Buffet King
Buffet King in Peabody claims to have the largest oriental buffet on the North Shore. But they don't claim to be the best.
Atmosphere(6)
Not much in the way of decoration. Tables too close together, and that's deadly when you're trying to reach the buffet.
Menu(8)
Buffet offers 40 hot items and more ever day, including Chinese, Japanese, American, and Italian offerings. A la carte menu includes more spelling and grammar mistakes than Phantom's fourth grade book report on the Zagat restaurant guide.
Portions(10)
All you can eat, and all you can drink soft drinks as well.
Appetizers(7)
The chicken wings, chicken fingers, boneless spare ribs, and spring rolls were all soggy. Onion rings and pizza were a nice surprise. Decent bowl of hot and sour soup. Sushi rolls severely lacking. Phantom chose to stay away from the shrimp cocktail.
Food and Drink(6)
Some items in the buffet were serviceable, like the tasty egg fu young, fresh pepper steak, and crispy rosemary potatoes. Other dishes were just OK, like the somewhat rubbery chicken with broccoli. And others were downright disgraceful, like the greasy boneless ribs, watery macaroni and cheese, and tough roast beef.
Desserts(7)
Satisfying Chinese doughnuts, cookies, cakes, Jell-O, puddings, and fresh fruit. You can even make a banana split.
Service(7)
Phantom was seated promptly and pointed towards the buffet. Dishes were cleared throughout the meal, but not in record time. Buffet area kept fairly well-stocked.
Cleanliness(6)
They try hard, but the floor around the buffet quickly gets sloppy. Distinct fishy aroma filled the air. Decent bathrooms.
Parking(8)
Located in the Peabody Place Shopping Center on Route 114, Buffet King is easy to find. Large free parking lot.
Value(8)
Lunch buffet runs $5-6. Diner buffet costs $8.49 all day on Sundays. Very reasonable prices, even with the low quality.
