Capital Buffet

I ventured to the Capital Buffet at the Wolf Rd Shopper’s Park last night with four other hungry companions. I’ve been here countless times before because this is the premiere of Chinese buffet in Capital land. This place also has added entertainment for people watchers as all and I mean all walks of life come here to eat.

The food here is uncommonly good, always hot and always fresh. At lunchtime, from 11am to 2pm and at dinner 4pm to 8pm, the staff keep cooking and refilling items like clockwork. They also take older items away, not something I have ever seen at other Chinese buffets.

The restaurant is large; décor is the usual Chinese motif with a large fountain in the middle with live koye and sometimes turtles (I say sometimes because there not always in the fountain but where they go in between is anyone’s guess). The place is CLEAN, another not usual sight at Chinese buffets including the restrooms.

The staff is polite and helpful, although many have little English skills. They are happy to get your drinks (bottomless fountain coke products) and take away your plates as soon as you get the last bite down.

Lunch ($7 and change) usually is any kind of chicken you can think of, pork ribs and a few other pork dishes, Mongolian beef, many common fried items, both white and fried rice, vegetable lo mien, wonton, egg drop and hot/sour soups. They also make several different dim sum, one of which is a delectable pork bun (I could eat a hundred of these) and have some exotics like phoenix claw (chickens foot). The usual salad bar with a minor amount of sushi (I never eat sushi at any Chinese buffet and even though I feel this is the best place, I still don’t do it and advise others not to) and very simple deserts (yummy Jell-O) with a self-serve soft ice cream machine is included.

Dinner ($13 and change) is all of the lunch items with a “make your own lo mien bowl and barbeque section where you pick fresh, uncooked meat and vegetable items and a chef whips them up in less than 3 minutes. There are also several additions in seafood and “American” food. Dinner items are snow crab legs, steamed clams, squid-fry, baked clams, mussels, fried “crab “ patties, broiled salmon, roasted turkey, ham, roast beef (all cut yourself), mashed potato and various boiled veggies. Last and certainly least, a bad excuse called pizza. NOTE: I usually stay away from all these items, as they are unhealthy looking at best.

OK, snow crab legs; I must add this, people go crazy at buffets for snow crab legs, yes they may even kill you to get them. I cannot explain it as I do not partake in these at Chinese buffets, but my girl does (she’s a crab queen). People will wait in a line for the pan of boiled crab legs to come out of the kitchen. This night was no different as I saw a very large woman in front of the bar where the crab would be placed, blocking all others from at least three other food selections around her, gripping two plates as if they were the holy grail. Ok, a little exaggeration, but you weren’t getting pass this woman, understand.

All in all, three out of five stars. Capital Buffet is still only Chinese buffet but, if you are going to do Chinese buffet and you’re in Albany, this is the place to be. At the end of the night, the five of us were full and happy, with the kids happier, some great people watching for entertainment and all for $71.19 plus a small tip.