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Review content:
I feel like I'm living in an alternate universe from that of the previous reviewer, but I think Treasure Island takes the cake as the best Chinese buffet in the area. Perhaps China Moon has increased its quality of late, but I stopped going there a long time ago, because Treasure Island is the far superior establishment. (Although I have not tried Treasure Island for dinner, so perhaps that is the discrepancy?) This place boasts a large selection that goes beyond your General Tso's chicken and Kung Pao Shrimp (although they have these as well), and features authentic dishes seldom seen elsewhere. Check out the little table in the back, behind the buffet bars, which usually houses saran-wrapped bowls of pickled daikon radish, pig ear, and beef tripe. Open up the adjacent steamer for cute shou tao--buns filled with red bean paste and decorated to look like peaches. On weekends, Treasure Island offers traditional Chinese breakfast fare--soy milk with you tiao (crispy crullers), shao bing (sesame seed buns), and the like. These special items are what set Treasure Island apart from its competitors, but most everything else here is similarly well done. There is also a salad bar with limited sushi selection if you tire of the Chinese fare. The dessert bar typically offers several Chinese desserts (Chinese donuts, tang yuan--glutinous rice flour-balls in a sweet soup) as well as an assortment of cookies, jello and pudding. And if you're still hungry, don't forget the self-serve soft serve ice cream machine in the rear of the restaurant. For all this bounty, the price is reasonable--all-you-can-eat lunch will set you back about $7 a person on weekdays. No self-serve beverages, but tea and water are complimentary. The seating (booths and tables) is spacious, and the place is well-lit with a huge vaulted ceiling, giving it a very airy feel. I've been here many times, and it's always been a consistently satisfying experience.
Pros: Selection, authenticity, value
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