JRC Global Buffet in Cardiff

excellent chinese buffett. lots of fish n prawns. we love squid and it was lovely here. highly recommend

Lovely place for family gathering or just a treat

Nice restaurant, very tasty food, good prices, a bit to dark in the areas with no windows.

No smile at any point from any staff, no welcome, very poor choice of food and even worse quality and temperature, far too many rules and signs ranging from age and height restrictions to not tolerating abuse of the staff, very strange view when first up the stairs of a few board with 'do not touch' labels on them and some strange plastic food, odd barriers to get in which felt like an airport and the guy who sat us didn't say a word and just handed us two glasses instead of putting them on our table. To be kind I've given two stars but I'd almost rather have got a tesco sandwhich and sat on a bench. Never again.

A good selection of food slightly limited in is range of Asian foods, but because they also do pizza and salad as well. However the desserts are the best I have seen in a buffet. Cheesecake, Eton mess, ice cream in tubs and fruit. They also have a refillable sorry drink option. And amazing hedgehog bao buns All in all a top evening out in Cardiff Bay

Very disappointed to be honest, the food wasn't too bad but it was cold. On the other side deserts were worm. No joy

The price and the food was good enough, staff were nice, but the toilets need some attention! The lighting in the toilets were not great. The taps were so annoying, those that you have to press or the water won’t come out which is not nice nor hygienic.

It's a great place to be with nice meals 😋

Can here for my sons 21st, staff very friendly food was good but some needed attention, icecreams were all melted and food not hot enough. Deserts were lovely. Kids enjoyed there evening. Such a shame about the toilets, you couldn't sit too close to the toilet as that would be all you could smell. Hopefully all sorted by our next visit.

Worst place I have ever been too. The staff was terrible, rudest staff I’ve ever met they just make you feel uncomfortable, messed up our group, didn’t give us cups so we had to run around to find someone to give us the cups we paid for, gave us water cups instead without telling us to fill them with water then made us pay extra for putting pop in the water cups without telling us anything. 3 staff would just stand by our table and stare at us the whole time we were eating until we left. The food was tasteless and just not good for how much it costs. The floors were so sticky you stick to them when you walk and the bathrooms have almost no lights so you can’t even see in there. Go somewhere else this was a terrible experience for my trip to Cardiff.

Lovely setting but being sat in a really dark corner wasn't very nice. Food was good but I didn't find that much selection for the price?!

Lovely place, my daughter thought it was amazing

Been loads of times before food standard has gone down hill and the price has gone up a lot..... Wouldn't recommend

Front of house staff so rude. Over priced. My daughter just turned 13 and because she is tall charged her for adult price. My daughter is not a big eater anyway and literally ate 3 mouth fulls as she hated the food. There was no understanding or reasoning it’s based on height and not age which isn’t fair at all. The food was tasteless, tables were stinking and full of sauce which hadn’t been cleaned Would NEVER recommend or return

Cold plates...tepid food.... unfortunately it was not as good as previously experienced.....tepid food..cold plates not good.

Food was OK for buffet, budget menu, get what you pay for kind of deal.

First time here, wouldn't rush back!

I found the food here rather bland, no taste, it's a so so buffet. I found the soft drinks abismoul, so watered down, they must have a massive profit margin. Would I recommend No, would I go again? No.

Love this place. The range of food is the best anywhere in Wales. The staff are amazing and go out of their way to make your visit great . Price wise I've never found a place to beat it.

Really bad experience, the food was cold and the worst thing is that when you are paying 25 pounds for meal,I think they should include soft drink in that,but it was not, and I struggle to get water also. That's insane.... not worth it...

Food is very good for a busy buffet... warm plates, heated. I'm more than happy to go back..

Great staff...poor quality of food

When did a meal with the wife, both enjoyed the food, and know we over eat has we was leaving the place, would return

wouldn’t even come back for the free meal 27£ rip off man feels half dead

This is the place we come to when it's a family birthday, Good choice of food and the kids can try new things

Very disappointed with this restaurant we go there every couple of months and were not treated well by the receptionist . There was a terrible sewage smell coming from toilets and the whole place has declined not worth visiting again not the same as it used to be .

