This will be my inaugural food post. My most recent food adventure was a visit to the locally renowned Paula Deen's Buffet at Horseshoe Casino in Southern Indiana. Unfortunately, it wasn't my best food experience, but it was my most recent and I need to publish one to get the feel for it, so here it goes:
o Food Quality: C+
Well, what can I say? It was fried and buttery (to be expected from Ms. Paula Deen). In terms of quantity, there was more than enough food to keep you satisfied. However, most of it was fried. Not that it's a bad thing, but eventually fried foods just start to taste the same. IF you are a fried food enthusiast, there was an abundance of food that isn't standard to the fried menu. The other half of the buffet that wasn't fried was dripping with butter; so much so that it overpowered the natural flavors of the foods. Overall, nothing was too amazing from the entrees. However, some of the deserts were very good. There were some fantastic cakes (German, Black Forest) that I would definitely recommend.
o Atmosphere: B
The dining area was designed like an outdoor patio/picnic but was in the middle of the building, which was interesting. It was crowded with tables and people; however, that did make for some good people-watching. The atmosphere was full of excitement and contentment, I think from people's hopes of winning money at the tables that night. The lighting was good as well. Overall, it was entirely too crowded but the rest of it was good (for the record, crowded doesn't necessarily mean small, it means cramped. There's a difference to me).
o Price: D
$30 for a buffet plus drinks?!? That's too much for me. I don't mind paying for food if it's a value (i.e. worth it), but that's a lot of money to eat average, mostly generic foods that are being mass produced.
o Service: B-
It was obvious that the staff was accustomed to high customer turnover and little face-to-face time. They were mostly standoffish and unfriendly. However, they did their jobs well. Plates were cleared quickly, drinks were refilled in a timely manner, and the "order" was processed fast enough. However, there was the conveyor belt feeling and total lack of...humanism?...from the staff, which detracts from the grade quite a bit.
o Ease of Experience: C-
The location is in the middle of nowhere, which is par for the course with casinos I have visited. But it adds quite a bit of driving time. Also, there is some parking concerns with the garage and then quite a bit of walking (and some elevator work) to get to the restaurant. Ordering was a little weird too with the drinks. I don't know why, but they made the drink ordering really confusing and it was never made clear if your drink could be switched (they made you order at the door) once it was locked in.
o Overall: C
Not worth the effort and the money unless you are planning on gambling before/after eating.
I will try and make it shorter next time; I think this is too long for a review. Thanks for taking the time to read though! Sorry the grades were so negative, but that's what the experience warranted. Until next time:
Happy Eating,
Brandon
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