did you know? there's a nice buffet in the bay area? I just love buffets and really wish there were more around. this place doesn't seem to be on people's radars. Cafe Florian has a chill sunday brunch buffet. I like the extra decor and festive vibes during the holidays. I went a week before Christmas and it has the lights and Santa and reindeer figures along the buffet line. it's easy to relax and stay awhile. no rush. just enjoy yourself. there's a calm, unhurried atmosphere that works well for quiet conversations or casual meet ups with a group. There are two large rooms you can sit in. Either the outside lobby where more of the decor and higher ceilings are, or the inside banquet room which has lively tropical music when I went. I sat outside lobby and enjoyed it! food highlights- -dessert bar: so many choices and they were tasty! mango cake, mango cheesecake, chocolate cake, chocolate/vanilla fro yo machine with a sprinkles/toppings bar, fruit tarts (these little guys were a nice treat!) -prime rib! they do run out and takes time to replenish so don't go too late in the day -jumbo cocktail shrimps: these guys are big, eat with cocktail sauce -pork ribs: the meat is so tender and the sauce works very well with it - bottomless mimosa! I just got one glass even though it's bottomless, it's enough for me, just to feel like it's a celebration service was friendly and welcoming. dirty dishes could have been moved away sooner because i would come back with new food but have to juggle placing it on the table with old dishes. maybe they needed more staff. set your expectations appropriately for this is a casual buffet. You can't expect a Vegas style spread, you're in the bay area. good time! read more

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Hands down, worst brunch to date. I watched videos, I read reviews, so when I took that hour drive to Foster City, I just knew this brunch would be worth it. I was wrong, so so wrong. First impression, was that it reminded me of the breakfast buffet at the Embassy Suites. Not bad but for sure not $60 worth. They had freezing cold, almost cold crab that I knew would be cold but when I asked for warm butter, all the could offer was movie theatre margarine, that was so salty and cold, I could eat it at all. Everything, I mean everything was lukewarm if not freezing cold! Could not enjoy the soup, the prime rib or the mash. the mash also had some really thick cheese which, when I tried to pull, it lifted the whole thing off of my plate.... gross. The service was great! Marcia was great and she did everything she could to make us comfortable but at the end, it's not her fault. She was the best part of this process. It did come with bottomless mimosas so I thought that would be the saving grace, but no.... the most tart bottom champagne, not even Andre. This experience was so disappointing and I will never be back. read more

Cafe Florian - Cold crab and oysters - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Foster City, California

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Came here with a friend for for birthday. Made reservations on Open table for the Sunday brunch. It was an ok buffet for brunch. Options for omelets, waffle, carving station, cheese, seafood and some various hot foods. Service was excellent, checked on multiple times and our champagne glasses never empty. We partake in the crab and shrimp. We also sampled some of the hot foods such as seafood pasta, tenderloin, oyster Rockefeller, and fish. Small but extensive selection for dessert. Ample parking and easy reservations. It was ok experience for trying something new. read more

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Came here for the Easter Buffet. The service was fantastic - staff was genuine, professional, and helpful. The spread was excellent - my fave were the crabs, Osso buco, sushi rolls, lamb, and the pastries. The lychee/raspberry croissant was top tier - comparable to the one at the Parachute!! They also had the Easter bunny going around and a balloon animial station, which made the ambiance great for kids. We will be back! read more

Came to celebrate a birthday brunch Not too crowded but reservation is required for large party Food and their spreads were not too excited not much selections as compared to other hotel buffets. Wished they could have better and more selections It's a hit and miss experience The California roll was mediocre but the prime ribs were seasoned well and soft Some crab legs were not fresh while the shrimp cocktail was good read more

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It was my mom's birthday and my sister and I wanted to take her here so here we are. We came in for their Sunday brunch buffet @10am which is priced at $60 a person at the time of me making this review. The buffet served many delectable foods from prime rib, crab legs, bottomless mimosas, and more. The service here was really good. The staff here is very friendly and were always checking in with us to ensure that we were having a great experience. They were also quick to refill our mimosas lol. The buffet is located inside a nice hotel. The place was clean and well organized. I definitely recommend checking this brunch buffet out if you haven't already! Try it out if you like. :) read more