I have dined at many buffets in the UK, including Birmingham, Leamington Spa, Swansea, Swindon, and Cardiff, but the JRC buffet did not meet expectations compared to others I have experienced. Here are the reasons: * Most of the non-vegetarian food items were not served hot. After my first plate, I felt less inclined to eat more. (I am not sure if this happened on the day of my visit, but when I went with my family, we were completely disappointed.) * Plates were not cleared from our table, not even once. Each time, we had to place our used plates on vacant tables, which was disappointing and made us feel like leaving soon

cold food. seriously unedible. they offered to warm up my indian and my partners sea food. no thanks, we had a refund and left

Amazing food and such a great selection of different cuisine. Definitely get you monies worth

We used to love coming here. Gave it one more try then realised it’s gone down hill! £95 for 3 adults and half price do or a child, 3 drinks … food not upto the standard it used to be! Not being replenished, empty dishes left on the hot plates…

Food selection was incredible, everything tasted amazing, could be a little warmer in heat but all in all a fab experience here, definitely recommend

Held a party here , the food was amazing , the place was very clean and busy!

Dreadful food, awful customer service, horrible atmosphere, avoid if possible

Avoid we came as a family the other day and everyone of us who had eaten there that day have all come down with severe vomiting !

Excellent variation of food. Love it

Really lovely food and lots of choice. Great offer of free meal if it's your birthday. Fairly busy for a Monday night.

Family birthday meal. Everyone enjoyed it.

Good food, plenty of choice, but there was a strange feeling that the staff was waiting for us to leave.... As soon as we got up, someone ran over with a cloth and took care of other customers.

The meat is so hard. I feel sick

Je dirais que le service étais plus que désagréable.....on est déranger toutes le 2 min sans avoir terminé nos assiettes. Les toilettes une horreur j'en dirais pas plus.😡 Pour le prix on ne peux pas dire que ça mérite....aucunement. 24 pounds par personne. Je déconseille vivement.

I visited after work where I meet family who had been to the theatre. The service was poor on arrival, unfriendly and limited staff available to help. The food is OK, however some things will were warm not hot, while some was very dry, I guess that's the risk of buffet. They seemed a grubbiness to it the toilets seemed to have the lights off or low so you couldn't see how clean they were. The decor was dated. The lift was out of order so one party carried their member in a wheelchair up from the ground floor to the first probably bout 60 steps or so... 😢They were not advised on booking this 😡 In my opinion it's expensive for poor food quality but a wide choice... Not really worth it!

ABSOLUTELY TERRIBLE !!! Went around 4:30pm which is when they open for dinner and there was absolutely zero atmosphere or even a bit of music to help with the awkward silence. There’s a very limited range of boring foods and to top it off every item we ate was lukewarm at best. Paid £52 for myself and partner and everything was dreadful. As someone who works in hospitality i dont understand how every item of food was cold as soon as the doors were open for customers. The food was clearly leftovers from the previous day and was left to stay under a heat lamp to “warm up” rather than hot fresh food for the customers that PRE PAID before getting to their table.

So first thing is the quality of the food is super low, curries are extremely watered down, meat severed over the Japanese counter is tough and rubbery, the ice cream is just plagues with ice crystals, although the place is marketed as a global buffet, it's extremely limited, they have gradually removed options over the years and it shows. Cutlery and plates are generally greasy, the plates especially at the base Been going to this place on and off for years but last nights visit will be our last for sure

It’s a bit annoying they don’t do lunches. The prices they charge are ridiculous. It’s not worth the price. I’d pay max 20. The fact that they charge for the drinks separately as well is outrageous. The receptionist at the front is very quiet and I couldn’t hear what she was saying. The cutlery was dirty

