プリンスホテルの朝食ビュッフェ : Restaurant Azelia

[b: <Cuisine>] [b: ■Breakfast Buffet] A fusion buffet featuring both Japanese and Western dishes. Unlike dinner time, no reservations are needed, and guests are seated on a first-come, first-served basis. This year, my personal highlight is the omelet made fresh right in front of you. It's not like the Hilton where you can choose your favorite fillings; it's just plain. However, you can select from different sauces, though I was a bit disappointed to find fewer options than last year. The onigiri (rice balls) made right in front of you and the corner for enjoying them as ochazuke (rice in tea) are still available. Of course, the rice is the premium Koshihikari from Minami Uonuma. The "Spicy Garlic Oil and Kaki no Tane" topping sold at the shop on the first floor pairs perfectly with the rice... I couldn't resist buying some to take home. There are six types of bread available, along with two kinds of butter and jam. Fruits include bananas, apples, mandarins, and grapes. On this day, the smoothie was made with green leaves and bananas. Disposable cups are provided, so you can take your coffee back to your room to enjoy after your meal. I booked a plan that includes breakfast, so I'm not sure of the exact price, but I think it was around JPY 3000 per person. With a wide variety of dishes available, it's great to be able to sample a little bit of everything.

[b: <Cuisine>] [b: ■Dinner Buffet… JPY 6000, tax Included] It feels like the glamour has diminished over the years, but the classic roast beef, cut right in front of you, is still going strong this year. Somehow, I still found this to be the most delicious dish of the year. Additionally, this year featured a delightful selection of seafood dishes, including salmon temari sushi, smoked salmon marinated, seafood carpaccio, and shrimp marinated with kanzuri seasoning. The rice, as always, is the stable and delicious Minami Uonuma Saltzawa Koshihikari from Shojiro. There’s an interesting machine that automatically cooks pancakes, but the taste is just average. I’m glad that the bread corner still offers butter instead of margarine. This is only during the winter season, but the fireworks after night skiing have been scaled down, which slightly reduces the benefits of reserving a room with a view of the slopes. While you can ski down to the Dragon Gondola, it’s disappointing that you have to take a bus back since the lift stops. The hotel’s location right in front of the slopes is great, and there are plenty of courses to choose from, along with high-quality staff. However, I really hope it can return to the pre-COVID hotel experience.

[b:＜Cuisine＞] [b:■Breakfast Buffet (Adults JPY 3000, Children JPY 2000)] ・Omelet [cooked right in front of you upon order] ・Omelet sauces (Mushroom cream sauce, Caponata sauce, Ragù sauce, Ketchup) ・Cheese ・Ham ・Sausage ・Bacon ・Thick omelet ・Scrambled eggs ・Pumpkin simmered ・Grilled salmon ・Grilled mackerel ・Onigiri [made fresh right in front of you upon order] ・Ochazuke [prepared fresh right in front of you upon order] ・Rice (KoshiHikari rice from Minami-Uonuma, Shojiro rice) ・Miso soup ・Butter roll ・Croissant ・Pain au raisin ・Pain au chocolat ・Cereal roll ・Belgian waffles ・Butter ・Jam (Strawberry, Blueberry) ・Maple-flavored syrup ・Banana ・Orange ・Pink grapefruit ・Apple ・Cocktail fruits ・Yogurt ・Strawberry sauce ・Frosted sugar ・Smoothie ・Tea bags (10 varieties including black tea and herbal tea) ・Hot coffee ・Assorted soft drinks (Coke, Calpis, Ginger Ale, Fanta, Kirin, Minute Maid, etc.) The classic hotel morning experience of an omelet cooked right in front of you is always uplifting. While I usually prefer the Hilton’s omelet where you can specify the ingredients, this one offers three sophisticated sauces that leave me quite satisfied. The bread may not be made from scratch, but the variety is delightful, and drenching a warmed Belgian waffle in maple-flavored syrup transforms it into a delicious dessert. The smoothie from the fruit station was also tasty. I appreciated that take-out cups were provided, allowing me to bring coffee back to my room—a small yet satisfying detail. This might also improve table turnover for the hotel. Although the menu may not be particularly impressive, I feel it is sufficiently satisfying.

