Editor’s Note:
Wes Hennings never met a meal he walked away from and is an opinionated eater! Each Thursday he shares the results of a business lunch he’s had with a colleague as a way to advise our business community on the good, bad, and tasty across the CSRA. He doesn’t let ABD or the restaurant know where he is going and his opinions are his own. He grades the restaurants he visits on a 1-5 scale with “5” being outstanding. We call this our “Real Business Lunch Review”.
Food Quality: 3
Service: 4
Business Meeting: 3
Value: 4
Overall Rating: 3.5 out of 5
I was raised eating at a Chinese buffet. In my small hometown, this is what we called fine dining. We had a fish house and a steak place for years (no chain restaurants, of course) so when these delicacies from the East arrived in one of our abandoned strip malls, it was the taste and talk of the town. So I can certainly appreciate fried chicken bites covered in a variety of sauces.
Sadly, I feel like buffets in general, specifically of the Asian variety, have been slowly disappearing, and the trend increased during our latest long national pandemic nightmare. One of the few in town I’ve found is right around the corner from my office – the New China Buffet on Knox Avenue in North Augusta, just down from Walmart. It seemed like a perfect spot on a day when I was in a hurry and unfortunately dining alone.
Unfortunately, I think my small town buffet has New China beat. I’m pretty sure it was just named China, so maybe the addition of ‘New’ is throwing me off. I was there just before noon and there was a surprisingly full house, which I would think would mean the entrees on the bar would be nice and fresh.
That’s not exactly what I found.
The chicken quality seemed fairly low, and this is even accounting for the fact that I don’t count on high quality meat at a buffet. It was a bit stringy and seemed chewy and overcooked. This would not normally be a huge deal, except that fried chicken is the basis for so many of the dishes: sesame chicken, sweet and sour chicken, mushroom chicken – the list goes on and on.
There was a pepper chicken dish which seemed a bit fresher and crunchier, but sadly was very heavy on the pepper and my server just happened to take my drink for a refill as I bit into it.
Speaking of the service, I was seated quickly and had a drink at the ready when I sat down with my place. And again, I got a timely, yet ill-timed refill.
Despite not being particularly impressed with the food, I did sacrifice for my dear readers and get a second plate so I could try most all the dishes for you all. The crab wontons were a highlight, as were the Chinese donuts, but who doesn’t love bread coated in pure sugar. The fried rice was not my favorite, but the lo mein noodles were a tasty side dish on an otherwise carnivorous meal.
I avoided the dessert bar as I know what red Jell-O and cantaloupe tastes like already. And I am generally leery of buffet-style sushi and sashimi.
While this is not a positive review, it is not a total bust of a lunch spot, particularly if you’re craving a Chinese buffet, establishments which are sadly in short supply. If you have a good suggestion, drop it in the comments! Otherwise, my search will continue to replicate the fine Asian dining tradition of my youth.
New China Buffet
1217 Knox Ave
North Augusta
