I was meeting up with some friends for a few days in Cardiff, Wales and it fell down to me to investigate all you can eat, or buffet style restaurants, for one of meals.  I've found  indian and chinese all you can eat restaurants, as well as more traditional pubs serving a carvery in Cardiff.

I thought this would make a good hub as this information took me about 5 hours to research and scibble down! Now it's a hub, I can just email the list to everybody so we can choose which one would be best, whether that's based on price or day/time.

So, now my all you can eat restaurant list for Cardiff is complete, I hope others can make use of it.

One thing I learnt along the way is there's also a Cardiff in New South Wales, Australia ... but the other side of the world wasn't really on our agenda! The all you can eat restaurants below are definitely in Cardiff, South Wales, United Kingdom.

If you know of any others, feel free to add them to the list!

With a carvery pub, you will often buy just a ticket from the waitress or at the bar, then you'll make your way to where the chefs are standing.  They'll ask you which of the roast meats you want, then they'll slice it off in front of you and hand you a plate.  Some carveries will carve you two meats, some only one.  Usually, you'll find they have three roasts available, chicken, beef and pork, although there will be variations.  A Christmas carvery will usually have a turkey.

Once you have been handed your plate, you then help yourself to the selection of vegetables and gravy, taking as little or as much as you like. 

Some carveries will allow you to return to the veg selection and help yourself further; some are a "one visit only" rule.  You should check with the chef or waitress to find out which it is.  In my opinion, those that let you go back as often as you like would find that people don't take as much - because you know you can go back if you want, you won't load your plate so high the first time.  I struggle to finish my first selection.

Most carveries will be just for the one, main course, however there are some which will be offering two courses, or even three in the package. 

Typically, these tend to be indian or chinese buffet style restaurants.  Usually you will be allowed to return as often as you want to the selection of foods available. 

There are some all you can eat restaurants now that will actually take your order and you can order what you want and they will bring it to you, but the majority of buffet style restaurants will simply have a long table, from which you can choose what you want.

The selection of dishes available will vary greatly from restaurant to restaurant.  Some will have just 8-10 dishes available, which others have 20+.  Most of the time there is no clue as to what they will have when you see the sign or advert, they will simply announce "All You Can Eat Buffet", so if you're picky, or with picky eaters, it's worth asking ahead and being sure there will be enough for everybody. 

Some all you can eat restaurants offer great value for money, but if you are a vegetarian with a small appetite you might actually find it's an expensive way to eat out.  All you can eat buffets though are great for groups of people because it's one cost (drinks will be charged extra though) and the buffet style servings will give you the chance to try out dishes you'd have never committed to if you'd had to choose just one.

If you're looking for a Christmas Carvery, then of the places listed above, the Hollybush are serving a Christmas Carvery from 1st to 31st December for just £5.00.

Christmas Day costs more obviously, at £29.99 for adults and £14.99 for children under 10. Christmas Day needs to be booked.

Christmas Eve, Boxing Day and New Year's Eve cost just £7.95/head for the 3-course carvery.

Here are the details for the Christmas Carvery at the Hollybush: http://www.crowncarveries.co.uk/our-menus/christmas-menu.html

It could be ideal for getting friends or family together, or even for your office Xmas Party!

Photos by:

Roast Beef Dinner: robbie_jim
Christmas Pudding: Steve & Jemma Copley
All You Can Eat: WikiMedia Commons