Buckingham Arms Hotel

We’re spoilt for choice when it comes to pub dining in Adelaide. The Buck has been here for years and will probably stay here for years to come, quite possibly unchanged, which probably won’t have me coming back haha. It’s a grand old building but like any at some point it’ll new new floors, walls, furnishings etc. Right now it’s really quite tired looking.
I’m not big on smorgasbords, or food courts, and only ever end up in such places by invitation (that I can’t get out of!). They’re often good value but I’m more into quality rather than quantity. Buck’s food is pretty good, not as expansive as Walkers Arms, but overall tasty and well presented. Their desserts are simple but good and like the rest of their menu created for mass appeal, for example the old cinnamon doughnut. To me that’s street or shopping centre food, not sit down food.
It’s not the sort of place you’ll take a group of friends, unless you’re all over 70. It is the sort of place you’ll celebrate a low key birthday, like a parent or a younger child. There’s plenty of car parking and there’s also the gaming lounge and bar to unwind.

Great place for a casual lunch meal. The staff are friendly and attentive and quick to clear after customers leave. I enjoyed the food, very simple menu but well cooked and presented. Salad bar had a good selection and was very tasty. Only critique I have is the wine selection which is minimal if by the glass. Otherwise a very enjoyable lunch.

Well the smörgåsbord here hasn’t changed in years. OK price, OK food.
Nothing special, but OK for a group dinner

Lauren was really nasty. Awful, awful customer service. Got my son’s age wrong and she refused to change it because it was worth more money. Then she was rude. Horrible experience spoiled my wedding anniversary.

While I’m not a fan of a buffet (…and there goes my ‘credibility’ right there), I’m generally open to anything. So, it was with that open mindset that I ventured to the Buckingham Arms last week to experience the buffet last week for the first time.
From the outside, the building looks nice. In fact, the interior wasn’t too bad, either — until I get to the buffet room that is, where my eyes felt like they were being slaughtered by the 1800’s. The room felt dilapidated and so very tired. This impression continued when I sat down, as I felt like I was about to fall through the chair — a feeling which continued for the rest of the night.
No, I’m not obese, by the way.
But this is all superficial. What about the food?! Oh, turns out that was rubbish, too.
No green veg other than peas? No roast meats other than beef? Ham which felt like it had been dragged across a salt lake? Cold, uninspired union rings? Pleasantly above average fish was about the only item worth mentioning.
Except for the donuts. Totally awesome.
Topping the night off was the WORST mojito I have ever experienced. Pretty sure they just mixed rum with soda water and threw a mint leaf in there.
Avoid!

Do you like hot cinnamon donuts popping nicely out of a wall and STRAIGHT INTO CINNAMON? Then come here souley for this wonderful innovation.
This place is very well known for its smorgasboards and everyone seems to love the place. I dont quite get the appeal. It is in a nice building which promises so much, but when you get inside there are a million families and groups with young children all fighting over average tasting dinners.
The dessert however, is delicious. I like mousse and Cinnamon donuts. Sometimes together.

Been coming to the Buckingham Arms for years. The Sunday roasts were always good with generous servings. Prices are very fair and the atmosphere is good. Service is just fine. Expect there to be kids which can be a drawback. Food is always fresh on the buffet. Typical pub décor and crowd. Well known for being one of the best buffets in the city. Well worth a try.

I do love a buffet, and I’ve always heard about the Buckingham but never been, so when a mate had his bday a couple of years ago I was looking forward to it.
The food was ok, nothing spesh, buffet seems to have dropped a lot in quality and credibility lately.
It was very busy and there was heaps of loud kids.
We hung around in the bar for a bit drinking but the atmosphere really ain’t there so we moved to town.
I do wish buffets were a bit better lately, as I am often disappointed and extremely full of amateur food.

I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my visits to the Buckingham Arms — maybe partly because of the company I’ve had on the visits, as much as the venue itself, although I am a confirmed fan of a good smörgåsbord.
I feel the roasts here are the stars of the buffet, I’d certainly agree that few of the other dishes would really stand strongly on their own — mind you, the prawns have been very fresh and I think I’ve managed to eat my money’s worth in those alone a time or two.
There is very little change in the décor — and some of the furniture is getting a little the worse for wear — but that’s also part of the charm, the familiarity.

I can’t tell you much about the pub side of it becuase I have only ever been here for family dinners in the buffet area.
My grandfather loved this place and I swear he held almost every one of his birthdays there. I hadn’t been in quite a few years and went back recently for my niece’s birthday and the place hasn’t changed a bit. No seriously, the same chairs, tables, wall art, everything. The outside had changed but inside was exactly the same. Some of the furniture really desperately needs updating too. It was a bit of a turn off really.
However the food was pretty good and they still had the old trusty ice cream soft serve machine and the wonderful fresh cinnamon donuts (alhtough I think they were being a bit stingy with making them slowly when we were there).
I think for what it offers there are better places around for the same price or less that are nicer and have a larger range of food available.

There are two types of people in this world, people who like Smorgasbords and people who prefer not to get food poisoning. I am one who fits into the second category, and generally shudder when a venue with a smörgåsbord is suggested. The other thing that annoys me with this travesty of a food option is that most gorge themselves on crap that is either regarded as nibbles or fast food. My brain hurts.
Anywho, the Buckingham Arms is famous in Adelaide for their Smörgåsbord, infact, prior to the near by Walkers Arms sprucing up their digs, it was known as the best to be found. There is a huge selection to choose from, but no one dish that really would be of a good standard on its own (which is usually the case with these places).
The rest of the place is a pretty standard pub. Front bar/​sports bar, Pokie lounge and bottle ‘o’ out the back.
If you are a fan of the sneeze guards, soft serve machines and waiting for the beef and black bean to be refilled then this is one of the top ones around. My horse for a Parmy and chips!
They do have al a carte options in the other areas if you are desperate!