Jackson has at least two buffets we can’t recommend — especially after having getting mild cases of food poisoning from them.
Thanks to its location in the sophisticated old Grady’s location on County Line Road, the new Barnhill’s Buffet looks like “Barnhill’s Beverly Hills.” The brick, leather booths, and gas lamps add an elegant touch to what, in most cities, amounts to a squalid, filthy, fast-food free-for-all. (Take the Barnhill’s in Meridian, MS, for example.)
But diners beware: despite being wrapped in brick, a Barnhill’s is still a Barnhill’s. Our trip to the Sunday morning breakfast buffet was a nightmare. After being told to seat ourselves, we were scolded for having selected a booth with no waitress assigned. After fetching our own coffee and water, we were scolded for doing so. After management decided that somebody ought to wait on us, we looked on as three underworked waitresses argued over who would take our table.
To top things off, we both (yes, even Clyde, whose lead-lined stomach allows him to eat room-temperature pork without incident) got food poisoning from the meal. And we aren’t the only ones — since telling our story, we’ve heard from more than five other people who felt queasy after a bout at the Barnhill’s. It’s a must-miss.
Finally, it breaks my heart to report that Peking, our favorite Chinese restaurant since way back when Mr. Joe operated it with style and class, is now on our “not on your life” list. New owners converted it to a glitzy super-buffet about two years ago, but during their recent, month-long return trip to China, the stand-in managers allowed food quality and service to decline.
The new guys are back, but last week’s Friday night buffet was disgusting, with many of the entrees dried-out and left over from lunch. (That may explain why, on a normally busy night, there were only two couples there besides us at 7:00.) I’ll eat most anything, and did my best to force down a few over-cooked egg rolls and some fried rice … but paid dearly for having done so later, with this month’s second uncomfortable bout with food poisoning.
How we miss good, fresh, made-to-order Chinese food! Unfortunately, every Chinese restaurant in north Jackson has given in to the buffet craze … and, while you can order off the menu at any of these places, the staff seems really confused and suspicious when you do so. There’s an opportunity here for a savvy restauranteur!
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