Old Town Buffet

Lunch is 12 bucks all you can eat plus free hibachi can’t beat it food is decent definitely better than the one at century square

Don’t let the name fool you, this is a «Chinese style buffet» inside an old Italian restaurant, but looks Spanish?! Pretty popular from my perspective, popped in on a Sunday afternoon, the lot looked full but the restaurant is so huge, it seemed empty. It’s smaller (less offerings) than most all you can eat Chinese buffets.
We were seated pretty far from the buffet, which can be a good thing, or not. Fellow UnilocalER Kevin C. joined me for dinner, heading to the buffet is where we parted ways. I headed straight to the sushi station and filled a platter with tempting offerings and a bowl of seaweed salad. Kevin found all his favorites, including Crab Rangoon and dumplings.
For sushi lovers there isn’t a lot of choices, but for 16 bucks you can get your sushi fix and fill up nicely. I had a huge bowl of healthy seaweed salad that I’ve paid 8.95 for at Yokoso! They did have salmon, red snapper, yellow fin, and sea bass, vegan rolls and crab rolls. As I said, not a lot of choices but the Sushi chef if right there making them as fast as they go. I wasn’t expecting much, but was pleasantly surprised by the freshness.
I did look around and found they had all the normal offerings found on Chinese buffets, General Tso’s, sweet n sour, fried rice, noodles, green beans etc.
The building used to be Tambellini’s, a old name associated with the Pittsburgh restaurant scene. It looks like it could use some spiffing up as I noticed broken light fixtures, burned out bulbs in chandeliers, and outside, cracked siding and pieces of the roof laying in the parking lot.
I’d say bypass this place and hit up some of the better buffets the city has to offer. Hokkaido on Brown’s Hill Road comes to mind!

Very poor quality of food! Their food are always super dry. This would be my 4^th time here, always giving them a another chance because it was so convenient. My husband, a friend, and I wanted something to eat real
Quick before dropping my friend off tonight. So we decided to eat here because it was close by. Picture are deceiving. If you go early when they first open, it probably look like that but we were there at 7 and it doesn’t close till 10. the food were super dry and they weren’t refilling the food. I know it’s only $ 14 a person but I’d rather pay an extra $ 5 and go to Hokkaido by the waterfront. Felt sick and really regret wasting my appetite here. Never again!

I used to love this place when it was in Century 3. When it moved closer to me, I was so excited to not have to drive all that way down Route 51. However, when I visited this location, I felt they skimped on quality; it just wasn’t the same. The facility itself is very large with plenty of food options and plenty of seating. Although there’s plenty of food choices, none that I tried were all that great. The owners should also probably update the décor, as it’s still very reminiscent of the old Italian restaurant that inhabited this building before. So you’re eating Chinese food in a place that has Italian cookbooks on the shelves. A little weird. Also, when I went here, it was a few weeks after Christmas and they had a playlist of different versions of «The Christmas Song» playing over and over again. I wonder if they didn’t think we’d notice?

Are here a few weeks ago with my son and needless to say I was very very disappointed. The food has no taste whatsoever the sushi is like something you get a gas stop down in Arkansas. Worst part about the whole meal was it was supposed to be a nice lunch for two but a baby cockroach in my son’s water made it a party for three. The waitstaff didn’t feel the least bit bad over this dilemma. I pleaded to have a discount on my meal as the cockroach was scurrying across the table running from the subpar food. I spoke with the manager and he offered a 20% discount on my sons food, that really wouldn’t even cover the amount of food and water the cockroach consummed. I would not eat here if it was the last place on earth it’s dirty it’s nasty, and nothing has a taste, and they have bugs. I’d sooner eat chipped ham from the bathroom floor of Heinz Field with my hands tied behind my back.

