I used to come to this Charlies Diner when I was in high school. Back then I used to think the food was OK, but having come here recently, my expectations have changed considerably. As others have suggested, it is your typical buffet restaurant with Asian food, Italian food, a roast and a variety of desserts. The atmosphere is relaxed, and the service is good for the most part. The waitresses will usually clear your plates for the first two times, and after that, they let the dishes pile on your table.

The food quality is not that great, but it is everything you would expect from a cheap buffet. The chefs here seem to cook on demand. When one item finishes, they will then cook another serving for it to be replaced. This would make sense from a business and practical point of view. The problem with this is, you’ll get same food sitting in the warmer for hours.

There’s also the question of hygiene. I believe there needs to be some sort of etiquette when it comes to coming in contact with food in the warmers. You might get the occasional person sneeze into one of the dishes. Other times, the handle of the tongs might fall into the dish. This usually requires someone to put their dirty hands into the dish to retrieve the tongs.

There are some really good buffets out there, but be prepared to pay extra for quality all you can eat. While this place allows you to make a total pig out of yourself, I honestly don’t think its worth it. For the same price, I probably go for a proper meal somewhere. Quality over quantity as they say.

WHERE: 466 Brighton Rd, Brighton