Lunch buffet at Centara Hotel

[pompui]

Before when the hotel was Charoensri Grand,I always enjoyed the lunchtime buffet there,getting there early at 11am before a convention meeting at the hotel went to their lunch break,standard time here for Thais,midday until 1pm.
Was 200 baht then increased to 220 baht and now from what I hear, because of the hotel change,has increased to something like 245 baht to sit outside and 260 or more to sit inside and are these prices inclusive of taxes!

Has anyone been there very recently and can confirm these price rises,justified with a better overall food selection? as seems to me that the price factor is negating its previous benefits.

Charoensri always had the edge on the Charoens buffet before though and not tempted yet to venture back there.

Any comments appreciated.thx

[trubrit]

Haven't tried it yet but the flyer I got in the mail said 245++ So I presume +7%tax and 10%service, 288bht.
Incidentally for holders of the old VIP card, govt employees etc.which gave a 10% discount. I understand it is no longer valid.

[mak]

Centara offers a Gold Card to replace the old Charoensi VIP card.

[aznyron]

I saw it as low as 180 baht so that 100 baht jump which translate in to 3 USD or 2 GBP that a big increase
I will stay away now I did enjoy going there Scotty (jetdoc) was there recently and share the info with me and yes it 188 baht like Val said so if us expats picket the place by not going maybe they will drop the price to 250 and no tax or service charge and that would be fair price. 38 baht is more than 1 USD. 288 baht =
8.60 USD that a lot of money for a buffet in Udon Thani just remember they do not get 288 from the
convention people it discounted price for them as well as those who go there for seminars

[laphanphon]

i have a really hard time eating 300 baht worth of food, and Ree, it's a total waste. so when hungry, yes, i know, the meat pie or cordon bleu, 160/165, clock/nobi's, hits the spot and fills me up. also a couple new buffets around town, well prices that need some investigating. one over between CAT and clock circle, looks good, closed mondays. the old MC near night market has opened as morning food stop, and evening.... no lunch. morning seems to be our eggs/meat in a pan thing, and hopefully jok, and little sandwiches, the impression i get. evening fare, couldn't figure it out, but looks comfy and freshly redone.

all ears for other suggestions, both the above i haven't tried or given the 'kiss of death' to yet.

[docta]

I believe Sizzler may be the best deal in town, their 169B all you can eat Super Salad Bar specials with a good meal are hard to beat for, quality, quantity, price, and service combined.
Plus, AC, and modern western ambiance.
If soft drink is ordered they will refill continually, but noticed last evening they charge 39B for doing so.
They're now giving coupons for free soft drink refills. They gave me 3 coupons for one meal.
Water refills are most likely free, but don't know if they charge for water, KFC doesn't.

[jetdoc]

For a meat and potatoes guy, Mojos Sunday Roast is hard to beat, good selection, generous portion, and reasonable price. I have to agree Centara is a bit spendy for Udon, but on a broader basis still a fair deal.

[laphanphon]

hmm, may have to invest in a couple beers and check this out..............or a water and drink it all night

[old-timer]

Pompui - I posted this on the 3rd August in the thread titled "Thai Buffets" ... I hope you find it of interest....

The buffet at the Centara (ex grand chareonsi) hotel has gone up from 440bht per couple to 575 baht. The hotel has adopted the price ++ policy now as in other top notch (expensive) places. The buffet itself has improved and it was fairly good before, i noticed today they have now got a spaggetti station with at least half a dozen different pastas, a couple of ready to serve sauces, plus they will make sauces to order. The salad bar, thai and falang food stations were IMO better than before. There is also a selection of roasted meats available such as German ham, pork ribs - there were others but I can't remember - located where the old noodle station used to be. The steaks, chicken, pork and kebabs were also there being cooked on the sizzler as before. I took a couple of chicken steaks and they were spot on.
The place was packed today but anything that run out was replaced.
Report over - chok dee

[aznyron]

O.T if it is as good as you posted and I can get a good spaghetti dinner with real tasty meat balls and loads of cheese and many other tasty foods then it worth the 300 baht to me but i will leave the wife at Angels
she does not eat enough to warrant spending that much on a buffet she will only pick at

[pompui]

Pompui - I posted this on the 3rd August in the thread titled "Thai Buffets" ... I hope you find it of interest....

