Forget preconceptions about buffets being the preserve of cheap decor, stale food and unsatiable appetites.

That’s not the deal at Zucchero. You'll want more and more of the good food this glamorous buffet serves up.

The Venue
Zucchero is postively slick with glamour and its interior decor is a fashionsta's dream. What with its plastic moulded Pantone chairs, black on black damask tiles, long apple-green benches, a wall covered in thin stone tiles, a shiny curved bar, purple paintwork and fresh flowers you'd think you were in an upmarket bar, not a fill your face buffet.

Even the curtains are glamorous - these black velvet lovelies even have a shiny glow. Furniture is cool but functional, so there are square tables that can be rearranged to accomodate couples or large groups, plus a few booths for those looking for a bit of privacy. And the long bench enables you to see the whole room while you eat, and check out when the buffet is not too busy.

The People
Buffet dining conjures up images of people stuffing their faces around canteen-style tables, all gleefully gluttonous because of the cheap prices. Well, Zucchero breaks the mould and it's actually very fashionable.

People dress up to dine, so there's an abundance of small dresses, high heels, smart dinner jackets and clearly a lot of time spent in front of the mirror. Staff are very friendly and accomodating, so you won't feel out of place if you don't look the part.

Young families and elderly couples come here to take advantage of the cheap food as do office parties or groups out for a special occasion. This happy mix creates a lounge bar atmosphere rather than a sedate restaurant and there's even a chance to mingle at the food bar.

The Food
The food shines here, and not with layers of oil. You will really have to re-think your opinion on buffets: Chinese full of MSG? Indian too spicy? Reheated, dry Italian? Zucchero has none of these. It's a world buffet serving the best of Indian, Thai, Japanese, Italian, Chinese and Mexican, all with a delicate taste, fresh ingredients and no excess oil.

Dishes are presented in hot or cold trays and are loosely grouped by country. There are Asian salads, terrific guacamole, sushi pieces, hot curries, and much more. The starters are Far East-inspired with crispy duck, onion bhaji, Thai fish cakes and others.

From the hot counter you can get a variety of different clay-baked pizzas, a selection of fajitas, shish kebabs and tandoori chicken. They also serve vegetable fried rice, beef lasagne, chilli con carne, Thai chicken curry, chicken tikka masala, Thai curry with tofu and, in general, more than you will be able to sample in one meal.

The food is clearly well taken care of for a buffet and if you visit late, the staff may even ask you how you found the food. There is no excessive salt, grease or strange flavours - the only problem here is overindulging!

But if you have room, they also serve a selection of fresh desserts. Pancakes, ice creams, cakes and puddings should fill up any room the buffet couldn't. Not walking away feeling bloated and stuffed is a rare thing indeed.

The excellent thing is that all this isn't going to cost too much. From Monday to Thursday the buffet costs £12, while Fridays and Saturdays is slightly more expensive at £14. It is more than your average buffet but it is worth every penny.

The Drink
One area where Zucchero doesn’t differ from any other buffet is that drinks are overpriced to compensate for the cheap food. If a Guinness at £3.50 is not too out of the ordinary, a glass of juice coming from a carton for £3 will not make it go down very well.

There are ordinary soft and hot drinks available, only a couple of beers and a selection of wines by the glass or by the bottle. But your wallet will be better off if you drink elsewhere.

The Last Word
Zucchero offers gorgeous food with the casual dining of a buffet. You can spend a long time here grazing on various international dishes. All this makes it one of the best restaurants in town.

venue information venue map view leicester review user reviews (4) image gallery (5)