So we went out to eat and the food was great, no complains about that. The time limit is where they were really strict, we had some family that were late but they started our time when we got there. When our time was running out, they had about 4 or 5 staff watching us eat and timing us. When we told them that some people arrived late, one staff rudely ignored what we said, had attitude with us and just kept on walking past our table. As we were eating, they got someone to take the plates that we were done with and started cleaning the table.
Usman Khalid
It has been a while since I came back to JRC but personally I loved the experience. There are a lot of choices, though depending on your palette you might like it or not. For the money you pay, you get to try a lot of different foods in one place. The dining area is huge and can get noisy and busy, but that didn't spoil anything for me. It's a good place to bring large groups on a budget. Also if someone has a birthday, they get a free meal.
Francis White
I recently had the pleasure of dining at JRC Global Buffet, and the experience exceeded all expectations. Here’s why I can’t stop raving about it:The culinary journey at JRC Global Buffet is nothing short of extraordinary. The vast array of international cuisines offered is a true celebration of global flavors. From Asian delights to European classics, every dish showcased the skillful craftsmanship of the chefs.What truly sets this buffet apart is the exceptional quality of the ingredients. Each bite was a burst of freshness, and the diverse range of dishes catered to every palate. The live cooking stations added a dynamic element, allowing for personalized culinary creations.The ambiance is inviting and sophisticated, creating the perfect backdrop for a leisurely and enjoyable dining experience. The staff’s attentiveness and warmth further enhanced the overall atmosphere, making it a memorable occasion.Additionally, the commitment to cleanliness and hygiene was evident throughout the restaurant, ensuring a comfortable and safe dining environment.In summary, JRC Global Buffet is a haven for food enthusiasts seeking an unparalleled gastronomic adventure. The combination of diverse cuisines, top-notch quality, and a welcoming ambiance make it a standout destination for anyone with an appreciation for exceptional dining.Kudos to the entire team at JRC Global Buffet for delivering an unforgettable dining experience. I look forward to returning soon to explore more culinary delights.
Lady Es Music
Never again. Booked a birthday celebration dinner for the family. On arrival we were directed to wait outside the restaurant and told by the member of staff that if all our guests did not arrive by the booked time, the booking would be cancelled. I enquired what this meant for the guests that were already in attendance, I was told quite empathically by the member of staff that the guests that were in attendance would have to join the queue and wait to see if they could be seated. I enquired why the guests who were in attendance could not be seated on a smaller table and the remaining seats to allocated to those in the queue without a booking. The member of staff completely ignored my question three times. I asked to speak with a manager and asked if the information provided by the member of staff was correct and again was unemphatically advised that this is JRC’s policy. I challenged this, as I could not understand why the guests in attendance could not be seated, most of the guests were in attendance, only three people out of twenty-five were not present. The queue for non-bookings was very long, so I could not understand why a booked event would be cancelled when twenty-two guests had arrived on time. After some debating, we were allowed to enter, this took fifteen minutes away from out allotted eating time of ninety minutes.Once we were allowed to enter, there were then issues with being overcharged, and a mother was asked if her baby would be eating as they would also have to be charged for food. The baby in question was visibly not yet on solids. After disputing the over charge, it turns out we were charged for the missing three guests. This delay again took time away from out allotted eating slot of ninety minutes. Once we were allowed into the dining area, we were not shown to our table, we were left to find the table.The quality and taste of the food was not as expected, our guests complained about the food and there was quite a bit of wastage due to this, pictures are attached of some of the wasted food. Due to the initial delay, the celebration was rushed as we were still expected to leave the restaurant after the ninety-minute allotted time was up.All I can say is, NEVER, EVER AGAIN, AND DO NOT RECOMMEND.
eunam2022
I can honestly say it’s not that great. For £25 a person it’s to much. The food they offer is cheap sorry to say this not much on offer just noodles and cheap meat. Everyone was taking the ribs pilling the plate so high for old boot ? leather. There’s not much on offer just Chinese ?? I was told there was loads off chefs well I didn’t see any. There was a Chinese man cooking steak ? well that wasn’t steak. He was frying the cheapest skimpiest cheap cast off with tiger prawns it was disgusting ? the tiger prawns were moving alive just throwing them under a metal top. He was very rude. And as for the cheap cheap pudding and horrible ice cream and cheap cakes and imitation coke.I would not recommend going there first and last horrible.
