Lunch buffet at Centara Hotel

[NOLA]

You know, I think some of you people could hit the lottery for $100 million USD and complain because it wasn't $200 million USD...Why don't you just stay home and cook fro yourselves??? And before you fire off half-cocked I DO NOT HAVE ANY TIES TO THE CENTARA HOTEL...As I said before to each his own...I do, however, see some familiar farang faces everytime I go, so it must have some value to some of us.

[NOLA]

You know, I think some of you people could hit the lottery for $100 million USD and complain because it wasn't $200 million USD...Why don't you just stay home and cook fro yourselves??? And before you fire off half-cocked I DO NOT HAVE ANY TIES TO THE CENTARA HOTEL...As I said before to each his own...I do, however, see some familiar farang faces everytime I go, so it must have some value to some of us.

[laphanphon]

well, being one of those CC, my main reason for not going there, is it's a buffet, and i prefer my food freshly cooked, not just warm. and i know how to dig deep and center for hotter stuff. though i thought a decent value when 200/220. as they usually have little steak filets or roast beef, and sea bass/seafood dish, throw in some sushi, and side dishes, or fresh grilled, just ok beef steak w/mush sauce, could usually find something for the sweet tooth, and the unlimited coffee isn't that bad either. but almost 300 is pushing it, not because 300 baht is expense, far from it, simply because, in udon, i have a very hard time eating close to 200 baht worth of food anywhere. meat pie/cordon bleau at IC/Nobi'e 160/165 and piping hot and delicious and i'm stuffed. steaks, i do at home, better than any restaurant here, but if i want roast beef or seafood dish, i can find and be stuffed for less than 200 baht. (roast beef IC/170 I think). so unless going for a pig out, and wanting warm variety of different foods, it would be just ok value at best for me. though trying to stay out of pig out mode, and i don't eat nearly as much as i used to, which brings that value down a bit, especially at 300 baht. haven't been there in a while, since 220 baht, but wasn't extremely impressed then. even walked in and out without dining after scanning what was on display. but enjoyed myself a couple times also.

agree with Ron, poor value for the little lady, as they really don't eat that much, and prefer thai food anyway. i rarely spend more than 350 for the food part of any dining out bill, for me and Ree, and we are stuffed and she usually has take away if i can't help.

[aznyron]

NOLA you spend your money were you like I gave my report as i found it if it does not please you well that tough sh-it I also want value for my buck and they did not give me my value as I see fit and yet I said I would give them 2 more chances which in my case is being generous since I never give them a second chance and I see you only have 27 post for your information this forum is about exchanging information as well as giving reports on food & restaurants which is what I did and Alfronso did and he is also new to the forum if we did not share that info many of us would be scammed by ruthless bar & restaurant owners & managers as well as other business in Udon Thani and also I refuse to stay home I will continue to bitch & moan when ever I feel it necessary

[polehawk]

Thanks for your report, Ron. I do trust your opinion on the quality and value of this place since you were a regular there before the changeover. Don't mind paying a little extra if the offerings have improved but doesn't sound like it. Will give it a try anyway next time we're out that way. When we go in I like to try a little of everything. Wife eats her share of the Thai dishes and fruits and we only eat in this place once every 2 or 3 months so the occasional 300 baht each splurge won't hurt us that much. If it's gone down as much as you all are saying then I too will be saying fuhgeddabout it.

[thalenoi]

aznyron,

We must have bumped into each other at the Centara buffet on the 17th then, we came in at 12.20.

And although the quality of the food on display has improved and staff keeps replenishing the food "stalls" I miss the sashimi: is no more and for me sashimi as a starter is a must.
Bill was 574 plus tip total expense was 600B and that's upper limit for me.

I guess Sizler will see us more often, it's better value with their promotions at 169B, for two our bill is around 420/450 because we order some drinks at Sizlers.

And bkkstan, I did enjoy that mushroom hamburger when we met your little family there last month, my wife limits herself to the salad bar, my bill must have been around 600 also (think the hamburger was 350) Seriousely, there is no way I will try a BK or Mac----- at Savanaboom airport when leaving LOS.

[Leigh1979]

Went there the other day, if you like sizzler then you will really enjoy the Buffet there at Centara Hotel from 11.30am to 2pm daily .... and possibly no longer return to Sizzler!! for the cheaper price of only 280 baht per person and a huge variety of good food to choose from and including a roast lamb...if your an Aussie you may like this one.
Will be going now regular, really good value and quality.