[b:＜Cuisine＞] [b:■Dinner Buffet (Adult JPY 6000, Child JPY 4000)] Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, I hadn't been here in four years. - Roast Beef [sliced right in front of you upon order] - Parmesan Cheese Pasta [tossed with Parmigiano-Reggiano at the station] - Prince Hotel Original Curry (NAEBA Style) - Cod with Cheese Breadcrumbs [Adults only, one piece per person] - Hamburg in Tomato Sauce [Children only, one piece per person] - Fritters made with Rice Flour and Craft Beer (shrimp, maitake mushrooms, onions, etc.) - Snow Country Maitake Quiche - Small Shrimp Cocktail - Mozzarella Cheese - Tomato Caponata Pizza - Snow Country Maitake and Kagura Nanban Pizza - Assorted Salads - Braised Chicken Wings - Fried Chicken - Takoyaki - Soup (about 2 varieties) - Tonjiru (pork soup) - Rice (Koshi Hikari from Minami Uonuma, Shojiro rice) - Kiryu Yeast Rolls (Whole Wheat) - Ciabatta - Cereal Loaf - Butter - Jam (Strawberry, Blueberry) (Aladdin Toaster available) - Tsunan Carrot and Orange Crêpe Suzette [finished right in front of you upon order] - Panna Cotta with Strawberries - Tiramisu decorated with Le Recheche - Apple Cake - Matcha Roll Cake - Grapefruit Jelly - Cocktail Fruits - Soft Serve Ice Cream - Vanilla Cookies - Snowball Cookies - Oranges - Pineapples - Tea Bags (about 10 varieties of black and herbal tea) - Hot Coffee - Assorted Soft Drinks (Coke, Calpis, Ginger Ale, Fanta, Kirin, Minute Maid, etc.) This is the menu, as far as I can remember. I was disappointed that there was no crab, but I've noticed that crab has become scarce at other hotel buffets recently as well, so it may be unavoidable. At least the classic

