If You Love Hibachi, You'll Love This Unique All-You-Can-Eat Buffet In Boston

Boston is an underrated food city full of classic dishes you need to try at least once. The North End offers so much quality Italian food, and the seafood is second to none — clam chowder in a bread bowl, anyone? Boston is also full of colleges, people from all cultures and walks of life, and innovative food experiences that aim to please students, families, and everyone in between. One of those places providing unique dining experiences is FiRE+iCE, an all-you-can eat buffet with a twist.

If you went to college in Boston at any point in the last 25 years (like, ahem, this very Tasting Table writer), you've most likely spent a night or two loading up your plate at FiRE+iCE, though the chain has expanded and currently has locations in Anaheim, South Lake Tahoe, and San Francisco. The concept of the restaurant is as follows: FiRE+iCE offers an array of different proteins, vegetables, noodles, sauces, and more. You walk down the line and pick out whatever you want, in whatever ratio you desire. Then, you head to a huge, round grill in the middle of the place, not unlike a hibachi grill, and watch as a chef cooks your dish right in front of you.

You can repeat this process as many times as you want, making your dishes as hearty and complicated or simple and light as you want. Among the ingredients and sauces, several different cuisines are represented, so you can really switch it up from course to course. There's teriyaki, sweet chili sauce, udon noodles, and water chestnuts if you want an Asian-inspired stir fry, but there's also options like mac and cheese, pulled pork, rice and beans, chipotle steak, Alfredo sauce, and Italian sausage (and this list is by no means exhaustive). Whether you want burgers, tacos, pasta, or lo mein, FiRE+iCE is there for you.

While FiRE+iCE is a Boston staple and a fond memory for many of the city's former college students, yours truly included, there are some mixed reviews of the all-you-can-eat chain online. Perhaps as expected from a restaurant attempting to offer so many different cuisines at once, some praise while others lament about food quality and the overall dining experience. It also doesn't help that each diner can combine whatever ingredients they so choose — clearly some combos will work while others may not be as delicious.

"This was my first time here and I had a really great time!" one reviewer wrote on Yelp. "The food was delicious — you get to choose exactly what you want, and they cook it right there for you. The service was excellent too, and I loved watching them prepare our meals. The place was clean and really busy, which is always a good sign! I definitely plan to come back." In contrast, another Yelp reviewer wrote, "Food was mediocre. Nothing special about it ... Service is practically non-existent ... The only thing good I have to say is the cook staff at the grill were friendly and efficient. They did their best to try to cook everyone's food quickly." 

If you're looking for a fine dining experience, FiRE+iCE probably isn't going to cut it. But if you want a fun night out at a place with something for everyone, consider this Boston staple still going strong after 25 years.