Woodbury will welcome a new “high-end buffet” in the late spring with sushi, Cajun seafood, Korean hot dogs and more.
The owners of Sushi Train, Captain Crab and the Mall of America’s MochiNut are opening “Feast” – a “high-end buffet” that they say promises variety without compromising quality.
Co-owner Kevin Ni says a “high-end buffet” is unlike a family-style buffet. Food won’t be self-serve on trays but instead prepared by chefs in front of the customer and served on individual plates. 17 food bars will feature five or six American-style, Asian, seafood and other cuisines.
“Don’t you want your plate to look much nicer instead of all the food being piled on?” Ni said. “It’s just not as appetizing.”
Ni said the open-concept food court reduces the amount of contact customers have with the food and reduces risk for contamination. It also eliminates the need for tipping, Ni said, because guests will choose their meals and serve themselves.
Everything from the atmosphere to the amenities, options and price is what make Feast “high-end,” Ni said.
The building itself, which will replace the former Cowboy Jacks at 1690 Woodlane Drive, is large enough to accommodate all of the restaurant’s needs, Ni said. That’s why his team chose Woodbury — that, and its proximity to St. Paul.
“We ended up finding that location because Woodbury is actually at the border, but St. Paul is right there, too, and that will draw all the other small communities to Woodbury,” Ni said.
The menu itself will combine items from all of Ni’s teams’ restaurants. Think spiced crab legs, tempura rolls and cheesy potato hot dogs.
“We also have other items that will be on the menu,” Ni said. “Just stay tuned for those right now.”
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Ni said he knows how important diary restrictions are to Minnesotans and is considering making some of the food bars dietary-friendly, gluten-free, vegan, or vegetarian-accommodating.
“How I like to conduct business is actually getting feedback from the consumer,” Ni said. “You tell me what you’re looking for and I’ll see if I can make it happen.”
The restaurant’s guests can expect modern decor, with a dark, elegant color scheme, Ni said, with large and small tables, along with booths and outdoor seating on both sides of the restaurant for parties of various sizes.
Variety is what Ni, a self-proclaimed “food adventurer,” said he searches when he goes out to eat. Variety is what Minnesotans want too, he said.
“It used to be the East Coast and West Coast who’d adapt quite often, but Minnesota has become pretty impressive,” Ni said.
Other special features of the high-end buffet include a party and game room – but don’t think pool table. Instead, Ni imagines a room where people can play video-game consoles such as Xbox and PlayStation.
Feast does not have an official opening date, but Ni anticipates the restaurant to be open by late spring.
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