[pienmash]

Heard alot about Centara buffets etc and they are good ....but ..For a change we tried the Chareon Hotel evening buffet the other neet ,,,,,,, 150bt each as much as you want SO go hungry (i did) ,,,, no real farang food (great im fed up of it),, BUT a plethora of great Thai dishes ,,, the room where its situated is a bit dated decor wise other than that mash happily filled his face ..

Mash

[ozzydom]

We visited Centara yesterday, did a walk around viewing the fare offered{which was pretty ordinary} but on being told it was 440 baht a head,we walked out and went elsewhere.The manager at our heels the whole time trying to get us to sign up for the 1400 baht Xmas dinner and a 5000 baht discount card helped hasten our retreat.

[jspill]

Went this week, the lunch buffet is now 295++, 11:30am - 2pm. The bill for one person ended up being 372 baht after 10% service charge (odd for a self service buffet), 7% vat and a 25 baht 'fill & fill fee' not sure what that means, didn't ask.

Mon - French, Tues - Seafood, Weds - Carvery, Thu - Italian, Fri- Bavarian, Weekends - 'Jazz Lunch'

Was there on a Weds, the steak is still cold as someone posted and I was there at 11:29 lol. The sushi looks pretty but is pretty bog standard filler. Deserts are good if you have a sweet tooth, wide variety of chocolate cakes.

I'd probably only go back on a Wednesday to stuff myself with steak after a morning gym session at Cenfit. That was the only thing worthwhile imo, unlimited carved lean steak in nice sauces.

[jspill]

Oh and I took a pic

[pompui]

Thanks for the photo,to get your monies worth sounds like good advice.Think seafood buffet on Tuesday should also be good for a stuffing as they say
Not forgetting the other arf,the buffet has Thai and Isaan food normally available to keep them happy

[old-timer]

Looks really good and the price, beats me why they don't just say 375 baht inclusive as saying 295baht then adding this and that to the bill p1sses people off. Seafood buffet is the one OT will go for though I'm not fussy.

OT........

[trubrit]

Went in there today to try the buffet. Well trying to be polite I will just say, I was unimpressed. The wife on the other hand was more forthright in her description of rubbish. The selection was very limited, with virtually nothing that could remotely be called Farang food, unless a tough old piece of beef and a thin pork slice being grilled while you wait could fit that description.The best on offer were a range of pastries :-" I was even less impressed when I asked for the bill to be told pay at the cake shop where I had to wait till someone arrived . Then found I had been charged 60 bht extra for a lousy stewed cup of coffee, not included in buffet price .We were in there from 12.30-1.30 and only five tables were occupied. The bill including a service charge 800+bht for two.On leaving a guy in a suit told us starting next week they are doing a special buffet every monday for 120++baht. I couldn't resist telling him , That's about all it's worth . :-"

[writemotive]

TB,
Similar experience last visit (October 2013). Limited choice, the cooked to order steak(?), wasn't any part of the steer that gets past the grinder. Sushi/sashimi, wasn't edible and like a soggy sponge. Like your visit, very few takers. I was very dissappointed as a visit a about a year (or 2) ago was a good memory. Unless I see some improved reviews on this forum, I won't return. Too many other convenient places now that are a better value, and experience for lunch and dinner.

[Nick@AUA]

A few years ago (before the refurb) they used to have a sushi bar with a sushi chef (of sorts), who would cut fish for sashimi. They also had a variety of western dishes. It wasn't a bad place to go for a nice slap up lunch.

Went back a few weeks ago as I heard about the new chef. What a load of rubbish. The limited International food that they had was cold, and the sushi bar was just the corner of a table. Won't be going back in a hurry. The buffet at Prajaktra is better and at half the price.