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I visited Cafe Florian on a Sunday, and fortunately they informed me that they closed at 2 PM since I was getting some mixed answers from Opentable, Google Maps, and Apple Maps. My boyfriend and I found the prime rib to be most "worth it". The meat was so succulent and spiced so well. The crab legs were tender but pretty cold and briney. Since we booked our reservation a tad later (around 12:45 PM), they didn't bother refilling the smoked salmon board as much as I would've liked. I wasn't a fan of the oysters since they had cheese and butter in them, I prefer them raw and with a splash of mignonette sauce or lemon juice. The cocktail shrimp was yummy, although I saw some were not deveined. I loved the waffle maker, but thought it could be improved- maybe with some chocolate chips or blueberries, or whipped cream as a topping. There's also only one, so there's usually a wait. I indulged in a few strips of bacon and fried rice (I know, I know, not worth the money- but still delicious!). The dessert was impressive. The macarons were fantastic, the shell was done correctly! The cheesecake was also so so fluffy and each had a delightful swirl to them, and the small bite size made it easy to try the different flavors (my personal favorite was caramel). The soft serve/frozen yogurt machine was also yummy. Is it worth the price? I think it can be since it fills a niche, but maybe don't go near the end. If you're a seafood fanatic, definitely go earlier on when they are refilling all the cold seafood and hot dishes. read more

Booked a Mother's Day lunch for this past weekend a month in advance via OpenTable. It is extremely hard to get someone on the phone there so you may need to go through Operator and to have someone call you back if you have questions about your reservation like I did where I wanted to update the reservation from 6 people to 8 people because it didn't allow me to do it on my own. I ended up not getting a call back but they did update my reservation luckily. Everything was smooth from check-in process, finding a parking (they have a garage for free parking), and getting seated. We got complimentary champagne & orange juice (yay mimosa!) There was two stations, we got seated in the banquet room for bigger groups & main hall. The host informed us food on both sides are the same as except main hall had ice cream machine. Service was good, but I'm giving it a 3 star for food. I don't think it was anything special for Mother's Day tbh. They had shell fishes like crabs but very difficult to eat even with the shell cracker, oysters, and shrimp. They also had prime rib, lamb on the rack and other meats. When you come to a buffet, you want to try everything so I got a little bit of everything. Food was okay overall, some stuff was cold like the beef/chicken that was on the small hot plate unfortunately. It was unfortunately a bit disappointing since we paid $75/pp but other than that, service was great. read more

Cafe Florian - Prime rib - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Foster City, California

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First time visit for Easter Sunday, and will likely be a staple moving forward. Made a reservation about a month in advance for a group of 10. They placed us in the large ballroom, which made it feel like we were at a debut/wedding reception. I was very appreciative that they set up a second buffet line in the hallway so we didn't have to walk to the main restaurant space (unless you wanted soft serve). Their was a strong balance of appetizers/salads/cheese, pastries, breakfast items, lunch items, prime rib station , and crab/shrimp/oyster/sushi. The prime rib was on par for a buffet and the seafood tasted fresh. Favorite items was the short rib (so soft!) and lamb, while the salads and salmon wellington were much to be desired. My favorite part was the staffing. Our wait staff frequent came around to refill mimosas and coffee, and cleared plates regularly. I really appreciated the free face painting and balloon animals for the kids, and the bunny walking around with candy. It was even more a surprise to have Easter eggs on the buffet tables actually filled with goodies. Really great experience that fit well with the price. Best peninsula buffet right now! read more

The Mrs and I stopped by recently. After our last visit we had high hopes. The big difference on this visit was a 12:30 pm time vs 10 am (when they open). Most of the crab legs were gone and they did not refill until a large table came in later. Unfortunately by that time we were almost ready for dessert. Much of the other food also seemed to be "leftover" from earlier in the day. For example, the scrambled eggs looked very dry. The prime rib was fresh and solid. New York strip was good as was the couple of pieces of sushi that I had. Desserts were still very good. However these were not worth $60 per person. Two stars. If we come back, we would definitely book an early visit. read more

I brought my mom here to celebrate her birthday with a buffet brunch, and wow--it did not disappoint! From the moment we walked in, the host and servers were warm, welcoming, and on top of everything. The spread was impressive: an omelette station cranking out eggs just the way you like them, juicy prime rib, and tables overflowing with breakfast selections, salads, fruit, seafood, pastries, and desserts. But let's be real--we basically made a beeline for the crab legs and never looked back. Paired with bottomless mimosas (yes, included in the price), it was pretty much brunch perfection. read more