Jillian Blackwood
It used to be Cosmo back in the day and the ethos, vibe, food, service and atmosphere is 90 percent the same.Still good food and massive choice and selections from all around the world.Global Buffet is exactly what you get when you enter the dining hall from food heaven!!!The Staff: Young vibrant team of mostly helpful and enthusiastic waiting staff and servers.The Chefs: Listen well and cooked all my meals orders to perfection with some flare and unique characterThe Food: Is it ever too much choice?Never!!!!!!!! Tasty, Good, Hot Or Cold Selections with something for everyone! Dessert station is truly still amazing with everything you could imagine on offer…the chocolate fountain is my favourite place to be!Made me very very grateful to be able to come and experience this food extravaganza when so many people go hungry on a Global scale.Wheelchair accessibility: On my rollator: Lift and easy accessible seating.
Michelle McKenzie
Too busy like they herding cattle just want you in, eat fast then get out! Maybe more for younger crowd. Glorified buffet it's not for me. How can you pay before you eat? Can you get your money back if you don't like the food? I'm not 5yr old give me a glass for my drink not a plastic cup. I think the people of Croydon deserve better.
Zee L.
I have been here many times even when it was called cosmos. There is a huge variety of food… so there’s something for everyone. I do think the standard has dropped and the food isn’t as tasty with the meat dry and tough, the desserts artificial tasting and the dumplings soggy. It is such a shame as this place used to be of good standard.
abby eustace
Food was cold, rubbery and the staff were hurrying us up with more than 45 minutes left before closing. Most food was dry, corn on the cob was cold and rock hard due to sitting there for so long. Was defiently not worth £52 very
Cat
Please DO NOT waste your time and hard earned money eating in this low class, chaotic, ghetto fabulous establishment situated in the middle of a depressing industrial estate. That should tell you something in terms of the location.I was greeted by the welcoming and cheerful (not) security guard. He was rude, obnoxious and aggressive, ordering me to "go outside" and pay £26 when I explained that I was attending a family birthday. He was either having a really bad day or was just displaying his usual delightful standard of customer service by shouting at customers.I was unaware of this prepayment policy, which is ridiculous and expensive for a buffet restaurant. Incidentally, the website states £19.99. CAN I HAVE MY £6 REFUND PLEASE ??Inside is like hell on earth with screaming, crying kids and tables jammed closed together. You have to keep pulling in your chair when someone behind you gets up and leaves their table. It was hot, sweaty and grimy with narrow, sticky tables.As for the toilets.... grim ??Staff were not present but seemed to be hanging around in groups laughing and joking and generally presenting an unprofessional customer service vibe.The food was ok, but slightly cold and greasy, overall the place was dismal. It seems to be a case of grabbing cash and shoving people on top of each other before kicking them out after 2 hours. God forbid there is a fire ? I doubt these clowns would have any effective emergency evacuation system in place.AVOID AVOID at all costs. There are far more classier, organised and hygienic restaurants within a 5 mile radius ?