Won’t recommend , Sushi is gone, there is no top up. Seeing staff pressing their phones while working.got a lot of food is gone ,no staff top up .very disappointed.no value for £22

Lots of variety of good quality food

Not a patch on other buffet restaurants. Food was bland. Really disappointed

Mixed Bag at JRC Global Buffet Cardiff: Tasty Food, Freezing Night My wife and I ventured out to JRC Global Buffet Cardiff for her birthday, initially drawn in by the free meal offer and potential variety. While the food itself was decent and offered a good selection, the overall experience was unfortunately let down by several factors. Positives: Tasty food: I'd commend the quality and variety of the food. Plenty of dishes across different cuisines were well-prepared and flavorful, offering something for both of our palates. Decent selection: From Asian favorites to Western staples, the buffet spread was extensive enough to keep us interested and exploring different options. Free birthday meal: It was a nice gesture to offer my wife a free meal on her birthday, adding a positive touch to the evening. Negatives: Broken drinks machine: Unfortunately, the disappointment started early. The unlimited drink top-up we paid for was rendered useless as the machine was out of order the entire night. No apologies or alternative beverage options were offered, leaving us with only water and juice (not ideal for a birthday celebration!). Freezing temperature: The restaurant was uncomfortably cold throughout our meal. We huddled in our coats, trying to enjoy the food while shivering, which significantly impacted the ambiance and comfort level. Lack of alternative solutions: When we raised concerns about the broken drinks machine and the cold temperature, the staff's response was underwhelming. They didn't offer any apologies or proactive solutions, leaving us feeling unheard and slightly frustrated. Overall: Our experience at JRC Global Buffet Cardiff was a mixed bag. While the food and selection were decent, the broken drinks machine, freezing temperature, and lack of alternative options from the staff significantly overshadowed the positives. I'd say it's suitable for a quick, budget-friendly meal if you're not expecting a top-notch dining experience or are adaptable to potential hiccups. However, if you're looking for a comfortable and enjoyable birthday celebration, you might want to explore other options.

Lukewarm food, plenty of it mind and lots of choice, probably not busy enough for them to keep it hot, which is a shame as what they had tasted nice

I have been to quite a few of these places and I found the London one okay. Unfortunately most of these are on the first floor and are extremely difficult for senior citizens to climb up and enjoy the food. Unfortunately, the Lifts are there only for cosmetic purposes, since I have found them out of service in most of the places. A few of the food items did not seem fresh. The Indian food section did not have the real Indian taste. They seemed more bland than ever. I did try to ask for some hot chilies oil to try to make them a little more Indian spicy, but couldn’t find any help either. Because the place seemed a little short staffed. Nonetheless I think I still managed to enjoy and thank you again.

Food standards have dropped in recent visit, I've dined there fairly regularly as the kids enjoy however went with the family on Christmas eve and was disappointed in the food quality, all the dishes where watery and it was limited - for what it costs we will be trying somewhere different next time - Staff as always where very prompt with removing plates.

Excellent my children and I we love the place we bein there so many times

Not the best, food dry and small amonts of each, not very busy so guess they were not replenishing with fresh.

Great food, a variety of choices of food and drinks and plenty of space that you can bring all the girls/boys you “dm’ed” in instagram for a group date. The big bangers were the Chinese and Indian cuisine, give them chefs a pat on the back. Would come back here in a much better attire as I came here wearing a tracksuit and a hoodie and my partner said “you went back to the motherland.” Which I have no idea what he means??

Was a great place for a large group.

Had been to this place on my mates birthday and we were fairly satisfied with the overall experience. Had a variety of choices for non-vegetarians and would definitely suggest to try king prawns and noodles. Recommended to visit on the weekdays as it was very busy on the weekend.

