Update: 2023-Oct-31 - Fallsview Grand Buffet has permanently closed which, given that the price more than doubled in only three years from $25 all-inclusive to $50 not all-inclusive, is probably for the best.
Update: 2022-Oct-01 - The Fallsview Grand Buffet is open again 4 days/week (Sun/Mon/Thurs/Sat 4-9pm) however I welcome it back to the list with strong trepidation, as the price is now $49! There is no Player's Club discount as before; this is a flat price for everyone. This is significantly more than top-level Japanese AYCE places that serve unlimited perfect sashimi and steak cubes, so unless there has been some serious improvement from where they could only get an OK 7-7.5 for $23, I highly doubt this is even close to worth the cost. I also don't know if we'll ever be reviewing it again considering this.
Update: 2022-Oct-01 - The Fallsview Grand Buffet is open again 4 days/week (Sun/Mon/Thurs/Sat 4-9pm) however I welcome it back to the list with strong trepidation, as the price is now $49! There is no Player's Club discount as before; this is a flat price for everyone. This is significantly more than top-level Japanese AYCE places that serve unlimited perfect sashimi and steak cubes, so unless there has been some serious improvement from where they could only get an OK 7-7.5 for $23, I highly doubt this is even close to worth the cost. I also don't know if we'll ever be reviewing it again considering this.
Fallsview Grand Buffet is located inside the Fallsview Casino at 6380 Fallsview Blvd., Niagara Falls, about an hour southwest of Toronto. It's quite large, with a palatial interior and many stations. We went for dinner. Before going I would recommend that you register for a Player's Club card at the casino which is free and will get you $5 off from the dinner price, regularly $30. This price includes tax, diners pay first so no tipping is expected (it's the equivalent with 13% tax and 15% tip of $23.08 regular price and $19.23 with the Player's Club card) and AYCD pop is included with the cost, so it turns out to be quite a good value (especially on a Saturday night.) it was quite busy and we didn't have reservations so were lucky to get a booth. There is a 90 minute dining limit but I was there longer (Mishy doesn't have my appetite and went to the casino long before I left) however no one noticed.
The "sushi" can be overlooked as it consists of one type of tiny generic maki rolls, but Fallsview has many unique items that are found at no other AYCEs. We started with Polish sausages which Mishy described as floral and fragrant in their spicing, and we both enjoyed; unfortunately on a return visit they were much drier and less tasty. Prosciutto, soppressata and Genoa salami were delicious and also quite unique. Tandoori chicken had no bones and was good, however it wasn't baked as Tandoori usually is (just had the spicing) so purists may disagree that it was Tandoori at all. Similarly the chana masala, although not bad, didn't taste like any chana masala I've had before; the sauce was sweetish and without any curry notes. Mishy described the roast beef as rare and tough; I liked the flavour but it was rather chewy and somewhat fatty as well. Mishy also enjoyed the butter chicken, which she described as moist and succulent, and described the mashed yams as the "best ever" … although I am unfamiliar with her mashed yam history.
New Orleans chicken was good but the spicing a bit bland. Seared salmon was excellently spiced and the best thing I had had thus far (almost on par with the microscopic salmon dishes from expensive a la carte restaurants.) However I didn't care for the similarly haute black bean and pineapple salsa basa; the breading was rather odd. Cream of potato soup was excellent and fragrantly savoury, but the minestrone was lifeless and I have made better random vegetable stock on my own. However the beef stew was very good with large chunks of very tender beef and plenty of mushroom and wine notes in the stock.
The Grand Buffet had a one of the larger dessert selections I have seen, except for the ice cream being only the rather boring chocolate and vanilla soft-serve; the non-pastries are served in shot-glass portions as is common these days. Tiramisu was delightful with plenty of coffee at the bottom. I liked the raspberry panna cotta, but the mango yogurt was a bit too sweet. Raisin butter square is an actually triangular butter tart but was too doughy. Coconut cream pie had a mild flavour but was quite good. Nanaimo bars were perfect; better than just about any I have ever had. I had the vanilla yogurt on its own but it was sour so was evidently only to be combined with the nearby fruit. Unfortunately one of Mishy's go-to desserts, the bread pudding, was quite a disappointment: more like egg custard. I tried it as well and completely agreed. We both loved the chocolate cheesecake.
Grand Buffet did have some inconsistencies and shortcomings, but most of what was there was good and a few excellent. With the included AYCD soft drinks, tax and tip as noted, it is actually a good value in a locale that could easily cause it to be otherwise. There was enough I enjoyed that I would return.
Rating: 7-7.5/10
The "sushi" can be overlooked as it consists of one type of tiny generic maki rolls, but Fallsview has many unique items that are found at no other AYCEs. We started with Polish sausages which Mishy described as floral and fragrant in their spicing, and we both enjoyed; unfortunately on a return visit they were much drier and less tasty. Prosciutto, soppressata and Genoa salami were delicious and also quite unique. Tandoori chicken had no bones and was good, however it wasn't baked as Tandoori usually is (just had the spicing) so purists may disagree that it was Tandoori at all. Similarly the chana masala, although not bad, didn't taste like any chana masala I've had before; the sauce was sweetish and without any curry notes. Mishy described the roast beef as rare and tough; I liked the flavour but it was rather chewy and somewhat fatty as well. Mishy also enjoyed the butter chicken, which she described as moist and succulent, and described the mashed yams as the "best ever" … although I am unfamiliar with her mashed yam history.
New Orleans chicken was good but the spicing a bit bland. Seared salmon was excellently spiced and the best thing I had had thus far (almost on par with the microscopic salmon dishes from expensive a la carte restaurants.) However I didn't care for the similarly haute black bean and pineapple salsa basa; the breading was rather odd. Cream of potato soup was excellent and fragrantly savoury, but the minestrone was lifeless and I have made better random vegetable stock on my own. However the beef stew was very good with large chunks of very tender beef and plenty of mushroom and wine notes in the stock.
The Grand Buffet had a one of the larger dessert selections I have seen, except for the ice cream being only the rather boring chocolate and vanilla soft-serve; the non-pastries are served in shot-glass portions as is common these days. Tiramisu was delightful with plenty of coffee at the bottom. I liked the raspberry panna cotta, but the mango yogurt was a bit too sweet. Raisin butter square is an actually triangular butter tart but was too doughy. Coconut cream pie had a mild flavour but was quite good. Nanaimo bars were perfect; better than just about any I have ever had. I had the vanilla yogurt on its own but it was sour so was evidently only to be combined with the nearby fruit. Unfortunately one of Mishy's go-to desserts, the bread pudding, was quite a disappointment: more like egg custard. I tried it as well and completely agreed. We both loved the chocolate cheesecake.
Grand Buffet did have some inconsistencies and shortcomings, but most of what was there was good and a few excellent. With the included AYCD soft drinks, tax and tip as noted, it is actually a good value in a locale that could easily cause it to be otherwise. There was enough I enjoyed that I would return.
Rating: 7-7.5/10
