American Pie 11557 12 Mile Rd., Warren, 586-578-0156, $; A pizza buffet? It’s true: As each fresh pie is brought out of the oven, a bell rings to alert guests of the new addition. Whether it’s their signature "mac and cheese" pizza or the conventional pepperoni, pizza aficionados will not be disappointed with these hot slices of paradise. For a modest price, the buffet includes pizza, pasta, salad, breadsticks, dessert and soft drinks. Hours are 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday-Friday and 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. The buffet costs $5.65 per adult 11 a.m.-1 p.m.; after 1 p.m., it’s $7.55 for adults, $4.99 for seniors and kids younger than 12; kids 3 and younger eat free.
Ashoka Indian Cusine 3642 Rochester Rd., Troy, 248-689-7070, $; Amid bright colors, rich flavors and exotic aromas, Ashoka wanders from the north to the south of India, with more than 150 items on its menu, and more legume-based recipes and fiery spice blends than you can shake a samosa at. Their vegetarian specialty menu has more than 20 choices, and there are even sections of the menu devoted to Indian-Chinese food, a style with a following in India. Full-service bar. The buffet includes appetizers, desserts, soups, salads, and four vegetarian and three nonvegetarian entrées. Buffet open 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Monday-Friday, 11:30 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday; $8.95 weekdays, $9.95 weekends.
Assembly Line Buffet in the Motor City Casino 2847 Brooklyn St., Detroit, 313-237-7711, $$; The food is your average all-you-can-eat fare, meat being the main attraction. The desserts, however, are all above average or better. Try the varieties of cheesecakes, pies, tortes, cookies and the tartlets, which have surprisingly noble crusts. The lunch buffet is noon-4 p.m. daily ($19), the dinner buffet is 5 p.m.-10 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 5 p.m.-11p.m. Sunday, 5 p.m.-midnight Saturday ($24), and the Friday dinner buffet is "seafood night" ($32).
Bombay Grille 29200 Orchard Lake Rd., Farmington Hills, 248-626-2982, $; Bombay distinguishes itself with the word "grille." You can watch the process through a window in the dining room. Their buffet features salad, soup, dessert and an even distribution of meat and vegetarian selections, and is open 11:30 a.m.-2:45 p.m. weekdays, noon-2:45 p.m. weekends; $8.95 weekdays, $9.95 weekends.
El Comal 3456 W. Vernor Hwy., Detroit, 313-841-7753, $; Elda Castellanos’ Central American fare includes pupusas (tortillas filled with beans, cheese or pork or a mixture of all three) and chuchitos (miniature pork tamales), and is augmented with Mexican fare. Unpretentious setting and service. Their buffet offers a good selection of fare, including pupusas, menudo and Mexican, Colombian and Guatemalan tamales in corn-husk wrappers. The buffet is open 11 a.m.-3 p.m. on weekdays ($6.95), and 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays ($7.95 plus tax).
Fishbone’s Rhythm Kitchen Café-Greektown 400 Monroe St., Detroit, 313-965-4600, $$; The Cajun-influenced Fishbone’s in Detroit offers a huge Sunday breakfast buffet, with an outstanding array of food that our readers voted the "Best Brunch Buffet" this year. Have a more-is-better breakfast by heaping on the bacon and making multiple visits to the omelet station, or pack in an early supper with everything from jambalaya to ribs. Enjoy your meal in a dramatic room with a large wall of gently falling water. Buffet is open 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Sundays; $24 per person.
The Gandy Dancer 401 Depot St., Ann Arbor; 734-769-0592; $$; Voted last year by our readers as the "Best Brunch Buffet," the bar named for dancing on the end of a shovel is where they shovel it in every Sunday, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Their Sunday brunch menu encompasses scrambled eggs, hash browns, bacon and sausage, carved roast beef and ham, made-to-order omelets, fresh Belgian waffles with bananas Foster and more, even house-made breads and pastries. It’s all yours for $20.95 for adults, $9.95 children aged 2-10; reservations are recommended, but not necessary.
