Lunch buffet ended? In Date City, Hotel Royal, Restaurant La face offers a weekday lunch buffet for 1230 yen. Please note that it is not held every day, so check the hotel's website for details. The restaurant has a somewhat dated feel and while it is designated as non-smoking, it is not completely smoke-free due to small partitions. The buffet offers a limited selection of dishes, with a focus on meat dishes such as meatloaf, garlic chicken, Chinese-style pork belly, and roast pork, as well as ratatouille, ramen salad, chicken curry, two types of fish dishes, kinpira, salad, cold soup, and more. There is also a decent variety of desserts and drinks for the price. During my 30-minute visit, the restaurant was not crowded, and I was able to enjoy my meal in a relaxed atmosphere. Overall, considering the price, it was a decent experience.

【Revisited in December 2011】I visited on a weekday in early December. Actually, I didn't intend to come here, but the nearby restaurant I originally planned to visit was still preparing. Around 12:30, it was mealtime but only about 30% of the customers were there. It was spacious and easy to eat, but I couldn't help but worry if the business could sustain with such few customers. The variety of dishes was abundant, mostly Chinese, with similar flavors and overly salty taste. I couldn't finish some dishes due to the saltiness, so I had my companion finish them. However, the standout delicious items were the lettuce, tomatoes, and cucumbers. It might sound like I'm joking, but they were really delicious! I even had seconds. The fried shrimp with mayonnaise sauce was crispy, flavorful, and delicious. The coffee Bavarian cream was also outstanding, so I had seconds of that too. The milk was rich and very tasty. My companion enjoyed dishes like penne, pilaf, and kishimen, which were decent. Perhaps, Western dishes are slightly better than Chinese here. I've thought before, but maybe they should focus on quality over quantity and reduce the menu items. A smaller selection priced around 980 yen might attract more customers. This is not a suggestion to the restaurant, though (laughs). This is a recommended place for those who love fresh vegetables. However, in terms of satisfaction, 1280 yen (or 1260 yen) might be a bit high. 【First visit in December 2009】A long time ago, an acquaintance said, "Everything at Royal is delicious," so I had been wanting to visit for a while. The lunch buffet seems to be only available on weekdays, and I happened to have the chance to go. However, this was about a year ago. I searched for "Hotel Royal" and since it wasn't on Tabelog, I didn't post a review. It was around noon, and it wasn't too crowded. The restaurant was spacious, with enough distance between tables for a relaxing atmosphere. It was nice to have the menu properly introduced. Since it was December, there were Christmas decorations on each table. I had high expectations for the food, so I was a bit disappointed that it wasn't as great as I thought, but for around 1280 yen, it was acceptable for a buffet. However, compared to the lunch buffet at Muroran Prince Hotel Marina, which ranges from 840 to 950 yen, I honestly think the taste is slightly inferior. (Although the ingredients here may be somewhat better.) Since my acquaintance's evaluation was almost 20 years ago, the chef may have changed. The variety of dishes was satisfying. The vegetables were delicious, as expected in Date. I was a bit unsatisfied with the desserts. Looking at the menu, there were three items, but there were also missing items (pumpkin muffin). If there were a few more selling points, I would revisit, but if it remains the same as it was then, I'm not sure. It seems a bit too expensive for a working person's lunch and only available on weekdays... it's a bit half-hearted. It might be enjoyable for neighboring housewives' weekday dining gatherings, but I think enhancing the dessert selection would increase the appeal to customers. 【Additional】After seeing the photo of my own review posted, I thought, "I shouldn't complain after eating this much!" (laughs) I've definitely gotten my money's worth.