When it comes to food, most of the teens I know have an enormous appetite which never seems to be filled. This is why TJ’s Pizza Buffet, an extensive all-you-can-eat restaurant, is such a good choice for one in search of an affordable and delicious meal.
When I first walked into TJ’s, I was greeted with friendly service from the cashier as I paid for my meal. Before I had even placed one morsel on my plate, I noticed the football paraphernalia lining the walls, multiple flat screen TVs all tuned to a different channel and delicious smells that wafted from the various food stations.
Deciding to go with an appetizer classic, I picked out my choice salad and dumped generous quantities of veggies and croutons onto my plate. The salad bar was huge and included everything from olives to raisins and had numerous dressings to choose from. Topping my salad with some bleu cheese dressing, I meandered to the closest available seat and began the first of many servings I would have.
The most distinguishable thing about the salad was the freshness of the vegetables. Everything was pleasant, presentable and bursting with flavor, something I do not usually experience at a pizza place’s salad bar. The dressing complimented everything, adding to my satisfaction with the meal.
Next on the buffet line came the steaming pots of soup – chicken noodle in one and chili in the other. Right next to the soup were many side dishes to complement the savory broth, including cornbread and bread sticks.
I started eating some chicken noodle soup and at first was impressed. Soft noodles and salty broth worked together to leave a warm feeling in my stomach and throat. However, shortly after swallowing the first few spoonfuls, I quickly became bored with the taste because it lacked a variety of different flavors.
The cornbread, however, lifted my expectations for a delicious meal. Steamy and golden brown, the bread was crunchy at the bottom and crumbly on top, something that would appease any cornbread lover.
Despite my previous servings, my appetite was yet to be satisfied. It was now time to get what I came to TJ’s for: the pizza. On the table in front of me several selections of pizza were laid out, ranging from sausage and pepperoni to Hawaiian. I decided to choose the classics – a slice of cheese and a slice of pepperoni – but the tantalizing smell of garlic from the chicken alfredo pizza seemed irresistible.
With the first bite of cheese pizza, the zestiness of the sauce caught hold of my senses. At other pizza places I’d been to, the sauce was bland and plain, but at TJ’s I could tell they took pride in their pizza and wanted to make it the best it could be.
Between the cheese and pepperoni slices, I couldn’t decide which was my favorite. The pepperoni had just the right amount of spice in the meat compared to the delicious sauce. The chicken alfredo pizza was also delectable due to the flavorful chicken and the creamy and rich alfredo sauce. The crust was crunchy, but still held a soft center on the inside.
Almost completely full, dessert was the final addition to my filling meal. A huge soft-serve ice cream machine loomed in front of me. Without restraint, I grabbed a lever, pulled down and watched ice cream pour into my bowl. The ice cream was the perfect temperature and it melted as soon as it hit my tongue – a great ending to a meal.
Although I enjoyed my time there, the restaurant was not perfect. I felt that flavor lacked in some of the options, such as the bland soup.
The main difference I found at TJ’s Pizza Buffet compared to other restaurants was the family atmosphere that radiated from the establishment. It seemed that the employees valued every customer that entered. There was even a webcam hooked up to one of the big screen TVs so that parents could monitor their children playing in a separate video game room from the comfort of their tables.
In the end, the meal cost $6.99, a very phenomenal deal with the current economic situation and sky-rocketing prices at other stores and restaurants. For children under 12, the cost is only $3.99 and kids under 3 eat for free. TJ’s Pizza Buffet is located on Willow and Nees and is open every day. For more information, call the restaurant at (559) 298-8857.
