was too thin and barely able to contain the ground beef. The cheese and onion enchilada actually was not bad with decent tasting red sauce and melted cheese on top, comparable to most of the other mediocre enchiladas available throughout Lawrence.

Border Bandido is very basic, offering a decent, abundant meal of fair American-Mexican food at a reasonable price. KU students must love the place! I thought it was not bad, not great, but if you are in the mood for LOTS O' TACOS ... Border Bandido is the place for you!

CombatCritic Gives Border Bandido 6 Bombs Out of 10 ... BOMBAS ARE BUENAS!

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Key Words: Border Bandido, border, bandito, bandit, Mexican, 23rd, street, food, restaurant, taco, bar, buffet, enchilada, Lawrence, Kansas, 66044, CombatCritic, TravelValue, travel, value

Trófea Grill Etterem (Zugló): All You Can Eat Traditional Hungarian Buffet, Wine, and Show ... All For Just $20!

Trófea Grill Etterem (Zugló)

1145 Budapest, Hungary

Erzsébet Királyné Útja 5

Prices: $$$$

Website: English

Budapest, Hungary: While in Budapest on a recent trip we stumbled upon a great traditional Hungarian buffet that was recommended in a travel guide we had brought with us. For only $20 per person you can feast on an all you can eat buffet with local salads, soups, entrees, cooked-to-order steaks, starches, veggies, homemade breads, and desserts (including hand made ice cream). Also included is all of the local wine and water you desire as well as a spectacular, authentic gypsy floor show complete with instruments and exotic dancers.

Zugló is the "original" of the three Trófea buffet location and just a short walk northwest of the large City Park and its picturesque Heroes' Square, thermal baths, and Vajdahunyad Castle, made famous as the spectacular backdrop for the recent hit TV series "Dracula" starring Jonathan Rhys Meyers. The restaurant sits on a corner, is large, and reminiscent of a Bavarian chalet right in the middle of Budapest with warm furnishings that are both functional and comfortable. The staff are extremely friendly and efficient, and just a few spoke English. After all … YOU ARE IN BUDAPEST FOLKS!

The food was wonderful with a vast array of appetizers, entrees, side dishes, and desserts to suit anyone’s taste. An at just $20, Trófea is one of THE BEST VALUES we have experienced in our travels. There are better restaurants in Budapest, but none compare when it comes to great food at a reasonable price … booze included … and a traditional Hungarian show that you will remember for years to come!

CombatCritic Gives Trófea Grill Zugló 9 Bombs Out of 10 … More BOMBS Are Better … and is A MUST VISIT while in Budapest!

Nine Bombs Equates To:

Translation for Civilians: "U.S. Marine Response To A Verbal Greeting Or As An Expression Of Enthusiasm"

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