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Downtown's best lunch buffets

Contributed by: Allyson Reedy on 7/16/2007

Do you prefer quantity over quality? In your eyes, was Vegas done not when Celine moved to the strip but when they killed the $2.99 buffets? Has anyone ever asked you, "Would I have to own a Domino's to date you?" after watching you eat pizza? If so, you've come to the right place, my friend!

Welcome to my review of downtown Denver's all you can eat lunch buffets. If you order salad or get full off a 6-inch at Subway, stop reading now. This list is for the true athletes, for the work-week warriors who want to eat until they're miserable and then slouch - pants unbuttoned - over their desks the rest of the afternoon in post-buffet gluttonous gloom.

This list is for the folks who push through that full, wanting to throw-up feeling in order to achieve the elusive $1 a plate standing. This list is for my fellow eaters who get that fourth bowl of pasta for the noblest of reasons - because it's there.
As a kid, I always impressed the waitstaff wherever we went ("What a mighty appetite for such a little girl!"). In middle school my dad and I ate a combined 37 pieces of pizza for lunch at a Pizza Hut buffet and knocked a bbq restaurant out of brisket.

In high school I realized I could put my appetite to work for me and won money in a steak eating contest. In college I set a third world country's (unofficial) record for all you can eat pizza, inspiring my waiter to write me a love poem. Yes, I can eat. And thank God my parents gave me a quick metabolism.

When I started working downtown my new co-workers took me to my first lunch buffet at the Diamond Cabaret (or as we call it, the Glenarm Ballet). Now I'm not a big fan of strip clubs, but when it comes to binge eating, my morals are out the window. For about $5, the price is right, and on Fridays you even get prime rib! What more could you ask for? Perhaps, a nude-free environment? Then try the Adam's Mark, but you'll pay for it.

It's about $12, but the made-to-order pasta bar makes it worthwhile. This is the site of frequent office eating contests, and thanks to my Italian heritage, I always prevail. Try mixing the alfredo and marinara sauces for a great Aurora sauce. In addition to the pasta, they have an array of salads, soups, sides, meats and desserts.

For more Italian, head over to Old Chicago. To be honest, I haven't been there for lunch in a while (I go every Thursday for trivia, so I get my fill), but I think it's around $8. It's just what you expect - pizza and more pizza. Oh, and if you do a competition here - you must finish the crust! A piece isn't eaten until the crust is gone.

My newest buffet is Los Cabos Peruvian, and even though I can't really describe the food, I can tell you it's pretty great. For about $8, it's a different experience and an excellent way to sample the cuisine that not many of us are familiar with. I loved the Aji de Gallina and the atmosphere is charming.

My getting-too-big-for-their-britches award goes to Little India's Indian buffet. I really enjoy the food (although the qualilty skyrockets when you order off the menu), but the price just seems to get higher and higher every time I go. I think it's up to about $9 now, $3 higher than when I first went less than 3 years ago. With the increase in cost, nothing has been added to the spread, although you can always count on the tandoori chicken, saag and butter chicken.

I'll admit that I tend to be bias against chinese buffets. Too many bad experiences have turned me off, but I do think JuJu's is a great deal. For about $5 you have your choice of several decent meat and veggie dishes, and even an assortment of sushi rolls. The soups are all good, and the price tag just seems to make everything else taste better too.

Finally, RIP Fusia. Fusia had a $10 all you can eat sushi lunch, and I feel partially responsible for their demise. Myself, my husband and a co-worker would go in and eat close to 100 pieces of sushi. They had to have lost money off of us. Well obviously they did, as our over-zealous eating closed them down. It was decent quality fish too, and if only we had shown some restraint, they may still be with us today. To the Fusia folks out there, I apologize.

Those are the buffets I've tried, and I always love a good lunch stuffing, so please let me know if you have other great downtown finds!




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Showing 1-8 of 8 comments
Submitted By: Jessica Lara
posted on 8/2/2007 @ 3:44:09 PM
Rated Story
you crack me up (and make me miss you!!)
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Submitted By: kelli obryan
posted on 7/25/2007 @ 2:42:00 PM
(Not Rated)
call me crazy, but i remember a certain Annie and Allyson doing the beau jo's challenge back in college. it was just recently i found out the true outcome of that challenge...
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Submitted By: Charmaine Robledo
posted on 7/18/2007 @ 10:01:26 AM
Rated Story
Hey Allyson, so you won a steak eating contest eh? Have you tried the Beau Jo's challenge yet? I believe it's a 13-pound pizza that you have devour in less than an hour. I used to be a fan of buffets. Remember Furr's? I loved that place! Always got extra Jello.
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Submitted By: Peter Hathaway
posted on 7/18/2007 @ 9:23:55 AM
Rated Story
My appetite is piqued just thinking about it. We really have to try Marakesh! If only I still worked downtown...
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Submitted By: Brendan Leonard
posted on 7/18/2007 @ 9:19:48 AM
Rated Story
Kudos to you for your crust-eating ethics, Allyson. Also, great blog.
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Submitted By: Allyson Reedy
posted on 7/18/2007 @ 8:51:20 AM
(Not Rated)
Thanks for the tip! We will definitely be trying that out!
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Submitted By: Michael Rule
posted on 7/18/2007 @ 6:49:18 AM
Rated Story
Almost makes me wish I worked downtown.......
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Submitted By: Mary Ann Valeska
posted on 7/17/2007 @ 8:38:20 PM
(Not Rated)
Try Marakesh on Blake between 15th and 16th. For $7.99 you get all you can eat of fantastic Morrocan food with friendly serive. Soup, rice, salad, lentils, chicken, etc. and rice pudding that is the best I've ever had.
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Showing 1-8 of 8 comments
CONTRIBUTOR INFORMATION

Allyson Reedy

Littleton , CO

Allyson Reedy has posted 46 stories and 23 comments since joining on 6/13/2006. Allyson Reedy 's average story rating is 4.88.
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