I would personally not call this a “global” buffet. You pay before you go around the corner and no wonder they do this as around the corner is barely a “buffet” !! It has Indian, Chinese, Fish, Salad and Pizza. That’s it. The food was OK. The curry dishes were like soup/water absolutely gross. Garlic bread was dry as anything. I understand it’s a buffet and food is left out however you’d still expect it to be half decent. The ribs were SUPER tough to get off the bone. The Profiteroles were soggy, didn’t even eat them after one small bite. Not sure what was in the onion rings but looked more like fish than onion… The drink refill machine also did not work so paid for “refill” drinks that’s we could not even have. (I asked for a refund and they did refund us for our drinks) Would not recommend, there are far better places to have a meal for £22. I compare this to Za Za Bazaar in Bristol which is 10000% better in my opinion.

Food tasted quite average.. also the area that we sat was too dark and they wouldn’t let us change the seat even there wasn’t full at all..

Good choice of food, not as Chinese centered as Cosmo was. Descent quality.

Had the rable I requested when I ordered. Food is always enjoyable and we enjiyed a family meal and mybhubbys 40th birthday there . My husband ate free because it was his birthday so it dudnt seem so dear then.

Great staff, food Great, definitely a try if you're in the Cardiff area 😀 No wheelchair access available 😢

From one of the best experience ever I have

A wonderful mix of food for all different tastes, tables cleared promptly

At reception my experience felt like I was at the airport going through customs. Not very customer service friendly. No genuine smiles. The man who checked our tickets when we purchased them gave orders to stand over there! etc. (Not very child friendly, I didnt notice any high chairs for infants either, unless you have to request one... Cutlery: no small forks.... only tiny plastic spoons, weren't suitable for 3 to 7 year old children to eat with. The toilet area sinks were too high for smaller height children to wash hands, no safe step provided and the toilets weren't very clean).

Large place, excellent choice on the buffet and food stations. Standard quality as you'd expect. Don't sit near the bathrooms as they were smelly

Food is very good, but the drinks were expensive.

It is a nice place for prayers and worship, especially for Catholic Christians.

Really good food. Loads to choose from. Loved the different bits and deserts were really good. I can guarantee there will be something there for everyone's appetite. Will go again soon.

It was a Monday so very quiet, but food quality was just poor. On warmers too long, king prawns were like mush. I would not go in the week again.

Lovely variety of food. Excellent lamb curry, seafood platter and a surprisingly very tasty crab dish. As usual good choice of fruit and dessert to complete the meal. For the amount and variety of food available I felt the pricing was very reasonable.

Great food, variety is huge something for everyone.

Very basic selection lots of items not replenished quick enough , no music or atmosphere, several of the dishes appeared to be watered down

The best thing is your steak is cooked in front of you. It was delicious

Myself and my wife went for the first time in Cardiff Bay, at this Buffet. We were a bit weary considering the reviews from other visitors there. After checking in and paying around £56 for 2, drinks included, we've been taken to our table. The first one was a bit wobbly, so we chose another one. The food choice was massive, with more or less all the trays full or being filled constantly by the staff there. The taste was as expected, good and fresh. Including the mussels and the prawns. The noodles fantastic, the buns fresh and tasty. And let's not forget about the dessert and fruits. Oh my lord! Well that's something I wouldn't recommend in excess as they had a lot to choose from and tasty. Too tasty actually.

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Awesome food. Great service and help from staff, brilliant receptionist Lucy!!! The range of food was amazing and the prices are reasonable. Desserts are delicious and don't forget to leave some rooms for them. Definitely will be coming back though I do recommend that you book in advance to claim the free birthday meal! Loved and would recommend.

Visited on a Sunday after a walk around the bay, first impression was that it is a large open plan space with as many tables crammed in as possible, we were a party of four so had a side table near the windows which was better than sitting in the centre surrounded by screaming children. The food was fine, not the best buffet food but then I've had worse, a good wide selection for everybody. The poorly behaved children were a nuisance, they'd trashed the desert area and were freely helping themselves to far too much food that appeared to mostly end up on the floor. This isn't the restaurants fault but perhaps it is the kind of place that attracts adults who allow their kids to run riot with no regard for other diners. Overall our meal was fine, food was ok but poorly behaved children spoilt our visit a little so I doubt we would return.

