Inspired by the responses to this thread so far, and having an extra week before the last day (so they could put out some communications like e-mails), I decided to hit it one last time and take pictures:




The sign at the door



Looking down from the salad side


Looking down the other way from the dessert side. I got there just after 11 to beat the crowds



The peel & eat shrimp was clearly one of the star items, and a challenge to keep filled.


Gumbo is another. Also good for dropping some extra peeled shrimp into.


"Butterfly" fried shrimp was also popular.


As was the crawfish etouffee, though for whatever reason the roux was milder on the buffet version. They also had dirty rice in the next tray.



Some of the desserts. Banana pudding and bread pudding were staples, plus the lemon tarts and the empty plate that had s'mores on it.


Also there but not pictured: Chicken tenders, green beans, mashed potatoes, salmon filets (cooked to varying doneness), red beans and rice, and anything I'm just plain forgetting.

It has always been about food quality more than quantity of items offered, and most people have a favorite 2 or 3 things they can fill up on.


What my first plate looked like.

Anyway, it started at a pretty incredible $9.95 (drinks not included) some 15 or so years ago but has crept up to $24.95 now (hence my theory about the death spiral). Some of the items are undoubtedly not cheap for the restaurant to do on an AYCE basis, but they haven't compromised on the food quality. Even though current pricing is out of lunch range for most people, they were still able to keep it going at higher prices until one of the brothers from the founding family told them to pull the plug.

As mentioned, I have mixed feelings. Always ate too much and had to limit it to a roughly quarterly treat, but it was always good food and never like Golden Corral or the price-point Chinese places.