Big Lukes in Gateshead

If I could give Big Luke’s World Buffet in Metro Centre zero stars, I would. The food here is far from fresh—everything tastes like it's been sitting out for hours. They have the nerve to charge £16.90 for what is honestly one of the worst buffets I’ve ever experienced. It’s called a "World Buffet," but where’s the variety? There’s barely any choice, and almost all the dishes are bland British food. Don’t get me wrong, I love British cuisine, but this was tasteless, dry, and downright horrible. Save your money and go somewhere else—this place is not worth it.

The worst place I have ever paid for food. Hardly any choice and what is there is worse quality than what they fed us for school dinners in the 90s. Highly disappointing and not worth the money.

Absolutely rotten food. Feeling really ill now don’t think the chefs know even the simple fundamentals of cooking. Staff stand looking stupid and not doing their jobs cleaning or asking the customer how their experience is. What an embarrassment for the good money you pay. This place has went really down hill over the years and hopefully be gone for good soon

Went here today for a meal I won’t be going back. The burger was dry and rubbery. The chicken was pink. When we told a staff member about it she told us it couldn’t possibly be as it was cooked last night. Absolutely appalling

Absolutely lovely place, great food, great choice, great music and staff were nice to. Katsu curry is a must !! Can’t fault it ❤️

Half decent buffet, offering a variety of different world foods. All food was hot and fresh, and most was of a very good quality and well prepared. The burgers fell very short of the standard set by everything else here, they were burnt and the buns were stale. Drinks were unlimited and they had a good range of off brand offerings. Staff were freindly enough and attentive to tables by clearing plates away between visits to the buffet. Price was a little high but overall a good place to grab something to eat whilst at the metro and expecially if you cant settle on what to have since they cover just about everything.

Unfortunately the food is beyond horrible. The look of it alone is enough to put you off however if you like your food to taste like water then this is the place for you. Flavourless and off putting is an understatement and the price you are charged for the quality is just ridiculous. We will never visit this place again

I’ve went here before, it was great, but when I went back I got food poisoning- I was sick for the whole week and had diarrhoea- also very faint and dizzy. Not going back again.

The food is very poor quality, couldn't eat it,

Ordered for collection time of 8:45-9:00pm. Restaurant has moved location so I couldn't find it and was calling the restaurant since 8:50pm but nobody answered. Eventually pick up at 9:02 and some snotty little lass refuses to do owt about it, when I'm literally stood outside at 9:03pm in an attempt to steal my pre payed money. Situation could have easily been resolved, really really easily but they refused to be helpful.

Food is the cheapest you can get drinks not good either staff are fine not there fault tired quite a few things between the 4 of us and all of it was poor

I would agree that this is probably the best buffet in the shopping centre and one of the best, if not the best in Newcastle. Food is properly cooked, the selection is decent and the price is very competitive, being the same all day, offering very good value for money. Service is also attentive and friendly, with all servers looking after customers with genuine Newcastle hospitality.

Visited earlier, I'm not particularly fussy with choosing restaurants with friends, and choosing which cuisine thereon. We decided tonight through majority that we would try Big Luke's. I genuinely fear to think of the amount of food waste that this place must generate, things as simple as Yorkshire puddings couldn't be cut because they had been under the lamps for ages. A variety of the food was of a quality that I wouldn't brave, though I tried a small amount of the curry and that was pleasant to a degree. However, I let the staff know when I went to the till at the end about my problem with the food quality, and I couldn't have received better customer service from the staff on duty. They resolved the situation straight away and were lovely about it, a real credit to the place.

My daughter and some of her friends went today for one of their birthday meals and even though 2 of the friends were 11 they still charged them for adult prices RIDICULOUS!! then when they were escorted to their table they were trying to sit down and the lady who took them their kept very rudely repeating the question of ‘what drinks?!’ in a very rude tone. They then went onto starting their 3 courses they noticed that their were not many vegetarian options for one of the friends apart from pasta that was watery and made them feel rather ill. They said that the starter that they had was okay which was salad but it is pretty hard to get that wrong. After that they went onto their 2nd course which as i have already stated was pasta and the pasta was very wet and the sauce was like a liquid drink, then they had their dessert which they all had ice cream which they said was nice apart from it was a bit melted even though it came out of a freezer. When they left the restaurant they went to the arcade a few shops down and 2 of the 4 friends had to go to the toilet to be sick which they were. Also one of the friends offered to take some money of another friends payments and only that friend was willing to pay for it but they charged the other friend which i think was on purpose with the cheek in the woman’s voice who was on the till. Overall i don’t think this is a very good place to eat, i understand that it is a all you can eat buffet but your not going to eat much seeing the state of the food i personally think the place needs shutting down and popeyes being extended!

