From: rbn@Apple.COM (Robert B. Neville)
Newsgroups: ba.food
Subject: Bueno Burritos / Bad Buffet Brunch
Date: 16 Nov 92 01:08:32 GMT
Organization: Apple Computer Inc., Cupertino, CA

There was a running thread here recently about good burritos...Una Mas in
Sunnyvale was mentioned & praised, so I stuck the name in the back of my head.
Last night it rolled around to the front of my head, and I'm glad it did...
GOOD RECOMMENDATION! I ordered (for myself and others) a large chicken burrito,
two chicken tacos, a salmon taco, chicken quesadilla & chips with salsa &
guacamole. With the single exception of the quesadilla (which was just slightly
less than excellent) everything was outstanding...quite a nice surprise, and
I'm certainly glad I took a trip out to Una Mas rather than making a fifty-nine
cent "run for the border".

And, in the "I should have stayed home and grilled some Pop-Tarts" department:
I live close to, and have eaten several times at, Pacific Fresh in Cupertino.
I've generally enjoyed the food I've eaten there, particularly their Filet
Mignon and Australian Lobster Tail combination.
SO...when I noticed a banner announcing a "Sunday Brunch Buffet $11.95", I
decided to give it a try. I was, in a word, unimpressed. We arrived at 1:15pm
(having made reservations) and were seated promptly. Being unfamiliar with the
brunch buffet, we waited (about five minutes) for waitron service. The service
we received throughout brunch led us to believe Pacific Fresh must discourage
tipping on Sundays.
The food selection was very poor - and, given the variety in the regular
Pacific fresh menu, I was surprised and disappointed. Although the buffet is
open until 2:30pm, several items appeared to have been sitting for some time,
perhaps several hours. There seemed to be no attempt to restock or refresh
anything.
High points: The salmon & crab legs were good (to be expected from a seafood
restaurant).
Low points: Everything else. The service was ATROCIOUS (a table near us had two
full-time waitresses - engaged in conversation with the four patrons at that 
table, apparently their friends), the waffles (which looked like a generic
answer to Eggos) could literally NOT be cut with a butter knife, the egg dishes
(and nearly all other 'hot' items) were SIMULTANEOUSLY overcooked and cold,
all of the fruit (yes, I mean ALL of the fruit) appeared either under or over-
ripe, we actually had to ASK (and wait for) forks...most restaurants actually
make an attempt to put these on the table (and indeed, forks were in evidence
on other tables) before patrons are seated.
An observation at our table: "It looks like the 'brunch' items are just left-
overs from the rest of the week." I'm not entirely sure I disagree...

I can (and will!) recommend Pedros in Santa Clara for a respectable Sunday
Brunch buffet...at $14.95, it's my favourite in the South Bay...great service,
good variety, FRESH food, nice atmosphere. I've also tried 94th Aero Squadron's
(San Jose) Sunday brunch, and it was okay. Fung Lum (Campbell) also offers a
Saturday/Sunday brunch which I've sampled and enjoyed. I'd be interested in 
hearing other 'brunch buffet' opinions...

Here's an innovative way of testing brunch buffet offerings: We let a pack of
starving college students loose in the buffet. When they're done, we let a pack
of wild, hungry dogs loose to pick up the scraps. My money says Pedros, 94th
and Fung Lum (and Sizzler, for that matter) would be picked clean, while 
there'd be plenty of food left over at Pacific Fresh for next week's buffet.

Bone appetit!

rbn@apple.com