Wednesday, March 16, 2005
Moonlight Buffet: bigger than huge
Larry Bly
Larry Bly runs an ad agency and does freelance writing in the Roanoke area.
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Just when you thought you'd seen the biggest buffet the Chinese had to offer, I'm here to announce the biggest ever. It's as big as a Food Lion. Come to think of it, it is a former Food Lion location.
The Moonlight Buffet is not just big -- it's classy and offers a lot of interesting items not seen on other buffets in the area (until this article hits, I'm sure). I was told about this eighth wonder of the world (has something to do with the Chinese statues that greet you as you enter) by none other than Pearl Fu, who by the way, is the 9th natural wonder of the world. Where does she get her energy? Probably from eating at buffets.
This one will put the pounds on you, I can tell you that. I ate what I perceived to be tiny samplings of just half of their offerings and still had to be carted out of the place -- using an old Food Lion cart, of course.
In addition to the half dozen steam tables of delicacies, refilled frequently to keep everything fresh, they also have a full-time sushi guy on premises, unusual for a buffet operation.
I asked Pearl, one of Roanoke's finest ambassadors, to describe to me a few items that I found of interest but could not figure out on my own. The desserts bar had, in addition to the usual puddings and cookies and sweet cakes, a fruit that I'd never seen before. She says it's a loquat, kind of like an apricot. She tells me that they grow on trees down in Florida, among other places. I loved them -- they even have been seeded for your convenience. All the better not to get a loquat seed in your gullet.
They have some beautiful dumplings as well; one called xaio my and another called shrimp dumplings, usually served at dim sum places. There's also an ornately-colored dumpling with unexpected chocolate inside. It's been made to look like a small peach on the outside. And some gummy squishy lemon item that tastes like a marshmallow.
Because the buffet consists of both Chinese and Japanese items, there is an incredible variety from which to choose, almost too much to comprehend: things like toro scallion rolls, shrimp asparagus rolls, veggie tempura rolls, sweet potato tempura roll and the old piano roll (I just threw the last one in to see if you were paying attention).
On the Chinese side, there must be a dozen ways to eat chicken: fried, General Tso's, sesame, breaded and deep fried, chicken with all manner of sauces, and even shrimp, beef, and chicken combos. The items change daily, so what's there one day may not be the next. Ye takes your chances.
There are at least three soups, various rice dishes (fried, shrimp fried, etc.) and shrimp lo mein, chop sueys and egg foo youngs. Even potatoes and onions for the more pedestrian tastes.
Strangely, you don't have to buffet (though it takes quite a constitution to turn it down). The menu runs six large panels (roughly two-thirds Chinese and the rest Japanese).
Under poultry, for instance, you'll find Moo Shi chicken (with pancakes), chicken with black peppers, and honey chicken, among a dozen or more others.
Under seafood, you may have them fix a to-order shrimp Hunan style, rainbow scallops and even pineapple shrimp.
Under beef, the usual crispy with veggies, steak with orange peel, beef Szechuan, Kung Pao beef, Shia Chia beef, beef with black bean sauce and Mongolian beef. Soups, porks items, fried rice and noodle dishes, chow mein and chop suey, combo platters, Japanese rolls and hand rolls abound.
And just when you thought it was safe to go back to your table, there's a huge vegetarian corner with such things as broccoli in oyster or ginger sauce, hot spicy bean curd (ooh baby) moo shi vegetables and fresh mushrooms in garlic, ginger, or Hunan style.
Don't stop: There's more. A diet menu (well for one thing ... stay away from the buffet!): steamed veggies, steamed chicken, steamed shrimp and steamed all of the above thrown together.
Judging by the quality of the buffet, I'd bet that the made-to-order items must be very fresh and delicious; the selection astounding, if not just plain daunting. If you have friends or relatives who can never make up their minds when it comes time to ordering, do yourself a favor and leave them at home.
Miss Fu hopes that you'll support her new friends who have just opened the Moonlight Buffet (no, she doesn't get a cut) as they have a lot of seats to fill. The staff is friendly and attentive, even for the buffet bunch.
The statues alone are worth seeing. No sir, Bub, you don't see statues like this very often on U.S 460.
Moonlight Buffet International Restaurant
Chinese & Japanese cuisine
3424 Orange Ave.
Roanoke, Va. 240l2
Lunch buffet
$5.99
11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m.
Dinner buffet
$9.99
5 p.m.- 9:30 p.m.
Catering available
540-581-0666