**update** We all have food poisoning now aswell dirty buggers I’ll be phoning when you’s are opening tomorrow and if my daughter ends up missing her holiday trip away with school I will be sending you’s the bill for that fuming Our first time and last!! Food was absolutely rotten very bland and tasteless cost over £60 for absolute rubbish boards inside said home cooked food it was all just frozen food we came away hungry best thing there was the cakes but only a few to choose from don’t know how on earth it gets so busy I think you need a change of chefs if I’m honest

Went today, first time in years, was disgusted in the quality, for the price I paid £40 for two people, everything was very very bland, the serving spoons looked like they’d been there since the dark ages and not been cleaned either. Service was shocking had kids standing talking as staff, never had a check back either. Will not be back. Shut the place down and put another Greggs would be a bloody improvement.

Absolutely disgusting didn’t enjoy anything we tried & there was 4 of us Would never go back & it cost us just shy of £80

Visited here recently only had one plate of food had stomach cramps and sickness ever since won’t be going bavk

It's a good place to visit ,price ideal if you know you can eat that much but bring back taybarns

do not go here awful and barely edible food, if i had one way to describe it it would be this photo

awful food, staff were decent but the atmosphere was awful ive never felt more uncomfortable.

paid 20 pounds for unlimited food and drink. that price wouldn’t be too bad if the food was good, however every single thing was just stale and overly salty. very disappointing feel like i’ve been robbed of 20 quid.

Used to be one of my favourite places to eat at the Metro. Nowadays, the food seems more bland, the buns literally fall apart when touched. Cost us over £80 for four including refill drinks. Unfortunately, no longer recommend. Never thought I'd see the day!! (Also, please serve your pizzas separated for vegetarians as there isn't much choice).

Nice place and well staffed, friendly. The food was plentiful, however, there was not a lot of regional choice I,e Chinese was rice curry and chow main, no extras other than prawn crackers. Same thing for other regions. It was tasty tho although didn’t feel it was worth £16.99 each. The desserts consisted of fudge cake with custard and three flavours of icecream and pancakes. There was also a variety of cakes but these were clearly shop bought apple pies and Bakewells. All in all the food was nice and hot, but in my opinion, overpriced for the quality.

Well i was thinking about going there today but looking at the reviews better not just go sum where else !!!

I went for food alone today and whilst waiting for a table I had a lovely chat at the front of house with the manager. I believe she is called nikita. I told her I was a little a anxious about eating alone and she was very accommodating in giving me a table at the back instead of right at the very front where the metrocentre traffic passes by. She didn't once show any sign of inconvenience when I declined the seat at the front. It was nice to be given options. Food was wonderful as always, burgers are to die for!! And some of the best I've ever had. Their chilli is also amazing. Staff were friendly as always and promptly collected my plates.

Went here yesterday and have since been vomiting all night alongside my family who also went. Do not eat here.

Food was absolutely rancid, noodles and rice were not cooked and very hard. Tables were not clear and staff just standing round chatting. Won't be back!

We took the grandkid there tonite aged 6 month old, in the time we where there my wife had to take him to get his nappy changed and , this is what she found, the changing mat on a wet dirty floor, how can anyone expect you to change a kids nappy in there , wonder if they would lay on the floor, just for 3 mins,

One place I didn’t enjoy eating at. Only had one plate of food, which for me is nothing. Hardly any taste to What ever I did have. That’s all I’m going to say.

Not a bad buffet place cheap for kids food could be a bit better but for price not bad place

Went today and they overcharged me by £39 our bill was £40 and they had the cheek to not accept a £1 payment ha. By far the worst place I've ate at food was terrible, choice was half arsed and miss matched. The staff were decent how ever when I told one of them how bad it was instead of defending the place he agreed with me and said he doesn't eat there, will never go back totally ruined my childhood memories.