Cafe Florian - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Foster City, California

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This place is extremely beautiful and amazing especially I love the breakfast the food is on point and the staff is extremely friendly it's definitely a must to try out of everything I really enjoyed just the eggs on the eggs Benedict and the nice Golden brown fluffy waffles wow now that was extremely delicious and extremely EPIC the food is extremely on point. The service is on point. The ambience is on point. It was extremely epic now this is a perfect way to start your morning. read more

Cafe Florian - Eggs, Benedict - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Foster City, California

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What a great deal for $60! I came here with my family for the first time. We came for the Sunday brunch buffet. We made reservations when it opened at 10. Everything was fresh and the service was friendly and attentive. Unlimited mimosas, crab legs, oysters, clam chowder, prime rib, shrimp, dessert.... The list goes on. There is a nice little stream to look at indoors. Parking was easy to find. read more

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3.5 $60 PP There is a parking structure to the right of the hotel for easy parking The food: 3.5/5 Seafood was alright - for the shrimp, they had no taste - only some cocktail sauce to dip in. Oysters tasted fresh enough but half the ones I ate were gritty. Crab legs were good but small. Hot food: enjoyed the cooked salmon, pork ribs, and the prime rib. Clam chowder was alright but nothing special. Skipped the rest. There were some chicken fingers + sweet potato fries but looked just alright Cold food: Smoked salmon + some avocado from the avocado tomato salad, but got a bit old after 2 rounds. There was some cheese selection as well as salads but didn't look appetizing There were bread and pastries but didn't want to fill up on carbs Dessert: macarons were good, tried the chocolate strawberry and it was a hard pass. There was a fudge tasting chocolate square that was good but too sweet to eat in entirety Service was okay, waiters came by to clear plates and refill drinks often but not consistently Overall an okay place for brunch but probably won't be back, rather pay more for BSA read more

Solid option for Thanksgiving brunch. We booked a table for 4 through OpenTable and arrived a bit early but they sat us early anyway. I think there were two food areas because there are two different seating areas. We sat in the Main Cafe area, which has an open air feel and a water feature along the side. The food was spread among three somewhat separate areas. The traditional Thanksgiving items, the dessert, and the carving station were in one area, the waffles, pastries, eggs, and bacon were in another area, and the charcuterie, salads, smoked salmon, peeled shrimp, baked oysters, and a few other items were in the third area. The prime rib was super tender (avoid an end piece) and the shrimp were pretty big and peeled. Highlight was the stuffing - good enough to have on its own. The smoked salmon was awesome, but the mini bagels were a little stale. Capers and onions really made it right. Soft serve frozen yogurt was a great way to end things. Service was super friendly - 18% auto tip made me hesitate in terms of how much to add extra so I went with a couple of extra percent. Service was amazing, with our waiter going out of his way to find Diet Coke. read more

What a great Sunday Brunch buffet!! Our server Gerardo was wonderful! So friendly and attentive, without being overbearing. He kept our Mimosas truly bottomless! The only thing I didn't like was the prime rib, which was too rare. But overall, it was great. The crab legs were delicious! read more

I went to celebrate an advance birthday brunch for my friend with great hopes, considering that it's a $60 brunch. Unfortunately the food was basic, not really something I would go back to. They had prime rib, which I supposed was the highlight of the buffet, still not worth it. There was just enough people around that day, it was a Sunday almost at the last hour of their service,but the staff were un attentive and seemingly always awol. We had to ask for our coffee 3 times,and we had to put our plates on the empty table beside us because no one was bussing it. The ambience is simple,quiet which is nice. Overall not going to be back for that brunch, really just expensive, and not worth it. read more

Cafe Florian is located in the Crown Plaza Hotel so easy free parking. $55 + tax/tip is a little more than I'm used to spending for brunch, but thought we'd try it out. We made reservations so were seated right away. Included drinks included champagne, mimosas, juice, soda, and coffee. The buffet doesn't have a ton of choices (think Vegas buffets), but what they had was very good. The prime rib was my favorite. Perfectly cooked medium rare with the au jus was fantastic. Crab legs and shrimp were good as well. The omelet station had mushrooms, onions, spinach, bacon, cheese but no ham. Server was very nice and friendly. Pros: Quality food, AYCE. Cons: cost. read more

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Other than small communication barriers the service was great The food was horrible, there were limited options for a buffet and it did not meet the quality of the advertisement Very disappointed for my birthday brunch read more

