Don't be Crazy, Don't Miss This Buffet

Crazy Buffet

• Location: 701 N Burkhardt Rd., Evansville, IN 47715


• Cuisine: Chinese, American and Japanese Cuisine


• Capacity: 300


• Offers:  Buffet, Party Room


• Signature Dish: House Style Fried Rice, Dragon and Phoenix, Grilled Salmon, Beef with Golden Sauce, BBQ Steak, Coconut Shrimp


• Drinks: Wine, Beer, Popular Spirits as well as Sake


• Desserts: Pudding, Jello, Cake, Cookies, Ice cream and so on


• Year of establishment: 2005


• Phone: 812-437-8833


• Website: www.evansvillecrazybuffet.com

Crazy Buffet won't make you crazy but it will make your head spin. Its grandiose interior done up in light cherry and amazing 8,000 square feet of space is filled with hand picked icons and symbols of Chinese art. Evansville, Indiana customers have no problem locating it for it sits in a busy business district near a residential zone and shopping areas.

Sham-Wow!

At the entrance of this amazing restaurant is a cobble-stoned snake like ridge overlooking an extravagant pond with a backdrop of rugged jagged mountains with bamboo growing from them. It is like entering a lifelike simulated display seen at a natural history museum with a sign saying, All who Enter here Enter China. The lighting above the coral colored buffet bars is as if you've entered a 21^st century disco with lime green and 2 ribbons of shocking pink neon in the recessed ceilings.

A carved stone with swirls and crevices acts as a stand for a bonsai tree in one part of the restaurant. This monument to nature is striking as it jumps out of the corner against a Chinese plaque written in gold and black ideograms. Sitting quietly next to the stone sculpture is a chair made of one piece of tree sculpture. The sculptor who made the chair managed to do it in one cut. This form is worthy enough for an exhibition at furniture design fairs held around the world. Seen elsewhere in the restaurant, for example by the bar area are more of these technically difficult and deeply beautiful lotus chairs. A table made from the raw carvings of a tree functions as a modern salon table spaced in-between the two chairs. Red lanterns dangle along the hallway like a walk in the summer breeze along the Li River.  The bar is done up with a traditional Chinese tiled roof in green trimmed in a light red reminiscent of the great gabled rooftops seen everywhere in old China.

The dining room is divided in 4 distinct sections, A-D with distinct attributes. A & B is used for dining, while C&D reserved for special occasions such as birthdays, baby shower, parties and business gatherings. In section A, hand-made jade carvings feature scenes of the four seasons while Chinese calligraphy is hung on the walls. In party room C, capable of serving 40 people, Chinese embroidery adorns the walls and a crystal pendant lamp in hung in the middle of the room. Smoking is allowed in this area. Party room D, the largest area, is reserved for official meetings and large parties. This section is draped with calligraphic prints. Mr. Pan, the owner says, “Chinese words, thousands of years old are the quintessence of its culture.”

Stir it Up

The Beatles sang “Twist and Shout” with the first lines being ...”shake it up baby”. Here at Crazy Buffet you can explore Chinese, American and Japanese food AND even find Italian cuisine and French sauces amongst the 200 fresh items laid out on the buffet bars. While Chinese food accounts for 70% of the dishes, 20% are American and 10% includes sushi, Italian food and desserts. Four bars are designed to hold nearly 80 hot dishes. Another large bar hold 100 cold dishes. Sushi, salad and desserts are served in another bar. 3 to 5 news dishes are presented on a regular basis. "You need to update if you want to arouse customer interest”, explains Mr. Pan.

Although the main flavor customers go for is sweet, innovation is a key word at Crazy Buffet. For instance, Fried Rice, a common dish is prepared in a unique way. Mr. Pan goes on about it, “We season the rice in the frying pan with first-rate butter and flavorful sesame to make it even tastier than normal.” The Dragon and Phoenix is prepared with chicken breast and shrimp. The secret French style sauce offers a zing flavor while maintaining durability in taste and appearance. It's quite fitting for a buffet restaurant. Grilled salmon has a mysterious mixture of Italian and Chinese sauces making it a perfect fit for those with a sweet tooth. Beef in golden sauce, a Chinese dish, has been adapted to fit local tastes by mixing teriyaki sauce with Chinese black pepper powder.

Mr. Pan is proud of the endless imaginary international combinations delivered to his customers. He chuckles, “Being innovative means being competitive and that's my edge over the others.”

High quality foodstuffs is not an issue at Crazy Buffet says Mr. Pan. It's the most important factor in running a buffet. Mr. Pan spares nothing to insure that when customers visit at 3 or 4 in the afternoon they are served dishes as fresh as if they have come at lunchtime. Leftovers are thrown out and new dishes are prepared on the spot. The chefs handle quality control by replacing dishes according to how long they've been exposed out in the buffet bars. “Our real challenge," explains the owner, “is getting the right consistency of dishes at all times.”

Talking as a Professional

Every successful business needs a strong foundation to build on. At Crazy Buffet the professional and hospital staff is the anchor that holds the boat steady. All staff wear uniforms presenting a cohesive image. Mr. Pan invites locals to teach his staff about western culture, etiquette. In his mind if the staff understand the culture around them they can offer considerate service.

Politeness, friendliness, and grooming are keys to winning over customers. Not to forget, Mr. Pan treats his staff as friends. Most of the visitors notice this relationship which is why they are regulars. Since the staff remember their names and favorite dishes it is, for such a large buffet restaurant, quite cozy. Word of mouth is the best advertising, according to Mr. Pan. Interaction with society comes in the form a solid reputation. That takes strenuous efforts and time to accomplish. Winning the hearts of the locals also includes committing to goodwill causes. He donates to the local Red Cross as away of showing social responsibility.