Went there for lunch and jesus crocodiles get a better buffet when migration season occurs. Food was horrible must of been sat there for hours. Worst buffet and won't be going back

Really nice place and not too badly priced for where it is in the metro centre

All the food I tried was terrible

Over priced and I didn't realise a 12 year old was classed as an adult. #ripoff

It was like council estate buffet... less world more croxteth town buffet. Gravy was like piss water, chicken nuggets and curry out of a tin. Maximise profits over quality. If you like nuggets and rustlers go here. Staff where nice though. Owner needs to get a grip on that quality.

I came here yesterday with my gf brother and sister the food has all made us I’ll my gf food hair in her pizza the service was horrendous when I spoke the manager she said we can give you a voucher so you can come for free next time but why would I want that when there food was not cooked correctly the service was horrible this place I would avoid as not worth the £16 you pay

Avoid this place completely Food poisoning to its highest My partner is really not well

The quality of food in this place is absolutely diabolical. I’ve never been to a world buffet before but I’ll certainly be avoiding them in the future. Staff were spot on and where quick to clean the tables.

Lovely food. Well cooked and fresh.

Food was ok. Ran out of custard and cake.

Great food, such a good variety with some options you don't normally get at buffets, such as cheeseburgers.

Not even going to lie the main food was absolutely disgusting snd covered in oil, the chicken in gravy literally tasted like bland much - honestly dave your money and go somewhere else for better value as this was £15.99 and it was rotten

Food wasn’t overly warm. We were sat for 2 hours and the same sausages had sat there the whole time. In 12 hours since leaving (hadn’t eaten anything else since) I then got horrible stomach cramps and sickness. Avoid.

The hot food was only just warm and the dessert cake was very dry

1st time there my hod the last the food is absolutely disgusting, like slop the drinks Area was very dirty. Wouldn’t recommend this place if it was the last place disgusting

The variety of dishes is many and good, but the dessert is not varied. The food is served fresh, but the condition of the spoons and forks is not good at all, they do not look clean, it is better to change them immediately and provide better and cleaner quality spoons, forks and knives.

Maybe these meals will be tastier in the next life 🤔🤪

Food is awful worst I've ever had and the selection is pathetic do know how they can call it world food I have a better choice in my freezer.

I'm vegetarian but still found lots of suitable food. Pleasant staff. Have been several times, would recommend.

Park in the yellow car park and then walk in past the McDonalds and it is there on your left, just before the Popeyes Chicken Store. If I remember correctly, it was £15.00 for Adults and £5.50 for kids up to 12. A very wide selection of food to choose from and the desserts were superb. Finished off with a very large ice pop. Will definatly visit again.

Staff were friendly, plenty of choice of food with trays being topped up throughout our visit. Only negative point was service being a bit slow taking away empty plates. I would return

Absolutely terrible. They never accept to look their menus. Rice egg, i never eat in my life. I gonna vomit. Foods cold, not delicious, no taste. Chickens terrible, there is not more options to eat.

Not the best of choice which is fine definitely not worth the money and the cleanliness of the place wast good food on the floor but the shelf’s and under the food counties full of dust and god knows what els. Will not be coming again which is disappointing as we used to always come when at the metro centre

Really poor choice of food and the quality wasn't great. It'd probably be good for small children who haven't really developed any tastebuds yet but other than that, genuinely very poor and not worth the money in the slightest. The service was decent which is the only saving grace for this place. It even smelled pretty horrific.

Love this place a vast assortment of different food brilliant for both adults and kids

Prices have gone up to much for what you get here now, its £20 for food and a soft drink which is absolutely NOT pepsi like it says on the dispenser, its more like 20p corner shop cola at best The choice of food is poor, Big Lukes used to offer so much more and the food quality hasn't just gone downhill its had a landslide, several of the food serving dishes were empty on arrival today and they didn't refill them during our visit so no chicken and no gammon etc Restaurant was less than half full. Toilets all out of order except the disabled one but dear lord it was absolutely filthy, and I mean everything from the walls ,the floor ,the dryer,the sink everything - absolutely vile.

