Ipswich: Spoon World Buffet restaurant review in Suffolk

Posted:
10:48 a.m. on December 3, 2021

The much anticipated reopening of the Spoon World Buffet restaurant in Ipswich took place and I decided to take a tour and see what it is.

The restaurant closed in June due to Covid-19 restrictions but the self-service buffet reopened on Friday, November 26.

During my visit here is what I found:

Hygiene

The whole buffet and restaurant was very clean. Waiters and waitresses were constantly walking around picking up people’s dirty plates and pointing to clean ones so people didn’t have to pile their fresh food on top of their leftovers or bring half-eaten food back to the food counters. We were also given gloves to use when handling utensils. All very reassuring.

Food and drink

The food was excellent. A special highlight was the Chinese dishes and the freshly made pancakes.

The food was not as hot as I had hoped but was still enjoyable and was constantly supplemented by the chefs in the restaurant.

I tried a selection of main dishes – pizza, Chinese and Indian – and was impressed with the oriental selection. There was such a huge variety. The pizzas were all cooked fresh and tasted great, however, the Indian dish – a Tikka Masala – let it down a bit as it wasn’t lukewarm to the max. The taste was good, but would have been even better if it had been hotter.

There was also a wide selection of desserts, with a selection of cakes, jellies and ice creams, but what stands out to me most are the freshly made pancakes. They were awesome. There was also a selection of toppings you could put on yourself including sugar, chocolate sauce, and strawberry sauce.

Another advantage is that non-alcoholic drinks are refillable.

Selection

Although there is a reduced menu for lunch, there is always a wide variety to choose from.

There is a selection of Chinese, Indian, sushi, pizzas and desserts during the lunch service.

During the evening service, there are more options, including German kebab, teppanyaki, roast grill, and dim sum.

The lunch menu didn’t offer much for the kids, but there were chicken poppers, fries, and pizza.

The restaurant offers a wide range of non-alcoholic and alcoholic drinks.

Atmosphere

Although the restaurant hadn’t even been open for a week, it was still very busy for a Thursday afternoon.

This is an excellent family run restaurant with plenty of seating and a few large booths in the restaurant and although it was quite full you wouldn’t have noticed. It was fairly quiet and overall a good place to eat out.

For families who all have different tastes and usually have a hard time choosing a place to eat out, Spoon is a great place to visit as it covers so many elements with a wide choice of options.

You are asked to pay before you eat and once shown to your seats you have to go up to the bar to get your own drinks. Which was good for me as I was on my own, but it might be a bit tricky if you have small kids that you can’t leave unattended.

Global experience

Overall I really enjoyed the food. The service I received was great. Even though the food was not as hot as I would have liked, it was still delicious.

I walked in not knowing what to expect and left pleasantly surprised. Definitely will be back.

Location and parking

The restaurant is located in St Matthew Street in Ipswich. There is no parking at the restaurant but there are plenty of public parking lots in the area, the closest being next to the New Wolsey Theater.

Timetables and prices

Lunchtime service:

• Tuesday to Friday: 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. – Adults £ 8.99 and children (under 150 cm) £ 5

Evening service

• Tuesday to Thursday: 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. – Adults £ 15.99 and children (under 150 cm) £ 8
• Friday: 5 p.m. – 11 p.m. – Adults £ 15.99 and children (under 150cm) £ 8

The restaurant is open from 12 p.m. to 11 p.m. on Saturdays for £ 16.99 and for children from £ 8 and from 12 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Sundays and public holidays – the same pricing structure applies.