Visited the restaurant with family, chose this place as it was convenient to cater to each taste. The atmosphere of the restaurant is awful as they have crammed as many tables in as possible. The buffet was poor, very poor quality food, many of which were cold or stale. The main disappointment came from how the manager dealt with our complaint, he did not apologies for our awful experience and when we told him we were unhappy to pay full price for all of the meals (which we did not touch), he refused to compromise or knock anything off the bill. Not worth your time .. An absolute budget restaurant, will not visit again.

I re-visited JRC for a friend's birthday despite being hesitant to do so since my previous experience was awful, and it has only got worse. Cardiff Bay has much nicer places. AVOID.

I used to visit this location when it was Cosmo. Had some terrific food there over the years. Going back last weekend I noticed the name change, but decided to give it a go anyway. Inside it looks identical to Cosmo, but that is where the similarity ends.The buffet available was extremely poor, not a great selection and everything was extremely bland. Even the steak from the teppanyaki bar was tasteless and tough.Honestly, don't waste your time. Cardiff Bay has many nicer alternatives than this.

The owners of JRC global buffet should be ashamed. At first eating there seemed like an amazing idea as the building was beautiful. However, the food tasted like it had been left for three weeks and was not appetising to say the least. The majority of the food was cold and not worth eating due to the appalling taste of their vile concoctions. The staff at first appeared satisfactory but then when I asked "what is the best way to eat the crab tidily and politely" I was met with sniggers and the patronising response "you put it in your mouth and use your teeth. " I was absolutely disgusted with how they treated me and will definitely never return. They were lucky I did not ask for a refund! If anyone is planning on eating here, I would recommend you rethink you decision. JRC Global Buffet, you are a disgrace. At least my friends and I managed to make the most of this awful experience so it wasn't a complete waste of time. I did also enjoy the ONLY flavour of jelly.

Always went here when it was cosmo and took both my boys in the afternoon many times there wasn't always a lot of selection as there was in the evening but it was more expensive. Thought we would give it a go since changing over we went on a sat afternoon and was very surprised by the selection of food for an afternoon. Having one child who will eat anything and one who is choosy it was perfect, selection of burgers and all the favourites to go with it that a youngster enjoys! And was very happy with bill I couldn't complain and will be making a return !

Been to the red hot buffet in cardiff city centre which is now owned by jrc. Where do I start apalling not the word. Disgusting levels of cleanliness and food hygiene- plates filthy, floor covered in food, every surface greasy even faeces on Wall of toilet. Food not even edible. Complained to the manager about the conditions service and food to which he responded I know it's 'crap' and also said 'with the general standards it should be shut down' unbelievable. I refused to pay for food but offered to pay for drinks, management then threatened and intimidated me and called the police. Save yourself alot of time and money and stay well away.

When this place opened as Cosmo, the service, food, decor and cleanliness was all pretty efficiently run.Unfortunately standards aren't quite so high these days. The food can unfortunately be tasteless and courses are now eaten on a table full of dirty plates from the previous helpings.Staff aren't particularly happy souls and the toilets are pretty filthy.Such a shame to see standards drop so badly.

Second visit for my Sons birthday dinner.Very good range of dishes on offer, as before.All food (that was supposed to be) was hot, tasty and well kept.Drinks are not cheap, but they are not really expensive either.All in all for £13.99 a head,I think this buffet restaurant is very good value for money, I would recommend.