The welcome was good enough.It was good to see all stations open although the replenishment was poor. All station staff and replenishment staff seemed to have earphones in and no glimmer of customer service or approachability. Food quality is definitely downgraded over the years . I would say the best quality section was the indian food.We were sat on a cramped two top table by a pillar with a huge table behind us with buggies and allsorts . So it was an uncomfortable experience but wasnt as loud or disruptive as you would expect.Place seemed clean enough
Daniel Cotton
I went here a year ago for a birthday meal and only just came to make a review now. Firstly, I want to mention that as soon as you get there, you have to be with your entire table and check in within 30 minutes upon arrival otherwise they will cancel your table so you can't just go in then wait for the others. When you do check in, you get measured, my guess is so that they can price your meal prior to you receiving your bill to save time. When we sat down, it was loud and busy, almost like one of them food courts at a shopping centre and considering it's a restaurant, you would expect moderate chatting in the background with a few songs playing alongside. The tables where crammed up and where inches apart from each other. It was a buffet, so you went up to get your food and it was quick and easy with no messing around; this is one of the only things that made the experience nice. And how could I forget! the one and a half hour time limit you have in the place! it isn't a ''take your time whilst enjoying your drinks and food'' place, it's more like a ''please hurry and some what enjoy your food and drink'' place. The fizzy drinks just tasted flat and non carbonated, but the desert bar was nice and again, easy to serve yourself at which makes it the second and final thing that was nice about this place.If your in a rush/half want to chill mood, this place is the one for you. But if your a want to chill and have a nice paced experience, this isn't on my recommendation list.
jogT2510WH
Jeez what a hideous, cold and awful place. I've never been met at a restaurant by security guards before and I guess that should gave forewarned me. With family for a big birthday and a location chosen by others. Food was prepared with zero care, empty serving plates everywhere and the only hot items seemed to be enormous amount of fried beige food. We and other tables complained about food temperatures to be told we must have walked to our table too slowly. The staff moved about loudly and chronically filling huge containers of plates to rush people out of their tables ( no need I couldn't leave fast enough) Very limited choices for anyone wanting meat free or more importantly palatable good.
Becky H
Cold food, whole decor is falling apart and really tired. There is so much food waste it’s disgusting. I think a reasonable price would be £10 a head. In fact you should pay me £10 to eat there again. Terrible, avoid, don’t waste your money.
Culture47312416725
I was amazed at the price for the buffet but thought well if the food is good its worth it. It costs £26 per head. My issue is not the taste of the but the fact it was cold. Some dishes were lukewarm. Lukewarm/cold rice and noodles is actually in my opinion inedible. I eventually had to eat the cauliflower cheese and the potatoes with cream. They need to investigate why the food is cold. It was totally unacceptable.
So we went out to eat and the food was great, no complains about that. The time limit is where they were really strict, we had some family that were late but they started our time when we got there. When our time was running out, they had about 4 or 5 staff watching us eat and timing us. When we told them that some people arrived late, one staff rudely ignored what we said, had attitude with us and just kept on walking past our table. As we were eating, they got someone to take the plates that we were done with and started cleaning the table.
It has been a while since I came back to JRC but personally I loved the experience. There are a lot of choices, though depending on your palette you might like it or not. For the money you pay, you get to try a lot of different foods in one place. The dining area is huge and can get noisy and busy, but that didn't spoil anything for me. It's a good place to bring large groups on a budget. Also if someone has a birthday, they get a free meal.
I recently had the pleasure of dining at JRC Global Buffet, and the experience exceeded all expectations. Here’s why I can’t stop raving about it:The culinary journey at JRC Global Buffet is nothing short of extraordinary. The vast array of international cuisines offered is a true celebration of global flavors. From Asian delights to European classics, every dish showcased the skillful craftsmanship of the chefs.What truly sets this buffet apart is the exceptional quality of the ingredients. Each bite was a burst of freshness, and the diverse range of dishes catered to every palate. The live cooking stations added a dynamic element, allowing for personalized culinary creations.The ambiance is inviting and sophisticated, creating the perfect backdrop for a leisurely and enjoyable dining experience. The staff’s attentiveness and warmth further enhanced the overall atmosphere, making it a memorable occasion.Additionally, the commitment to cleanliness and hygiene was evident throughout the restaurant, ensuring a comfortable and safe dining environment.In summary, JRC Global Buffet is a haven for food enthusiasts seeking an unparalleled gastronomic adventure. The combination of diverse cuisines, top-notch quality, and a welcoming ambiance make it a standout destination for anyone with an appreciation for exceptional dining.Kudos to the entire team at JRC Global Buffet for delivering an unforgettable dining experience. I look forward to returning soon to explore more culinary delights.
