Lin Garden #2

I have been going to Lin Garden over 7 years and I will NEVER go there again.
I went in today and my food was not the usual quality. My family’s food was okay, but subpar. The particular dishes I always get were dry, tasteless and just generally meh. I asked the manager who knows I’ve been coming there for 7 years to knock *my* part off the bill. Just mine. I had barely been able to eat anything and was still hungry leaving. The manager yelled at me, refused to do so, and then attempted to SHAME me about «wasting food» in front of other customers. She said NO one would knock a person’s meal off of a bill for it not being as good as they wanted anywhere. I asked her if she’d ever eaten at another restaurant, because yes, even places like McDonalds will give you a full refund if the food is not up to quality. I mean, I can’t really top the fact that she tried to shame me in front of other customers about wasting food. This woman runs a buffet and she really slung at me that people are starving in other countries while my plate of food plus a plate with two spring rolls on it were «wasted». Well yes, that’s what happens when you put your food out and let it set under warmers for hours instead of putting out smaller amounts as it is needed between rushes. Blaming me for that is sad, but trying to shame me for it in front of other customers? That’s just unbelievable. I have never been so insulted by a restaurant before. I will never go back and frankly, it won’t be missed. The food was never that amazing anyway. It was always only so-​so. We only really went because it was the only Chinese place in town. From now on, I’ll just drive to Yi Cuisine in Sumiton when I want Chinese and it’ll be delicious and the service will be fantastic.

Best Chinese buffet I have ever eaten from. Of course, it is all completely Americanized with gobs of cheese on many of the items, but that is just the way I like it. :) The cheese covered salmon was yummy delicious, as were the egg custards. I even had some of the sushi, which I liked but can’t really comment on the quality of because I was a sushi-​virgin until then. The wait staff was polite and friendly, and they were quick to remove our plates and refill drinks. The atmosphere was typical of a buffet restaurant. And, the best part… we didn’t experience any digestive troubles after leaving (a common ill-​effect when we eat at buffet-​style restaurants.)

This place is very nice. The food is always good (never a bad meal) and the large buffet which features sushi/​rolls, lots of chicken, seafood cakes, crab legs on Friday, etc. has all you’ll need. I’ve yet to get anything but that (never ordered off a menu). The dumplings are very good too (better than anywhere else I’ve tried). The owners are extremely nice, and have given me discounts before since I come in fairly regularly (not every week or anything crazy like that, but usually once a month, sometimes with relatives).
The only so-​so things I’d say is that sometimes when it gets busy (near weekend) the caliber of people there are very hillbilly-​ish and loud (it’s Jasper) [not really the owners’ fault] and they don’t offer the variety of sushi stuff like they used to (like eel). Not sure why the sushi offerings have changed over the last 12 months.
Overall though, it’s a great deal and offers something for everybody (if they’re in the mood for Chinese).

Let me just say that I almost never do buffets. But this place is actually ok. The hot and sour soup and pot stickers are what keep me coming back, but I avoid most of the meat even though it’s ok. They have more choices than most places, seem fresh enough, and great service. RW & LS

Great service, good food, but it is a buffet. Very rarely have a wait.

Chinese buffet at the mall. Most everything seemed fresh and there were plenty of choices including several soups; beef, chicken and seafood entrees, lo mein, sushi and desserts.
Service was friendly and they were always quick to pick up dirty plates.