Well being as it was our first time going there had heard so bad reviews but i must say this is not the case appearance wise looks a bit canteen ish but clean no empty plates and glasses left on tables staff friendly enough food wise wow just so much to choose from and from different countries looked fresh tasted stunning well worth a visit left feeling stuffed and the price of food was surprisingly good to worth every penny give it a try

Ate here for Sunday lunch and was pleasantly surprised. The selection was good ranging from the usuals in a Chinese buffet, to also having some decent indian and japanese dishes.They also have a nice salad bar, good selection of deserts and a live teppanyaki station. As with all these types of restaurant, the quality of the food and cooking does vary: some dishes were over or under done(i found some of the rice to be far too hard to be edible for instance).Overall though we all found different dishes we liked. I would like to see to see their service improve though, such as replacing empty dishes, seating people promptly (we waited a couple of minutes wondering if we were supposed to seat ourselves before someone greeted us) before i would consider it a 5/5 buffet.

Went to the global buffet 8pm on a Friday evening. No atmosphere, very quiet, slow service. The food was cheap and nasty, also looked very tired and run low of a lot of items considering it was dead in there. The chef behind the fish section looked untidy with ripped trousers and constantly touching his face then cooking food without washing his hands. As for the rest of the staff very slow in clearing tables and service, no came to replace drinks had to go to the bar myself, no please or thank you from any staff at all.Will never ever return or recommend anyone to eat in this restaurant. £13.99 a head is a total rip off for the quality of food and service you receive. And flat beer.

Visited here for my birthday. This was my first time here and I was pleasantly surprised. Excellent variety of food. If anything was finished you just ask and it was made for you. Staff were friendly and the place its self was very nice.We did read that if it's your birthday you have a free bottle of wine if you have proof. This is Not true.

I love this place. Travelled from Somerset just to eat here for the evening was a little bit disappointed that when we arrived everything was shutting down and not a lot was available this was around 9pm. But what we did have was good.

Excellent customer service, extra valued food. My family recently visited this restaurant, we were impressed with the tasty variety food and great customer service and hospitality, the whole visit was so warm and unforgettable. Thanks very much JRC! Definitely will come back again and again!

Awful service, miserable staff, food all overcooked, very poor selection, overpriced. Used to be good as Cosmo, but awful as JRC..

If you're looking for buffet food you can't beat this restaurant. The food is replenished frequently and unlike some buffets there is plenty to choose from and the food is not bulked up with vegetables (carrots).Excellent value for money.

There is a great choice of food. There is different types of food available, indian, chinese, burgers, sushi. The food is really tasty. The price is reasonable. The staff are really friendly and helpful. Would recommend to all.

Came here for my son's birthday meal (he loves Cosmos - even though it is now JRC). The food standard is still good for what you pay and as much as you can eat, however it is noticeable that the number of staff around the restaurant has decreased and the the ones remaining are clearly rushed off their feet with little time to deal with any issues you may have - e.g. cutlery shortages. A couple more staff would make a big difference to the experience..

Excellent food and customer service . My family visit this restaurant very often as we love the freshly made and tasty food very much! Every single times they never let us down, not only just brilliant value of food but also superb costumer service, can't recommended even more.

Having been to the JRC Global buffet in Watford this is a poor cousin. The selections of food are predominately oriental with things like burgers and chips as western options (not refreshed regularly though and tough burgers and rolls so hard they bounce!). The price doesn't include a drink whereas the Watford one does. Service was a little abrupt and slow off the mark but overall acceptable.

I wrote a review a couple of years ago on this place. If anything it's worse. Apparently it's under new management. Went here tonight 31/08/16 for my partner s birthday. He likes it because of the sushi. I don't. Really disappointed with choice. Service is good. Drinks still expensive

Food was mediocre, the duck was very chewy my husband can cook it better at home. Had scallops and calamari way toooo fishy (like stinky gone off fish) service was good had a young lady take us to a table 12 of us didn't book a table they were more than happy to accommodate for all of us, only downside we asked for pints of coke we were all given the little bottles, probably go back but not in any particular hurry.

Somewhere we have used on several occasions & have always been happy but this time things seem to have gone downhill. There doesn't seem to be as many staff on duty as there used to be, the range of food on offer seems to have been cut back & quite a lot of the hot food wasn't. A big minus that there was food spelled on the floor when we arrived & was still there when we left. We will be thinking very carefully before going back again