Neighbourhood: Various
Phone: 888-332-2623
Entrees: $19
Strategy is imperative to a seamless, satisfying buffet experience. Most avoid filling up beforehand, but the pros know prepping the stomach with a small meal in advance is imperative. Also critical is an awareness of buffet etiquette; such as be patient, don’t eat in line and don’t stare at people (or thier heaping plates), which is helpful in keeping faux pas’ to a minimum.
With eight Manitoba locations, six within city limits, fun-tastic family dining of limitless proportions at Canad Inn’s Aalto’s Garden Café buffet is never far away. Rambling dining rooms are accented by leafy faux greenery, fitted with comfy tables and booths with generous aisles between to facilitate buffet access.
Our smallest citizens are VIPs here with booster seats, colouring pages and a bank of rainbow bright Kool-Aid slush machines reserved just for them. Smorgasbords are a picky eater’s paradise where kids become curator of their own plates.
Start with soups. Borscht is a winner, with large chunks of tender, earthy beets and morsels of brawny, slow simmered beef. Utilize the condiment bar to add a spoonful of sour cream. On seafood Fridays, thick and creamy seafood chowder is flecked with clams and baby scallops.
The necessary gear for seafood night-ramekins of melted butter and a bucket are delivered by your sever. BYOB (bring your own bib).
Crispy battered popcorn shrimp, succulent crabs legs, and flaky, rich vol-au-vent laden with shrimp, scallops and clams are hot line standouts. Maple baked salmon, steamed mussels and a roast beef carving station round out the spread.
On turkey Tuesdays the buffet line is again in full swing, dishing up a cornucopia of moist roast turkey with all the fixings 52 weeks a year.
At the do-it-yourself sundae bar a simple slice of banana cream pie can be studded with fresh pineapple and buried below a mountain of vanilla soft serve and hot fudge with nuts.
Aalto’s Garden Cafe is open Mon-Fri 6 am-10 pm; Sat 1 am-10 pm; and Sun 7 am-9 pm.