The buffet at the Centara (ex grand chareonsi) hotel has gone up from 440bht per couple to 575 baht. The hotel has adopted the price ++ policy now as in other top notch (expensive) places. The buffet itself has improved and it was fairly good before, i noticed today they have now got a spaggetti station with at least half a dozen different pastas, a couple of ready to serve sauces, plus they will make sauces to order. The salad bar, thai and falang food stations were IMO better than before. There is also a selection of roasted meats available such as German ham, pork ribs - there were others but I can't remember - located where the old noodle station used to be. The steaks, chicken, pork and kebabs were also there being cooked on the sizzler as before. I took a couple of chicken steaks and they were spot on.
The place was packed today but anything that run out was replaced.
Report over - chok dee

Apologies for not knowing you did a report,the same as Ron,if the menu has improved with more selection and /or better quality on offer then I will still venture there.Thx

[123sawaddee]

@oldtimer....but sizzler is very expencive and if i visited at january 2009 i get not a fresh chicken - it was frozen 300baht for a buffet in thailand not cheap- here in germany chinese restaurant offer buffet 250baht - crazy to pay same price in thailand

[Techland]

A typical buffet price for a chinese restaurant in Germany is not below 12 Euro, not including drinks and tip, equalling about 560 Baht. And reading the reports here it could not compete with the variety presented in the Centara.

[aznyron]

as we say up here in Udon vote with your feet as for the sizzler I avoid the place IMHO I think it to expensive
for what I get but that my opinion as for the Buffet in the Central Hotel I have not been there since the new owners took over & raised the prices but I trust O.T post to be accurate I just not had the chance to sample it yet. BTW in Arizona there chinese buffet also for 10 USD excellent but I am not flying back there just yet LOL

[lee]

@oldtimer....but sizzler is very expensive, 300baht for a buffet in thailand not cheap

The salad bar buffet is 149bt for all you can eat, so not expensive IMO. If ordering a main meal as well they do have cheaper options i.e. fish & chips 169bt, grilled chicken with baked potato or fries 169bt etc. These meals include unlimited salad bar, soups, fruit and desserts. So 169bt is good value IMO for a good feed in a clean air-conditioned building.

as we say up here in Udon vote with your feet as for the sizzler I avoid the place IMHO I think it to expensive for what I get but that my opinion

Yes some items are expensive i.e. imported steaks, salmon steaks etc. however there are cheaper options (as above) for the more budget conscious.

[aznyron]

Lee I value your opinion so next time I am in town and looking for some grub I will give the sizzler a shot
those prices you posted are fair & reasonable especially when you get unlimited salad bar thank you

[seymourbutts]

Ron lee is quite right its great there... But beware!!!! When you have ordered they say ok you can go to the salad bar!!!! Harmless enough statement right??? I and anyone i have ever been with always end up going at least 3 times to the salad bar , including soup, croutons, cheddar cheese flakes, a really rich salad bar!!!! Then the main meal comes!!!! oh my god i forgot about that!!! Im mak!!!!! so i always end up struggling with the main course, or only eating the meat.... and then of course theres the chocolate mousse!!!!!! its lovely and i have to force at least 2 down me gullet!!!!h, eat the salad bar dry and then get the main as a takeaway!!!!

Any way picks new cunning plan is to order the 169 baht lunch, eat the salad bar dry and then get the main as a takeaway!!!!

Enjoy!!!

[polehawk]

You seemed to be a regular before they jacked up the prices so would like to read your opinion on the new and improved lunch buffet at Centara Hotel, aznyron.

Sizzler? Yeah, salad bar is always great there. Last time I ordered the T-bone (800+ baht) and it was lousy. Don't know where they got the beef but couldn't have been imported Aussie or Japanese. Tough and stringy. Doggy bagged most of it and the pets got a treat that night. I made up for it by going up to their salad bar three times. Tasty salads, soups and little cake desserts.

We think alike on this one, seemore. Another time I ordered their hamburger special with fries (chips) and it was great. Large sesame seeded bun, biggest burger in town. Ordered salad bar and think they charged extra for it but worth it.

[rct]

My wife and I enjoyed the Centara Buffet today. It is the best in Udon and on par with many in Bangkok and certainly with most four star hotels, perhaps a bit shy of five star hotels however as not quite the food selection of a ShangriLa or Sheraton Sukumvit. Was a pleasant surprise to us both and we'll definately go back. The atmosphere has not changed much however, same old dining room.

[seymourbutts]

Aznyron
Warning again i went to lunch at sizzler!!! i was determined to eat a small salad and then enjoy my main meal!!!! im sure they hypnotise you when you arrive or something.... anyway we ended up taking home one main meal in a doggy bag!!!!
Be careful Ron be very careful!!!!!!