Never again. Booked a birthday celebration dinner for the family. On arrival we were directed to wait outside the restaurant and told by the member of staff that if all our guests did not arrive by the booked time, the booking would be cancelled. I enquired what this meant for the guests that were already in attendance, I was told quite empathically by the member of staff that the guests that were in attendance would have to join the queue and wait to see if they could be seated. I enquired why the guests who were in attendance could not be seated on a smaller table and the remaining seats to allocated to those in the queue without a booking. The member of staff completely ignored my question three times. I asked to speak with a manager and asked if the information provided by the member of staff was correct and again was unemphatically advised that this is JRC’s policy. I challenged this, as I could not understand why the guests in attendance could not be seated, most of the guests were in attendance, only three people out of twenty-five were not present. The queue for non-bookings was very long, so I could not understand why a booked event would be cancelled when twenty-two guests had arrived on time. After some debating, we were allowed to enter, this took fifteen minutes away from out allotted eating time of ninety minutes.Once we were allowed to enter, there were then issues with being overcharged, and a mother was asked if her baby would be eating as they would also have to be charged for food. The baby in question was visibly not yet on solids. After disputing the over charge, it turns out we were charged for the missing three guests. This delay again took time away from out allotted eating slot of ninety minutes. Once we were allowed into the dining area, we were not shown to our table, we were left to find the table.The quality and taste of the food was not as expected, our guests complained about the food and there was quite a bit of wastage due to this, pictures are attached of some of the wasted food. Due to the initial delay, the celebration was rushed as we were still expected to leave the restaurant after the ninety-minute allotted time was up.All I can say is, NEVER, EVER AGAIN, AND DO NOT RECOMMEND.
I can honestly say it’s not that great. For £25 a person it’s to much. The food they offer is cheap sorry to say this not much on offer just noodles and cheap meat. Everyone was taking the ribs pilling the plate so high for old boot ? leather. There’s not much on offer just Chinese ?? I was told there was loads off chefs well I didn’t see any. There was a Chinese man cooking steak ? well that wasn’t steak. He was frying the cheapest skimpiest cheap cast off with tiger prawns it was disgusting ? the tiger prawns were moving alive just throwing them under a metal top. He was very rude. And as for the cheap cheap pudding and horrible ice cream and cheap cakes and imitation coke.I would not recommend going there first and last horrible.
It used to be Cosmo back in the day and the ethos, vibe, food, service and atmosphere is 90 percent the same.Still good food and massive choice and selections from all around the world.Global Buffet is exactly what you get when you enter the dining hall from food heaven!!!The Staff: Young vibrant team of mostly helpful and enthusiastic waiting staff and servers.The Chefs: Listen well and cooked all my meals orders to perfection with some flare and unique characterThe Food: Is it ever too much choice?Never!!!!!!!! Tasty, Good, Hot Or Cold Selections with something for everyone! Dessert station is truly still amazing with everything you could imagine on offer…the chocolate fountain is my favourite place to be!Made me very very grateful to be able to come and experience this food extravaganza when so many people go hungry on a Global scale.Wheelchair accessibility: On my rollator: Lift and easy accessible seating.
Too busy like they herding cattle just want you in, eat fast then get out! Maybe more for younger crowd. Glorified buffet it's not for me. How can you pay before you eat? Can you get your money back if you don't like the food? I'm not 5yr old give me a glass for my drink not a plastic cup. I think the people of Croydon deserve better.
I have been here many times even when it was called cosmos. There is a huge variety of food… so there’s something for everyone. I do think the standard has dropped and the food isn’t as tasty with the meat dry and tough, the desserts artificial tasting and the dumplings soggy. It is such a shame as this place used to be of good standard.