[semperfiguy]

Went in there today to try the buffet. Well trying to be polite I will just say, I was unimpressed. The wife on the other hand was more forthright in her description of rubbish. The selection was very limited, with virtually nothing that could remotely be called Farang food, unless a tough old piece of beef and a thin pork slice being grilled while you wait could fit that description.The best on offer were a range of pastries :-" I was even less impressed when I asked for the bill to be told pay at the cake shop where I had to wait till someone arrived . Then found I had been charged 60 bht extra for a lousy stewed cup of coffee, not included in buffet price .We were in there from 12.30-1.30 and only five tables were occupied. The bill including a service charge 800+bht for two.On leaving a guy in a suit told us starting next week they are doing a special buffet every monday for 120++baht. I couldn't resist telling him , That's about all it's worth . :-"

Trubrit, to you have any further info on the 120 ++ baht Monday buffet that you spoke of above? I called today to inquire and nobody seemed to know anything about it. It could very well be on for Monday and the phone staff not be aware of it. I've never been to Centara, so I'd like to give it a shot in spite of the fact that it has some bad reviews.

[semperfiguy]

Went in there today to try the buffet. Well trying to be polite I will just say, I was unimpressed. The wife on the other hand was more forthright in her description of rubbish. The selection was very limited, with virtually nothing that could remotely be called Farang food, unless a tough old piece of beef and a thin pork slice being grilled while you wait could fit that description.The best on offer were a range of pastries :-" I was even less impressed when I asked for the bill to be told pay at the cake shop where I had to wait till someone arrived . Then found I had been charged 60 bht extra for a lousy stewed cup of coffee, not included in buffet price .We were in there from 12.30-1.30 and only five tables were occupied. The bill including a service charge 800+bht for two.On leaving a guy in a suit told us starting next week they are doing a special buffet every monday for 120++baht. I couldn't resist telling him , That's about all it's worth . :-"

Trubrit, to you have any further info on the 120 ++ baht Monday buffet that you spoke of above? I called today to inquire and nobody seemed to know anything about it. It could very well be on for Monday and the phone staff not be aware of it. I've never been to Centara, so I'd like to give it a shot in spite of the fact that it has some bad reviews.

I just had a Thai neighbor call up the Centara and he confirmed that there indeed will be a 120 buffet each Monday this month.

[BobHelm]

Well despite the rash of bad reviews I decided to give it a try yesterday.

That was my first trip inside the Centra since its revamp & I must admit that the place impressed me.
One of my gripes about it in the old days was that there was no bar where you could have a quiet beer & they have corrected that now with a lovely seating area & a bar towards the restaurant.

As far as the Buffet..
A note on the table says that they do a different style of buffet each day - with Jazz on Friday & Saturday for those interested.
Wednesday was 'carvery', although I did know that before I went.
I have thought for a long time that an English style carvery would be a success in Udon but, unfortunately, no one from Centra has obviously paid a visit to a Harvester to see exactly how it should be done.

Having said that the food on offer was first class. Plenty of places in Udon can do a nice piece of pork, so that is almost a given, however the beef was as tender and nicely cooked a piece as I have had in South East Asia. The only drawback was that there were no roast potatoes, indeed no potatoes of any sort. A real pity as a good selection of vegetables is almost as important as the meat with a roast - well for me anyway. No gravy as such but 3 different types of pourable sauces. I had the pepper sauce which was excellent, just hot enough without drowning out the flavour of everything else. There was also a dark mushroom sauce that looked tasty as well.
If you didn't fancy a roast then there was plenty of alternatives on offer, including both Thai & Falang.

Although I am not a huge soup fan for once I did start with the potato (that was where they all went ) one & thoroughly enjoyed it. It was anything but bland & the selection of bread & rolls (although small in number) they had was excellent.

There was also a host of salad items & fresh fruit that I never went near so a good enough selection for anybody.

There was also a large selection of cakes which I couldn't resist. I expect to be a little disappointed with cakes from most Thai run establishments. They tend to look superb but taste so sweet as to be inedible, even to my sweet tooth. These were not too bad, they were certainly not overly sweet but there didn't tend to be much of a difference between them.
I can only suggest that the Pastry chef takes a visit to the Cake Cafe nearby Bubba's place to see exactly how sweets & desert should look & taste.

So it was not an awe inspiring meal but absolutely acceptable & the meat (which was the main reason for going) was very good indeed.

Would I go again??
Absolutely yes, it was a shade expensive but given that I was on the free wine deal probably more expensive for the hotel than me... It could be quite easily improved with the addition of a couple of varieties of potato & maybe some peas & runner or broad beans but that is maybe being a bit picky on my part as a certainly came out very full indeed..

[trubrit]

You are talking about the lunchtime buffet, are you Bob? Never seen anything advertised about carvery and wine deals .