[b:＜About the Restaurant＞] Located in the Naeba Prince Hotel, in the restaurant area between the first and second floors, you'll find the entrance by climbing the stairs from the first floor. You cannot move horizontally from the restaurant floor of Building 2. During breakfast and dinner buffet times, seating is unreserved. To the immediate right of the entrance are seats with a view of the slopes, while the left-hand side has seats overlooking the parking lot. You can keep your seat by placing a plate given at the entrance that indicates you are dining on your table. Return the plate to the staff at the entrance when you leave. ・Seating Arrangement Table seats... 450 seats ・Smoking / Non-Smoking All seats are non-smoking all day. [b:＜Cuisine＞] [b:■Dinner Buffet (Adults JPY 5000, Children JPY 3000)] [b:・Snow Crab ・Sweet Shrimp ・Japanese Roast Beef ・Shabu-Shabu of Niigata Prefecture's Kogane Pork ・Grilled Chicken Thigh in Salted Rice Malt ・Herb-Flavored Poached Salmon ・Potato Gratin ・Deep-Fried Nigi with Sweet Vinegar Sauce ・Sesame Soy Sauce Chicken ・Prosciutto Salad ・Seafood Marinade ・Japanese Radish with Yuzu Flavor ・Fried Rice ・Mini Meat Buns ・Fresh Vegetable Salad (Lettuce, Cherry Tomatoes, Onion Slices, Radish Sprouts, Radish, Beans, etc.) ・Carrot Orange Marinade ・Nozawana Pickles ・Pickled Napa Cabbage ・Tochio Age【Local Niigata Cuisine】 ・Noppe Ni【Local Niigata Cuisine】 ・Karaisu Ke【Local Niigata Cuisine】 ・Kirisai【Local Niigata Cuisine】 ・Soy Sauce-Infused Beans【Local Niigata Cuisine】 ・Nima-ni【Local Niigata Cuisine】 ・Steamed Rice ・Soba ・Miso Soup ・Butter Rolls ・Croissants ・Pain au Chocolat ・Strawberry Shortcake ・Soufflé Cheesecake ・Fruit Roll Cake ・Chocolate Cake ・Panna Cotta with Blueberry Sauce ・Mango Pudding ・Lacteo Orange Cake ・Rare Cheesecake ・Roll Cake with White Peach (Custard Flavor) ・Roll Cake with Apple (Cinnamon Flavor) ・Purple Sweet Potato Dumplings ・Fruit Almond Tofu ・Hokkaido Soft Serve Ice Cream (Cup or Cone) ・Boiled Azuki Beans ・Fruit Sauce (Strawberry) ・Five-Flavor Spray ・Chocolate Fondue ・Colorful Marshmallows ・Mini Cream Puffs ・Cotton Candy ・Mandarin ・Melon ・Pineapple ・Cheese Baked Pork Tenderloin with Tomato Sauce【Kids' Corner】 ・Chicken Karaage【Kids' Corner】 ・French Fries【Kids' Corner】 ・Chicken Rice【Kids' Corner】 ・Sauce Fried Noodles【Kids' Corner】 ・Coca-Cola ・Calpis Water ・Calpis Soda ・Ginger Ale ・Fanta ・Orange Juice ・Oolong Tea ・Iced Coffee ・Hot Coffee (3 Varieties) ・Hojicha ・Sencha ・Tea (Lipton) ・Earl Grey Tea ・Chamomile Blend] The HP indicated that dinner hours were from 17:30 to 20:00, but during the busy ski season on a holiday weekend, our restaurant guide given at check-in stated it was actually from 17:00, and it opened right at that time. The night skiing hours on the slopes in front start at 17:00, meaning the all-day lift ticket is valid until 17:00. So, I thought it would be less crowded at 17:00 even during the busy season and arrived 10 minutes early, only to find over 10 people already waiting in line. However, that was just the start; it didn’t get overwhelmingly busy afterwards, as it seemed most people preferred to ski until just before dinner and change in their rooms. By the time we left around 19:00, the seats were nearly filled. Dishes were promptly restocked whenever they ran low, so there was no concern about the all-too-common issue at budget hotels where late arrivals find no food left… I might have enjoyed skiing a bit longer. However, the handmade cakes served from 11:00 – 14:30 at JPY 500 per slice (located in a glass showcase, served by the staff) are limited in quantity and sold on a first-come, first-served basis. So, if you are aiming for those, arriving early is worthwhile. During dinner service, a single slice is cut in half (for JPY 250 per serving). The Strawberry Shortcake and Fruit Roll Cake were delicious, though I thought the hotel pricing of JPY 500 for double the size was a bit steep. On the other hand, I preferred the moist and rich chocolate cake available in the self-serve dessert corner, which was a commercial frozen cake. Additionally, during the same hours from 11:00-14:30, Hokkaido soft serve ice cream costs JPY 400 per piece and is all-you-can-eat, appealing to soft serve lovers. ...I started with desserts, but it was clear that the popular item was the snow crab. While crab forks are not provided, the crab is pre-cut for easy eating and is of ample thickness. The Japanese Roast Beef, which the staff cuts right in front of you, is pleasantly warm, tender, and delicious. Likewise, the shabu-shabu from Niigata's Kogane Pork, cooked by the staff right before you, is tender, juicy, and flavorful. Local Niigata dishes are also well-represented, which is great for travelers wishing to taste local specialties. Particularly, the 'Nima-ni' made with Kagura Nanban from Yamakoji, Nagaoka City was so delicious that I bought some from the shop on the first floor to take home. While the selection of bread is somewhat limited, they do offer a Balmuda The Toaster for toasting. In the salad topping area, you can find Gran Spicco cheese, Sasagawa aqua salt, Virgin olive oil, and more. These slight luxurious side selections are characteristic of the Prince Hotel experience. The ceiling is low, and with 450 seats, the atmosphere is quite vast and feels reminiscent of a cafeteria, with buffet-style cutlery that lacks any sense of luxury. Since customers are always mingling about in the buffet style, it's not a very calming mood for dining. That said, focusing solely on the food, everything tasted good and was quickly replenished, allowing for warm and cold items to be enjoyed consistently. Considering the dinner price at a hotel during the high season, JPY 5000 per person isn’t bad in terms of cost-performance.