An overstayed welcome

When I first moved to San Diego, I stopped for lunch at a Chinese buffet place Downtown, only to watch one guy eat the profits all by himself. He traipsed to the food trays eight times during my stay and who knows how many before I got there. “All you can eat” is a simple catchphrase describing an equally simple promise. Nowhere between the quotes does it say “or else.”

If that fella had happened onto the buffet at Bourbon Street, he would have been well-advised to keep a third eye on the clock; the food at this University Heights tavern is served only from 5 to 7 p.m. and only on weekdays. But unless he’s suddenly decided to go on a hunger strike, he’d probably be eating between those hours anyway. And at $5.95, he could do a lot worse. Except for the ever-present dinner salad, the menu rotates every day—roast beef, macaroni, orange chicken, rice, black beans and breaded veal are just a few of the excellent features. And the lasagna’s topped the charts in the two months the venue’s been doing this. On the days it’s served, get in line early.

Bourbon Street is also a decidedly gay venue—so if Buffet Boy’s a homophobe, he’d better head back Downtown, where there’s a fighting chance they’ll tolerate his ignorance. Beyond that, he’s welcome at 4612 Park Blvd. between 4 p.m. and 2 a.m. seven days a week (the number is 619-291-4043). If he opts for the buffet alone, management can anticipate several budget revisions for wear and tear to the floor.