This review is based solely on my experience at the Easter brunch held at Cafe Florian inside the Crowne Plaza, Foster City restaurant this past Sunday -- and unfortunately, it was deeply underwhelming and disappointing. I've been to this brunch several times in the past and always looked forward to the fresh, made-to-order stations. Usually, you can expect custom omelets with options like shrimp, crab, sausage, bacon -- even fresh eggs cooked to your preference. Sadly, none of that was available this time around. What was once a vibrant and high-quality brunch felt more like a cruise ship buffet -- pre-cooked food sitting under heat lamps for hours, lacking flavor, freshness, and care. The only thing made fresh was the prime rib. No ham, no fresh waffles, no made-to-order items. The pancakes were burnt, and the rest of the buffet was generic banquet-style food swimming in sauces. It felt like the kitchen had prepared everything hours in advance and simply plated it for mass distribution. They did offer crab and shrimp, but the crab legs were borderline inedible -- unwashed, unblanched, and so salty they tasted like they came straight out of the ocean without a rinse. I genuinely couldn't eat them. To make matters worse, the service felt cold and unwelcoming. While we were offered water, coffee, and mimosas, I couldn't shake the feeling that the staff was watching us as if we might walk out without paying -- every time I left the table, I was met with suspicion, which made for an extremely uncomfortable dining experience. There were a couple of nice touches -- face painting for the kids and a balloon artist who made fun shapes like teddy bears and swords. That effort was appreciated, but it wasn't enough to redeem the overall experience. At $100 per person -- $375 total for my family -- we left unsatisfied, still hungry, and very disappointed. I've previously recommended this brunch to friends and family because it used to be exceptional. But this year? They completely missed the mark. I wouldn't recommend this brunch to anyone looking for quality, freshly-prepared food. You're better off dining elsewhere. read more

We've had brunch there several times and have never been disappointed. The food is great and out server Karen A. (KK) is exceptional. She's a beautiful young lady, very attentive yo our needs and welcoming. You have to try this place. You won't be disappointed!! read more

We visited for Easter Brunch and, as expected, it was very busy, but the service was excellent, and the variety was impressive, featuring delicious prime rib, braised steak, lamb, potatoes, fish, Rockefeller oysters, crab legs, shrimp, and more, alongside a tempting dessert selection of sliced cakes, green tea mochi with red bean filling, donuts, cupcakes, cookies, macaroons, and soft serve ice cream, complemented by wonderful bottomless mimosas, sodas, and orange juice, resulting in a total bill of $194 that included an 18% mandatory service charge. Best part was the Easter bunny that came by to visit us. read more

For AYCE, the cost/pp is pretty reasonable. However, I think the only food worth eating here are the seafood (crab legs, shrimp, oysters) and the prime rib. Bottomless mimosas are also a plus! And despite having a reservation, expect to stand in line for a while as they seat people. The ambiance was just OK, since this place is basically located in a hotel lobby. read more

Cafe Florian - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Foster City, California

Buffet in the Bay Area? Yes! This place is a hidden gem! They have the Sunday seafood buffet! They have crab! Yes I said it .. crab! Rockefeller oysters, sushi, and so much more! Don't feel like seafood? They have prime rib and lots of other dishes! They have a whole side of desserts. Along with a soft serve ! Price is very reasonable.. this is my spot on Sundays! read more

Food portion was huge and delish! We had the salad, mackerel and pork dishes, tofu and kimchi, bibimbop. Loved all the flavors! We especially loved the mochi break and matcha butter. Omg. Delish!! And because we booked a ressie they gave us a refreshing cinnamon drink as a treat! Would def go again! read more

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We had a great day enjoying the Sunday Brunch at Cafe Florian. Customer service and food were outstanding. read more

Really enjoyed the AYCE Sunday brunch for $55/per person! Unlimited drinks including orange juice champagne mimosas, coffee. Extensive brunch bar including prime rib with au jus, crab, shrimp cocktail, smoked salmon, lobster ravioli, bacon, cheese, fruit, and more. Dessert bar including chocolate covered strawberries, mango mousse, soft serve ice cream. The service was very attentive with refilling our drinks and clearing away plates. The hotel was beautiful and seating was very pretty next to the indoor plants and water garden. read more