Never again. Choice is lack of. Curry taste like the stuff you would get out of a tin. Spare ribs is all bone. Burgers were pink. rice was hard. Chips were anemic. Sausages almost raw. Mash potato with lots of lumps in it. It goes on. The food is very rotten and I have had bad guts for days. £15.99 for a buffet of this standard is disgraceful, I will never return.

Good choice of food and all good.staff nice and friendly

Was here less than 15 minutes. The smell was disgusting already putting me off the food. After looking at the food selection I would not call this a “world class buffet” most trays were empty and utensils clearly hadn’t been washed once today. kids running around there was no control. I Will not be returning!

Not particularly good but not bad either.. Lots of choices, good for young kids /families.

Great food first time visiting and fair prices

For a start it’s meant to be a world buffet but there’s not many options food was dry even the brownie. Secondly me and my girlfriend daughter and uncle came in and the women wrote 3 meals and 1 kids meal but my uncle wasn’t having anyway hung as he hasn’t been well so I asked if she could take one adult meal off and she said no he’ll either have to leave or you’ll be charged for a meal that no one is even eating so I’ve had to pay 15 for nothing.

We asked to have a look at the foods but said no. It wasn’t really my type but for try it’s not bad. I don’t like the rice 🍚

Food looked like a school dinner, was awful

If you love the concept of a 'Buffet' AVOID this place You guys owe me 2 days wage for the 2 days I've had to take off after eating at your place thanks a bunch👍🏻

Unbelievably helpfull staff Good food choice really nice helpful staff

Plenty of choice, food was mostly really nice & the kids loved it! Some (not all) of the staff seemed a little bit grumpy.

I don’t know how to begin, because the list of negatives is so big! World buffet?!!! The lack of choice is dismal! Mediocre is too good a word to describe this place! Dismal choice, no flavour, Luke warm at best. We’d spent ages trying to decide where to eat, as you’re spoilt for choice in the metro centre, so we thought we’d eat somewhere where we could have a bit of everything. Big mistake! So overpriced for what you get. I’d avoid this place m, even if you only have one taste bud!!!

There was more English dishes than anything else and the food was not great the best bit was pudding a cherry Bakewell out of a pack

Always brilliant every visit staff really friendly food really good loads to choose from

Not really impressed with not much of choices plus very expensive for no good reason 👎👎

Today, I had my first experience in this restaurant. It's funny that they say they make food from all countries. This is not really good the taste lacks good taste...

If you’re looking for a buffet avoid this place. They had baked beans, mash potato, jacket potatoes, horrible cheap slices of pizza, burnt burgers that insult scran vans, and a couple of curry options. Pointless waste of money

Went last week being new to the north east ihave never heard of big lukes. It reminded me of the Chinese buffets you get all over the uk.. upon walking in we were met by a very nice member of staff & we picked our table / it was empty.. personally, i dont like to eat where people can walk past & watch you eat but thats just me.. There was a lot of food on offer tbh but the plate was tiny so was the glass for drinks but they have to keep costs down i guess, .. still eaten way more sauages thsn is probably the norm 12 😳🙈, . When we went to pay igot 10% discount with a defence discount card,.. i didnt take any pics because i was with work..

Delicious food and great personnel! Thank you for the hospitality!

Oh what an absolute disgrace bar the pizza which wasn't anything special the food is shocking. The poor guys dressed as chefs I would've embarrassed to serve that slop must just at nip to herons or Iceland not there faults the most substandard food I have attempted to eat all cheep rubbish can't believe I actually paid.

Love this place, I went there with my mum, dad, brother and sister and it was honestly so beautiful. Amazing food, going again today

Cheerfull not expensive and something for all

Would recommend over other buffets available in this shopping centre. Great value for money, all of the food that we tried was cooked properly and so much to choose from. The place is nice and clean. If staff could wear something that makes them look like staff, even a lanyard or badge, that would be helpful. I had hoped Big Lukes designers would have ditched the dark and dingy decor with the new premesis, we want to see the food we are putting on our plates. Will be back in future purely for the amount to chose from, convenience & price.

Very cramped for the size of the building, food was Ok, something's better then others but I would recommend this for a nice place to get together with friends.

The food was horrid to filling straight away nothing like American dining. Also to expensive for what we got they were no steak like said.