I’ve eaten Chinese buffets for many years in New York, Boston, and now in Pittsburgh and I have to say this is a good one. Excellent Chinese dishes, superb soups including my favorite miso soup, decent and fresh sushi, a good selection of deserts and fruit. For the price, superb. And the good number of Oriental customers indicates that the most discriminating diners think that it’s a great place as well. Overall, I’m very, very satisfied each time I come here… which is always lunch time at peak hours (peak hours are the only time anyone should visit a buffet).
They seem to have an ample section of what a friend of mine calls «PIttsburgh food» (unhealthy fried foods, cheese filled foods, etc) which I simply ignore but which the big-​butted among us seem to crave. So you’ll have Pittsburgh food options if you’re not really into Chinese but it’s the Chinese food that’s the star.
Otherwise, the restaurant is a bit faded and would need a face lift to have that Shadyside bistro look… but all I care about is the food. And it’s good and a great value.

My husband and I went to dinner here last Friday and I have to say I was very impressed. The dining hall itself could use a facelift but it was clean, the waitresses were very friendly and everything seemed to be pretty fresh. The SUSHI WAS UNBELIEVABLY FRESH! It was by far my favorite part! They have a ton of entrees to choose ranging from meats to vegetarian dishes. There were staff constantly replenishing the buffet with fresh hot trays. My least favorite part was the hibachi. (And also cost of the final star) The man assigned simply fried up our selections with no seasoning, no flavor. We had to ask for garlic and butter and it still was bland and just not edible. We were a bit disappointed by this but remained pleased with the huge variety of other selections to choose from. I am not a fan of going out to eat but my husband and I really enjoyed our first visit and will return again.

AWSOME BUFFET. I really like the place and all the staff!!! Very friendly!!!
So many choices and sooo much food. I like everything!!! My eyes are bigger than my stomach. I have occasionally pushed down a little more than I could chew.
Soup, Salad. Fresh fruit, Shrimp. (fried, peel and eat, stuffed, cocktail) Sushi, [Name that fish] baked, boiled, steamed. Chicken Wings, Frog Legs. Mac and Cheese. Lo mien, Rice, Noodles. Roast Beef. Mashed potatoes and gravy.
Stuffed mushrooms.
I would suggest more than on one visit.

Very good buffet. I enjoyed the selection. There was a lot of variety. The sushi was good and the sangria bowl was a nice refreshing treat. The almond cookies were delicious. I’ll certainly go back I liked this place.

OLD AND COLD. JUST DON’T. The place is crap now. It used to be decent, but something happened. Now the food is COLD and just looking at it, looks like they made it 2 days ago. Its obvious these jerks are just trying to save money. Even after I complained, they gave me a ONE DOLLAR discount. An insult. We couldnt eat most of the food, so we shouldnt have had to pay most of the price. Don’t waste your money here. I will never go back.

Prior to switching names (and I’m assuming owners) this place was AMAZING. The sushi was fabulous and all of their food was fresh and of high quality. They also had crab legs and a large variety of desserts, including a soft serve ice cream machine. Following the name change, I have noticed a significant change in the quality of the sushi as well as the food. It is not terrible, but not nearly as good as it used to be. I really wish it would go back to the way that it once was.

One of the best Asian buffets in Pittsburgh. The only one better that I can think of is Dynasty Buffet in Cranberry Twp.
A decent selection of OK sushi, normally kept fresh. It’s not the greatest but it’s also not your typical buffet sushi.
The dimsum is yummy and kept hot, and the entrees are very good, ranging from your expected General Tso’s chicken to indian and tepan-​style chicken. Steamed crawfish, calamari and many variations on shrimp are among the more unusual dishes.
A selection of soups including some amazing Miso broth with tofu, fresh shallots, and dried seaweed for you to add to your taste. A fresh cold salad selection as well for those interested in such.
A hibachi table rounds out the amazing selection of dinner selections with fresh raw ingredients for you to choose from and a friendly chef to prepare them for you to order.
There is a large selection of fresh fruits, puddings and traditional Asian pastries as well as ice crème in single serving cups and peanut brittle makes for an amazing dissert selection.
The service is always friendly and some of my friends have even called it over-​attentive, such as offering drink refills when your cup is only half empty.
The atmosphere is a bit odd as the building used to be an Italian banquet hall and hasn’t really been redecorated.
They have two private rooms including one equipped with a PA system and projection screen for business meetings — but you have to call ahead for that.
They don’t shirk at large groups… I’ve shown up with 15 people with only a few minutes notice and they already had tables ready for us.

