"45"^^ . "40"^^ . . "31"^^ . "4"^^ . . . "It's all about strategy. \n\nCome here prepared: have an enema the night before, come starving, wear loose comfortable clothing, pray that the line isn't long, fork over the $37 for dinner, (or better yet come at 3:00pm and pay the lunch price and stay for dinner) request to be seated in the Atrium (ambiance at a buffet place? yes!) and when the hostess leads you to your table, do you even sit down and take a moment?\n\nNo. \n\nI'm here with two objectives: get my money's worth and to not fill my stomach with useless calories. Here's how I do it.\n\n#1. Glass of water is all you need to lubricate the stomach lining and get everything going. Soda, juice and the like are just empty calories. \n\n#2. My first plate at a buffet is always, always seafood. You came here for the plump shrimp and tender split king crab legs, remember? they also have warm butter for your dipping pleasure. \n\n#3. I skip the bread basket. And the rice. These take up so much room in your stomach. Although I'll take some type of carb with my cheese plate or a small baguette with my soup.\n\n#4. I skip the salad too. Again, takes up too much space in your tummy. Pop a vitamin pill instead. \n\n#5. When you get sushi or any of the hand rolls, eat the filling. Dump the rice. Wasteful? yeah. Again, see reasons #3 and #4. \n\n#6. Get a small slice of prime rib. It was decent. I tasted a portion from my partner's plate. \n\n#7. The ceviche station is incredible. The Charcuterie and cheese station even better. \n\n#8. I grab every single mini-dessert possible and take a bite of each. The cream puffs are not the best, chocolate frosted strawberry cake ok, espresso panna cotta yummy. There's also an ice cream and crepe making station. What?! I have Yelp duties to fulfill!\n\n#9. Rest and repeat. \n\nWhat's your strategy?"^^ . "2009-11-08T00:00:00"^^ .