After visiting Big Lukes a long time ago we decided to go again. The price is pretty reasonable at £15.99 for an adult all you can eat buffet, kids are £5.00. The food ranges from classic British food such as burger and chips, to Chinese noodles, curry or a traditional dinner. In fact most things you can think of the are there. The staff were excellent and friendly, the atmosphere was friendly and there was just too much food to possibly eat. All of which was yummy. Especially the chocolate cake and custard. So if you are in the MetroCentre I highly recommend Big Lukes.

Well you probably won't even reply to this as you'll just be sitting counting your millions you've made from plating up food to people that suffer eating your food! Never in my life Have I seen food like it the most tasteful part is the drink to wash it down prison food taste nicer then yours! Pizza with flour all over it chips that have hair on and the onion rings are more bland then a slice of bread! Never have I been so disgusted by the food the only nice part would be the staff who have to help people that are I'll from the food never again will I take my custom here absolutely disgusting

Limited food offering and quite tight for space meaning relatively long queuing time for drinks machine etc. Food prepared on site. Pizza nice.

If you go here there is plenty of choice of food so you can fill yourself but it all tastes bland. All cheap food cooked and shoved out quickly. No flavour and no care. The only reason I gave it more than just 1 star is because the staff are friendly and helpful.

Staff accommodating however I have to say the food options compared to the Buffetts in Glasgow the choices were rather few and far between only one Indian curry which tasted nothing like a madras and the quality even taking into account it is a buffet so the quality will be on the lower end. This is the bottom level quality. For £15.99 per person comparing it to Glasgow buffets I have to say not worth it.

Out for some food before the cinema and decided to try Big Lukes as the sign said it was a world style buffet. When inspecting the hot trays most of them were empty and not being refilled, the trays that did have food in them looked like it had been there for hours, most of the food has dried out and was chewy. It says it was a world buffet but there was nothing there to suggest world type foods there was pizza and pasta which is Italian but other than that everything else was stinking and cold. In my head world food is samples of food from a whole range of countries not just British and Italian. This is one world buffet I will never recommend nor will I ever return. The staff were unruly teenagers who spent there time in a huddle at the till, and when they did have to clean tables it took four of them to do so If I could write this review i wouldn't be giving them any stars.

goog choice of scrann ie burgers pasta pizza and chicken curry !

Friendly staff, food had no taste.

True it was a busy Saturday during a lunch rush. Staff were busy and fed up but happy to help. But the quality of food was poor and you're jammed in like sardines. And it's overall just not clean

Was here today with my daughter had soup tasted like instant soup tried burger it was burnt the bun was stale tried mashed potato it was instant mash had turkey with gravy it was dry couldnt chew it and the veg was cheap frozen veg it was warm so didnt try anything else we told them we are not paying so we just paid for orange juice we will never go there again ive tried to post but had to give them 1 but there not good enough for 1 cant put zero on

One star is far too generous for the disgusting meal we have just eaten. This is by far the worst place my husband and I have ever eaten in. Our cats eat better than this. The food had no taste, it was cold, there was limited choice, hardly any vegetarian food, and even the pizza that appeared to be being made on site was horrible and tasted like it had been reheated. It states 'homemade' on the sign outside, I can guarantee that no food in this place other than the pizza was homemade, and all tasted and look processed. We are very disappointed that we did not read the reviews before trying this place out. Will never go back and will make sure anyone we know will never eat here. What a waste of money

Poor selection of food nearly everything had peppers in it absolutely waste of 39.00 1st time there certainly won't go back

Not much choice what was out was deplorable, food trays that had ran out were not being replaced and left empty because the staff were watching the football in the kitchen and going on like they were in the pub shouting etc like drunk adults do so my kids were nervous getting up and getting food.

Great place not been in years will be back again.

Went for lunch put prices up thought must of added something new because of price no food gone right back complained as coleslaw was off girl came back and said was only made fresh today was definitely off!

If I could leave a zero star I would. The only edible thing there was the cherry bakewells that came out of a packet and even then were on the brink of turning stale. No care from staff at all. Perhaps if the staff cared more there’d be a better quality of food. One stars is generous. The Chinese selection of “stir fry noodles” and “fried rice” was questionable and can assure you the taste wasn’t even there. Wouldn’t wish this on my worst enemy. Good luck to whoever doesn’t read the reviews first

Great service, average food for an all you can eat. Cheap and cheerful