Food was cold, rubbery and the staff were hurrying us up with more than 45 minutes left before closing. Most food was dry, corn on the cob was cold and rock hard due to sitting there for so long. Was defiently not worth £52 very
Please DO NOT waste your time and hard earned money eating in this low class, chaotic, ghetto fabulous establishment situated in the middle of a depressing industrial estate. That should tell you something in terms of the location.I was greeted by the welcoming and cheerful (not) security guard. He was rude, obnoxious and aggressive, ordering me to "go outside" and pay £26 when I explained that I was attending a family birthday. He was either having a really bad day or was just displaying his usual delightful standard of customer service by shouting at customers.I was unaware of this prepayment policy, which is ridiculous and expensive for a buffet restaurant. Incidentally, the website states £19.99. CAN I HAVE MY £6 REFUND PLEASE ??Inside is like hell on earth with screaming, crying kids and tables jammed closed together. You have to keep pulling in your chair when someone behind you gets up and leaves their table. It was hot, sweaty and grimy with narrow, sticky tables.As for the toilets.... grim ??Staff were not present but seemed to be hanging around in groups laughing and joking and generally presenting an unprofessional customer service vibe.The food was ok, but slightly cold and greasy, overall the place was dismal. It seems to be a case of grabbing cash and shoving people on top of each other before kicking them out after 2 hours. God forbid there is a fire ? I doubt these clowns would have any effective emergency evacuation system in place.AVOID AVOID at all costs. There are far more classier, organised and hygienic restaurants within a 5 mile radius ?
Restaurantji Recommends
The welcome was good enough.It was good to see all stations open although the replenishment was poor. All station staff and replenishment staff seemed to have earphones in and no glimmer of customer service or approachability. Food quality is definitely downgraded over the years . I would say the best quality section was the indian food.We were sat on a cramped two top table by a pillar with a huge table behind us with buggies and allsorts . So it was an uncomfortable experience but wasnt as loud or disruptive as you would expect.Place seemed clean enough
I went here a year ago for a birthday meal and only just came to make a review now. Firstly, I want to mention that as soon as you get there, you have to be with your entire table and check in within 30 minutes upon arrival otherwise they will cancel your table so you can't just go in then wait for the others. When you do check in, you get measured, my guess is so that they can price your meal prior to you receiving your bill to save time. When we sat down, it was loud and busy, almost like one of them food courts at a shopping centre and considering it's a restaurant, you would expect moderate chatting in the background with a few songs playing alongside. The tables where crammed up and where inches apart from each other. It was a buffet, so you went up to get your food and it was quick and easy with no messing around; this is one of the only things that made the experience nice. And how could I forget! the one and a half hour time limit you have in the place! it isn't a ''take your time whilst enjoying your drinks and food'' place, it's more like a ''please hurry and some what enjoy your food and drink'' place. The fizzy drinks just tasted flat and non carbonated, but the desert bar was nice and again, easy to serve yourself at which makes it the second and final thing that was nice about this place.If your in a rush/half want to chill mood, this place is the one for you. But if your a want to chill and have a nice paced experience, this isn't on my recommendation list.
Jeez what a hideous, cold and awful place. I've never been met at a restaurant by security guards before and I guess that should gave forewarned me. With family for a big birthday and a location chosen by others. Food was prepared with zero care, empty serving plates everywhere and the only hot items seemed to be enormous amount of fried beige food. We and other tables complained about food temperatures to be told we must have walked to our table too slowly. The staff moved about loudly and chronically filling huge containers of plates to rush people out of their tables ( no need I couldn't leave fast enough) Very limited choices for anyone wanting meat free or more importantly palatable good.
Cold food, whole decor is falling apart and really tired. There is so much food waste it’s disgusting. I think a reasonable price would be £10 a head. In fact you should pay me £10 to eat there again. Terrible, avoid, don’t waste your money.
I was amazed at the price for the buffet but thought well if the food is good its worth it. It costs £26 per head. My issue is not the taste of the but the fact it was cold. Some dishes were lukewarm. Lukewarm/cold rice and noodles is actually in my opinion inedible. I eventually had to eat the cauliflower cheese and the potatoes with cream. They need to investigate why the food is cold. It was totally unacceptable.