Golden Corral 37101 Warren Rd., Westland; 734-641-9163; $: Part of the nationwide chain, the buffet at Golden Corral sounds like the perfect place for protein-lovers who’re hungry enough to eat a wagon wheel. The lunch buffet ($7.19) runs 11 a.m.-4 p.m., with hamburgers, hot dogs, chicken, meatloaf, pot roast and popcorn shrimp, to name a few items, and the dinner buffet ($10.39) runs 4-9 p.m., with more than 100 items, including roasts, steaks and shrimp.
Grill at the Early American Room inside Dearborn Inn, 20301 Oakwood Blvd., Dearborn, 313-271-2700, $$$: This Sunday brunch sets itself apart by offering a wide array of breakfast and lunch options while never compromising the quality of each dish. The pride of this buffet is the carving station where the meat of the day is picked by the chef and prepared to perfection. Other offerings include an omelet station, a full salad bar, seafood, quiche, four entrées and much more. Don’t let the upscale atmosphere dampen your gluttony! There is also Champagne available after noon. Open for brunch 10 a.m.-2 p.m the third Sunday of every month; $32, half-price for children 5 and older, free for children younger than 5; reservations strongly recommended.
Gus O’Connor’s of Rochester 324 Main St., Rochester; 248-608-2537; $$: The weekly Sunday brunch at Gus O’Connor’s Rochester outpost offers a few Irish-inspired dishes (corned beef hash, bangers instead of regular sausage), but it also has the usual pleasures: made-to-order omelets and waffles, apple-smoked bacony goodness, a carving station, a fresh fish of the day, salads, fruits, a chocolate fountain. What’s more, the brunch is accompanied by live jazz. The brunch runs from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. ($15.95 adults, $8.95 kids), and, at the crack of noon, the bar staff will happily mix you and yours some refreshing adult beverages.
Palette Dining Studio inside the MGM Grand Casino, 1777 Third, Detroit; 313-465-1777, $$; When it comes to the most over-the-top buffet, it’s a challenge to outdo this buff— er, "dining studio," which our readers have voted as the "Best Casino Buffet" and, for that matter, the "Best All-Around Buffet" for two years running. Palette has various food stations with one-word names: "Char" features grilled meats, "Sea" has oysters on the half-shell, fried shrimp and other fruit of the sea, "Far East" offers not just prepared Asian dishes but a Mongolian-style grill, "Fresh" is stocked with soups, salads, artisan-style breads and international cheeses, and "Indulge" gives you a sweet finish, with desserts fruits, sorbets and gelatos. Open 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 11 a.m.-1 a.m. Friday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Sunday. Lunch ($22) usually runs until 5, when dinner (usually $28) begins. Thursdays have prime-rib night ($32), and Fridays offer a special crab-leg dinner ($32). Sunday’s 10a.m.-3 p.m. brunch ($28) adds breakfast foods to the mix.
Rangoli Indian Cuisine 3055 E. Walton Blvd., Auburn Hills, 248-377-3800, $; Entrées at Rangoli come in small copper bowls. Among our favorites: nargisi aloo (a saucy, scooped-out potato stuffed with nuts, vegetables and cheese); chicken tikka masala (roasted breast meat in a thick and luscious sauce); spicy-hot chettinadu pepper chicken (fiery peppers in a coconut curry). If you’re new to Indian food, there are several combination dishes you can try or come for the lunch buffet, 11 a.m.-2:30 p.m. weekdays ($8.95), 11:30 a.m.-3 p.m. weekends ($9.95).
Roma Café 3401 Riopelle St., Detroit, 313-831-5940, $$; Detroiters really ciao down. One hundred years old and counting, Roma has everything from veal parmigiana to sautéed perch, with amazing garlic bread and even better lasagna. The most coveted tables are in the bar and main floor dining room. On a Saturday night, don’t go to Roma without a reservation. Their buffet is 5-9 p.m. Monday. For $17, expect salads, five or six entrées (such as spaghetti dishes, and sometimes, Italian beef stew or veal dishes), and crepes and cannollis for dessert.
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