Lucky Buffet
July 2, '08
I have been to Lucky Buffet for lunch many times. I liked their variety of dishes, light sauces, sushi bar, and cocktail shrimp but I had never gone for dinner before and wanted to try it. Sadly for my husband (but lucky for me) I had forgotten that dinner at the Lucky Buffet meant seafood and lots of it, he's not a big fan of seafood. The buffet menu included snow crab legs, raw oysters, mussels, marinaded squid, braised salmon, salt & pepper prawns, cocktail shrimp, coconut shrimp, tempura shrimp, shrimp and crab stir fry, cheese crab meat steak, salmon nigiri sushi and a small variety of crab rolls.
The decor in the Lucky Buffet has always had me a little puzzled. They have the most beautiful crystal chandeliers in trayed ceilings and then hand painted plexiglass screens atop the half wall partitions that are reminiscent of the 70's. I assume it was intentional however and the quirkiness is something I have come to associate with Asian buffets owned by people with actual Asian backgrounds.
As always the staff was friendly, if a little overwhelmed this time. In the past when I have gone for lunch they have always spaced out the seating for privacy when possible. This time everyone was seated in the front half of the restaurant and it was packed with 3 or more large groups as well as the usual dinners. They only had two waitresses working, it being a Wednesday night, and the owner/manager (I think) was out helping them with a green gingham apron on to protect his nice dress clothes. It made me smile to see but also garnered my respect that he wasn't afraid to get his hands dirty when needed. As we were finishing up our meal we discovered why the back half of the restaurant was empty when a large tour bus pulled up and people began pouring into the restaurant and were shown straight to their reserved seats. It looks like they were having a very busy night and we moved on to give them two less people to worry about.
As aways the food was fresh and rotated often. A danger you run into with buffets is that the food will either overcook under the lights, grow stale, or just get old. I've never had that problem at the Lucky Buffet and this time was no exception. The crab legs were nice and juicy and easy to crack open with the pliers provided, the mussels were nicely cooked, and the shrimp and crab stir fry was delicious, however the oysters were a new experience for me. You see, I have never met a cooked oyster I have liked. In fact I would go as far as to say I have loathed them. I have been told more then once that it was how the oysters were prepared, that oysters are best raw, so I was glad for the opportunity to try for myself. Once I dislodged the oyster from where it was attached to the shell I sipped it up and slowly swallowed. This was an entirely new experience. The texture was slick but not unpleasant, the flavor a light saltwater and almost refreshing, the temperature pleasingly cool. I am still not entirely sure if I liked it but I didn't dislike it and I can now see what others have been saying.
I don't know if the both of us will be returning to the Lucky Buffet for diner since my poor husband had few choices from which to eat but I would be happy to return when the desire for seafood hits me and time is short. Who knows, maybe I'll have another oyster.
August Update:
Since my first dinner service at Lucky Buffet I have returned once for dinner and once for their all day Saturday dinner. Not only was the food delicious, on the first of the two visits one of the staff spoke to me about their seafood when he noticed me checking out their mussels. We had a nice chat about the freshness of the food and the location the mussels are purchased from after which he showed me how to pick out the freshest oysters. He then explained how he preferred to eat them: a dab of cocktail sauce and sprinkling of lemon. I took his advice and was delitfully suprised, they were absolutely delicious. So I can now honestly say that I like raw fresh oysters. Something I would have never discovered without the kindness and care of an excellent employee in a restaurant I have and will go back to.
Lucky Buffet
969 North 3050 East #A1
St. George UT 84790
(435)652-6868 Fax: (435)652-6872
Ivan Foo
e-mail: FooandPang@yahoo.com
Maps: Yahoo/Google
About Us...
11
am - 10 pm every day. Fabulous Chinese buffet with six buffet bars and
over 150 succelent items everday. Cheese crabmeat, steak, squid,
salmon, shrimps, mussels, scallops, Japanese sushi, salad bar, ice
cream, fresh fruit, desserts and more! Best and newest Chinese buffet
in town with more variety and creative food. Lunch and dinner "all you
can eat" buffets with special prices for children.