Food fit for nobility

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BOARDMAN

Chinese food has never been my top choice for a must-have meal, but after dining at the Royal Grill Sushi Buffet, that just might change.

I was totally impressed with this restaurant and can’t wait to go back for more. The spacious buffet was packed with a surprising variety of sumptuous selections, some of them traditionally Chinese, some of them American, and all of them delicious.

I visited on a Saturday afternoon during the weekly Saturday brunch, which lasts from 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and features generous portions of seafood.

Tender fried scallops, delectable stuffed shrimp, crab salad, crab Rangoon, baked salmon, fried fish, cold mussels and a cheesy crab meat bake were just some of what was offered at the buffet, which seemed to stretch on for miles.

Since seafood is my favorite, I was delighted to have hit the restaurant at just the right time.

However, seafood wasn’t the only fare filling my plate.

The traditional oriental favorites did not disappoint, and I enjoyed samplings of Singapore Chicken, General Tso’s chicken, mango chicken, Teriyaki chicken, lo mein noodles, broccoli stir fry and rice, egg rolls and warm, sugary Chinese doughnuts.

As mentioned earlier, the buffet also offers traditional American fare such as mashed potatoes, green beans, beef tenderloin and even pizza. There’s also a salad bar, a fruit bar and an ample dessert bar.

These options are great for parents with choosy children. Mom and dad can enjoy the traditional Chinese delights while the kids can dine on their usual favorites.

There’s even an ice cream buffet with eight different flavors, and the dinner buffet features prime choice rib-eye steak.

Last but not least, Royal Grill Sushi Buffet boasts an awesome sushi bar and a Hibachi grill. Patrons can select their own vegetables and meat and watch their food being prepared by a professional chef.

Hibachi-grilled cuisine is healthful and fresh, and there’s no additional charge for food that’s been sizzled to perfection on the grill.

Royal Grill Sushi Buffet has been open for about six months, and host Jay Dong said the sprawling buffet features more than 250 items.

“People are typically amazed at the variety of quality food for an affordable price,” he said. “Our customers are diverse — business professionals, families, couples.”

The lunch buffet runs from 11 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday. It costs $6.99 Monday through Friday and $8.59 Saturday. Kids 3 to 6 years eat for $2.99, and ages 7 to 10 eat for $4.59. Children under 2 eat for free.

The dinner buffet runs from 3:30 to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and from 3:30 p.m. until 10:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Adults eat for $9.99, kids ages 3 to 6 eat for $4.59, kids 7 to 10 eat for $5.99 and kids under 2 eat for free.

The Sunday all-day dinner buffet is $9.99.

Senior citizens eat for $5.99 Monday through Friday, $7.75 Saturday and $8.50 on Sunday.

Dong said the newly constructed restaurant is 10,000 square feet, making it the largest in Boardman.

“We have two huge private rooms available for birthday parties, office meetings and wedding receptions,” he said.

The restaurant itself is clean and well-lit with a welcoming Asian ambience that includes a large sparkling wall fountain and relaxing oriental music.

It’s easy to see why Royal Grill Sushi Buffet is quickly becoming one of the most popular eateries in Boardman.