Every once in a while my first, second and even third review choices fall through. This was one of those weeks.

I had decided a white tablecloth, weekend dining experience was in order and chose something downtown. This fell through, however, partially due to illness. My next choice was to take a request (which I rarely do) because a barbecue place in town had been mentioned by several different people at different times. It was, however, closed the day I arrived.

Not knowing what to do, and feeling a little concerned that last week’s review left those on Louisville Road not knowing where to dine, I gave the Chinese restaurant I mentioned last week a try. Unfortunately, this review will be short and sweet (but mostly sour) because eating at the New Century Buffet was not a good experience.

To begin with, the waitress was unable to communicate with us. She did not speak recognizable English. My dining companion looked at me with blank stares every time she spoke to him. He truly wanted to understand, wanted to be compassionate, but was at a complete loss as to how to reply or how to get his needs met. I finally took to just telling her what I wanted (over and over until I think she got it).

I had planned to get the buffet and also order something off the menu, but this language gap was so wide and frustrating I just had the buffet.

It was late in the afternoon when we ate. We came in after the lunch buffet (and price change), yet the food had not been changed or replenished for dinner. Literally nothing looked appetizing.

I noticed the buffet had several items I had not seen on other buffets, like spinach with cheese on top, deep-fried crab and a few other unlabeled food items, which I decided to try, hoping to be wowed by something new.

Every item on the buffet, from the broccoli chicken to the fried rice to the deep-fried bananas (that we finally identified after two bites each) was overcooked, dry and had a bitter aftertaste I could not identify. I thought soup might be a good choice, since I could not fill up on the food offered because of the taste, but even the hot and sour soup was so unpleasing to look at I couldn’t spoon it into the bowl. The broth was thickened to an odd, almost Jell-O-like consistency, then sparse on ingredients that usually make up the soup like seaweed and tofu.

Even if nothing looked good, there were a few edible food choices, including the spring rolls and egg rolls. The highlight of the meal was the chicken on a stick. For some reason this was fresh, not moist but chewable, and marinated with soy sauce and other Japanese seasonings.

Because we came in after the dinner price was in effect, yet the food had not been changed over, I insisted we be charged the lunch price for our meals. With the language barrier this was a bit of a challenge, but somehow she finally understood and we worked out the bill.

I have to say, both my dining companion and I have never been so glad to leave a restaurant. And, in our opinion, we wasted our money and our stomach space on a meal that never should have been.

– New restaurants are given a six-week grace period. Comments can be sent to Managing Editor Mike Alexieff by telephone at 783-3235 or via e-mail to malexieff@bgdailynews.com.

New Century Buffet

160 River Place Ave. Suite C

Bowling Green, KY 42103

762-6733

Hours: 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. daily

Cuisine: Japanese, Chinese, American, Italian

Price range for dinner: Lunch buffet $5.99, dinner $7.99

Libation situation: None

Smoking: Yes