Service is ok! But the food is horrible. .yuk!!!
That is not sushi! I tried to get some of the ginger and it was frozen. HORRIBLE! !
I WILL NEVER VISIT THIS DUMP AGAIN

Not good food was nasty the place was dirty I will never be going back it will be close in know time just like the other ones just nasty

I thought this was a Pretty good buffet here. My first impression was the large choice of sushi. Not the best, but a lot to pick from. They also had a decant selection of items in the stir fry section, always my favorite. 5 or 6 soups, a good salad bar, lots of Chinese and American entrees, and plenty of deserts. Everything I tried I liked, and that’s different from the typically half full plates that don’t get eaten because I hate them at most buffets. I’d come back if I’m in the area again, although I don’t see myself going out of the way for it.

The food is very good. The atmosphere? Oh dear lord! At one booth a guy was telling his date about being an gang banger, other groups near us never took their hats or coats off and kept staring at our daughter. Others were very loud and used crude talk.
We honestly felt like we were in a soup kitchen. Not sure why we were put in the back. We shower and clean up nice when we go out to dinner. The low cost probably attracts transients. As cheap and good as this meal was, I can’t go back. Could not enjoy my dinner. We all lost our appetites.

Having a toddler, our family loves buffets because we can eat as soon as we are seated and can eat many small plates. We came here for lunch and was seated promptly at 11:30am. At this hour, ALL the dishes were fresh, hot, and «Yum Yum» (what our son sings when he likes something). Our son ate for free and our bill was a lot cheaper than the average ready made lunches. We will definitely be back for the lunches @ 11:30am! Great value for the amount of foods to sample and enjoy.
If the music was better it may have been 5 stars. Our dining experience made us travel back in time by a few decades… that could be good or bad!

This is a solid choice if you’re looking for an all-​you-​can-​eat buffet — I mean, where else can you find unlimited sushi, shrimp cocktail, crawfish, clams, hot and sour soup, made-​to-​order hibachi, strangely delicious green beans, AND breadsticks, all for just $ 11.99 per person at peak hours (even less for lunch and weekdays)?
Sure, the décor is a little strange for an Asian buffet as they seem to have kept everything from the spot’s former Italian restaurant days, but if not redecorating means I get a cheaper meal, then I’m onboard.
The dining room is huge so there is never a wait for seating.

I’m not to keen on Asian buffets, but since there was American food I figured I’d give it a shot. There is definitely a good variety of food. I personally go for the more «American-​ized» type of Asian food and there was enough of that and typical buffet foods like meat, chicken to fill me as well.
The place is very nice (still resembling the old Tambellini’s) and the staff is pleasant.
My only complaint is the they have a wide selection of food, but it was just… okay. Maybe it’s because we got there around an hour before they closed, but none of the food tasted very fresh and up to temp. The bread was pretty hard and I don’t think anything I tried was really too warm. I’ll give them the benefit of the doubt since it was near closing, but it still makes me consider if I want to go back.

The toilet says… God have mercy on their souls, for they know not what they do.
Absolute garbage. Place has a very foul odor to it, not sure if it was the actual place or the low class patrons who frequent here. Service is horrible as well.
Sushi is extremely low quality, and the salmon roll had an extremely fishy smell. All the fried food looked as though it had been sitting there all day. Hibachi was the only redeeming thing here, but takes an eternity because they have one chef for the entire restaurant!!! The food overall was very poor, I did not feel well afterwards.
Save your money and go to an actual chinese restaurant like Sesame Inn or Silk Road. Those establishments ensure your experience and meal are of the highest quality. Old Town Buffet is garbage, plain and simple. I would not recommend this dump to anyone.