Minado

   Still the king of buffets in MA, Minado rarely disappoints.  Now I know most people don't hold the quality of food at buffets to a very high standard but Minado is the exception in the realm of bland tasteless portions.  Despite the buffet moniker the food is always fresh, not overly salted or heavy, and full of flavor.

   Aside from the quality the variety is pretty exceptional as well, I mainly go for the seafood and sushi but there's a wide assortment of hot entrees too.  There are some food snobs that scoff at the very notion that a buffet can be any good but ignore them, sometimes you just want to relax and chow down until your button bursts and there's no better place to do it than Minado.   The establishment itself is quite large, located right by the Natick Mall with plenty of parking which makes convenience a huge advantage.  Unlike some mainstream buffets Minado offers waiter service for beverages including alcohol, the servers are very attentive and provide little necessities such as drawn butter and claw crackers.

   Overall if you're looking for a buffet in MA, there's no where better than Minado.  Some small notes that people should be aware of is that Oysters go fast and they ask you to only take 5 at a time so please respect the rules for the sake of other patrons.  The quality is great, the price is right, the drive is convenient and the service is pleasant, so what's stopping you from trying this restaurant?

Score: We Loved it! (8/10)

"Raw Oysters"

 

"Alaskan Snow Crab Legs"

 

"Short Ribs and Miso Soup"

 

"Assorted Sushi"

 

"Assorted Sushi"

 

"Unagi Hand Rolls"

 

Capital Grille

   Consistency is the name of the game and Capital Grille constantly takes the crown.  I've been to a fair share of Boston's high end steakhouses and every time the bar is set by Capital Grille.

    I'll go on the record and say it, Capital Grille is probably the best in town followed closely by Ruth's Chris, better than Grill 23, Moo..., S&W, and Abe & Louie's etc.  Pricing is normal for the niche market they're in, expect to pay at least 40.00$ a steak but that's pretty much what you'll find at any high end steakhouse.  The real glory for CG lies with the three most important dining attributes: food, service, and consistency.

   The cuts at CG are always fresh and mouthwatering, bursting with just the right amount of flavor and tenderness. You know Capital Grille is serious because they have a sophisticated dry-aged chamber on display at certain locations to display culinary arts.  Aside from the food being outstanding any time you dine at Capital Grille you'll find that service is always their number one priority,  I've had special occasions at different locations and each one always took care of our parties going above and beyond the status quo, whether it's taking pictures for you or doing something special on the house.  Some readers might think that I'm putting too much emphasis on consistency however they must realize that steak can be a huge hit or miss.  I'll admit that there are times where Moo... can have the best steak ever but then there are days where they'll have steak that tastes like it came from Texas Roadhouse, and for the price that you're going to pay you don't want to play the blind hit or miss game. 

   Even though I'll always rave about how good Capital Grille is, after visiting the next tier of Steakhouses in cities such as Las Vegas and New York I simply can't give them the perfect 10/10 but they're pretty darn close.  I think it's important to note that the ambiance of certain locations might turn some of the younger readers away, this establishment is definitely targeted towards the older wealthier demographic, however that shouldn't be a deterrent from one of the best steakhouses around.  I would say the most modern atmosphere can be found in Burlington while the retro classic vibe can be found in Chestnut Hill and Boston.

Score: We loved it! (9/10)

"Delmonico Steak"

"Assorted Bread"

"Clam Chowder"

"Lobster Roll"

"French Onion Soup"