Mandarin Chinese Restaurant

I love Chinese food, but I don't like buffets. I think buffets serve poorly prepared food for the masses. But if I review a buffet, this means the buffet is delicious and fresh because I would not be caught dead at a buffet otherwise. I love the buffet at Mandarin Chinese Restaurant and I go there any weekend that I can afford to stock up on crawfish.

While I am sure a number of items are not fresh and probably came in frozen, the food doesn't taste or look like it was sitting out all day under a heat lamp. The clean interior and comfy booth seats and nice tables attribute to the restaurant not having that typical cheap Chinese buffet joint feel. Those restaurants feel like they are borderline hole in the wall joints. (I still argue the only hole in the wall in the US is The Hole in The Wall by The University of Texas-Austin campus.)

Here are some pictures of the variety you will find at Mandarin Chinese Restaurant.

Even though this is a Chinese restaurant, they also serve sushi. 

The lunch buffet price is incredibly reasonable. On Monday through Friday, lunch buffet is $6.50 and dinner is $9.50 Monday through Thursday. For the weekend, prices go up with a change in the buffet selection. I can't comment on all the changes, but I know that crawfish is added on Friday evenings and is available on Sarurday and Sunday. Buffet on the weekends is $10.99. If you're in a rush and don't feel like placing an order, take out buffet is available. On Monday through Friday, lunch buffet to go is $4.99 per pound without seafood and $5.99 per pound with seafood. On Monday through Friday, dinner buffet to go is $7.99. On Saturday and Sunday, when crawfish is available, take out buffet is $7.99 per pound. 

The restaurant also offers a wide variety of dishes aside from the buffet. Don't overlook their menu. I love the steamed dumplings. Most people order potstickers, but steaming is the healthier way to go. Unfortunately, I am on a dairy free diet, but my friends rave about the crab cheese. I used to love crab cheese until I started this diet, so you will have to take their word for it. 

For more information, visit Mandarin Chinese Restaurant's website at http://mandaringrandrapids.com or stop by the restaurant at 2460 28th St SE, Grand Rapids, MI  49512. In fact, stop by the restaurant, you won't regret it. The staff is super friendly and kind, especially the owners. The restaurant is owned by a husband and wife and their middle-aged daughter and sometimes I think the mother sweetly greets all her customers like they are her own children. 

Star Collision Carstar

My car and my garage got into a fight and my garage was victorious. My bumper flew threw the air. Since it is illegal to drive in Michigan without a bumper, and because I am on a limited budget, I asked friends for recommendations. One friend recommended Star Collision Carstar.

So even though I received multiple recommendations for other body shops,  I brought to my car to Star Collision due to the glowing review from my friend. 

The result? I wish I could go to this body shop everyday. A picture is worth a thousand words and just look at the pictures. 

Cup holders are the best invention ever and usually the messiest part of the car, but now I have the cleanest one in Michigan. I wish I had a before picture. I spilled so much Coca-Cola and food that the cup holder looked like the floor of a movie theatre. I don't know how the detailer got my car so clean, but he should teach a class. I will be his first student.

And when my friends saw that my car was back from the body shop, they commented on the great color match. I was just thrilled they did the job exactly as I specified and did not repair more than I asked. I am on a budget and I am not that vain, so I wanted previous damage to remain. 

My only complaint about dealing with this body shop is how difficult it was to communicate with the staff. When I arrived, I had to give more information even though I already gave the information online. My appointment wasn't properly set up in their system and even when I definitely had an appointment in place, I almost got skipped over by the estimator. The receptionist needs to handle coordinating appointments better. The office didn't seem to run that smoothly and I had to call more than once to find out the status of my vehicle even after being told they would call me. But the great thing about Star Collision is that they were quick to fix my car. The last thing that would help is better marketing and/or a name change. The company's name is too clunky and difficult to remember. 

Star Collision is located at 1560 Plainfield Ave NE, Grand Rapids, MI  49505 and they are open Monday through Friday from 7:30 am to 5:30 pm.