The Market Buffet and Grill, 147 Mapleview Drive West, Barrie Ontario - - (705) 792-1888

As the city of Barrie grew, so did it's appetite for an American style buffet. The Market may not be what many buffet traditionalists envision when they think of an American buffet, but its about as close to the real thing that the city of Barrie will be getting anytime soon. I, of course, could be entirely wrong and an Old Country could break ground tomorrow somewhere in Barrie, but I'll just come back and edit this review so it looks like I never said anything.

How to Buffet. I love how those three words go together. It almost makes the act of gorging and being disgusting sound classy and exciting; maybe even inviting. If I had made that sign I would have added: Step 6. Throw up in the toilet and repeat steps 3-5. There are just too many items to sample before you get full.

Take the chicken for example. There was baked chicken, b.b.q chicken, fried chicken, chicken wings, chicken balls and chicken fingers. I would not be surprised if there was another ironic sounding type of chicken that I forgot to mention.



There was three different types of pasta: macaroni and cheese, bowties in rose sauce and fettuccine alfredo. Beef flank, shepherds pie, mashed potatoes and garlic bread was also presented next to each other on one of the buffet lines.



I was very excited to find a burger and taco making station. The burger making station had all sorts of fresh veggies and sauces to put on your pre-fab, sausage-like patty, as did the taco making station. There was even a soft shell option, which is almost unheard of when eating all-you-can-eat taco's (in my experience).



I did not sample the desserts, but from what I saw there was a typical assortment of sample-sized cakes as well as cookies and ice cream on tap with all the fixings. I still think this place is a bargain for $9.99, before you even get to the desserts. Overall I was happy, except with having to pay extra for a soft drink. Paying extra for soft drinks kind of takes the fun out of thinking your eating at a true American buffet; something the Market Buffet and Grill tries to be, but unfortunately is far from.

Price for Lunch: $9.99 plus tax

3.8/5