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If @charweezy led you here, turn back around. I was really excited to try the buffet weekend brunch after an influencer posted about it, but I was deeply disappointed. The selection was not as expansive as she posted and I get menu items change, but the only worthwhile thing in my opinion was the prime rib. The sushi was just California rolls, there weren't any raw oysters, and nothing really seemed fresh. It simply was not worth the money. The only reason why I gave 2 stars instead of one was because our server was great and was quick with the champagne refills. read more

Not a fan of- mislead by tik tok again!? $100 pp for food on warmers and over sauced salads and stale pastries. HARD PASS! Yes the crab was endless but it was served cold which was disappointing. There was no omelette station or anything I would really come back for. Next Mother's Day we plan on staying away from social media recommended places. read more

I found Cafe Florian from various IG posts while looking for a place to host a surprise bridal shower gathering for our colleague. Cafe Florian team members from the reception who take the reservations via phone correspond through OpenTable, reception, and the server teams were outstanding. Our team had a great time, and our bride-to-be loved her surprise last Sunday. Thank you so much for the experience! P.S. I hope next time you will expand your selections, like having a souffle station . read more

Cafe Florian - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Foster City, California

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Came here for the $55/person weekend brunch. Good thing we had a reservation because we had a large group and the restaurant was full the whole time. The bunch came with unlimited mimosas (+ other non alcoholic drinks), and and AYCE buffet. Of course I went for the seafood because that's what I always go for at buffets. It was hit or miss depending on what you get. Crab legs were good, but oysters and ahi tuna were not. One of my favorites was their prime rib from the carving station. A lot of the other hot foods were decent, but nothing to write home about. One weird thing was the dessert was a little hard to find. You have to cross a little "bridge" to another area to get dessert. There was a lot of dessert, but a lot of plates were constantly empty. Overall, it was alright. $55 is not the worse for what was offered, but I would personally take my money somewhere else. read more

Cafe Florian is a nice little buffet located inside a hotel. I am rating it a 3.8! -Quality of food is great but there wasn't a lot of options to choose from. Shrimp, crab legs, two or three types of sushi rolls, breakfast (eggs, bacon, waffles), sausage, prime rib, mac & cheese, jasmine rice, Korean short ribs, cheese, salad, and smoked salmon. -Dessert section, on the other hand, was extensive. 5+ different cakes, macrons, frozen yogurt, covered strawberries, cheese cakes, and a couple more. Definitely my favorite section! -Bottomless mimosas were the way to go -Waiters and waitresses checked in with us frequently, service was amazing. -Cafe was airy and spacious Overall not a bad place to grab brunch. It is more on the expensive side but there are some items you won't see at your local $25 buffet. read more

My husband and brother-in-law found out about this place via a Bay Area foodie Instagram reel and I was a bit skeptical especially after seeing all the negative reviews. I will say it is extremely difficult to get a reservation if you have a party larger than 6, as Open Table will not show any availability and you can't get a hold of anyone via phone. I know my husband called numerous times throughout the course of weeks to try to lock in a reservation for a party of 17. He finally got lucky and was able to speak with someone just a few days before. They were able to modify our existing Open Table reservation. We got there right before they opened at 9:45am on a Sunday and there was already a long line of people waiting. Not sure if they were all reservations or walk-ins. We were seated in the small ballroom area, and we actually had a last minute addition to our party. They were able to give us an extra table to make our table longer and accommodate the extra people. Service was excellent, they were very friendly and attentive, always refilling our mimosas. As for food, it was good from what I tried but because we had our little kids with us, it was quite hard to enjoy the food. So I will say this: Leave the kids at home! Lol! It's not worth the $55 per person unless you can really get down with the seafood (dungeonus crab, shrimp cocktails, lox bar, baked oysters). They also have a prime rib station which was great, and I actually got to enjoy it. I was also impressed with their dessert station, which features a soft serve machine! I was thankfully able to enjoy that! Lol! The only condition I will come back is without the kids! read more

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The is the best luxury buffet brunch in the bay! Loved the food and service! The quality of the food, the selections, ambiance and customer service is impeccable! read more

I'm not sure why this place is getting bad reviews.. I've gone twice in the last two months and the food and service have been excellent! - I have no issues making reservations on Open Table. - Ask for a side of butter for the crab. - Prime rib with the au jus is delicious and juicy. - They fill our mimosas before we're even done with the glass. This last visit, our waitress gave us extra glasses so that we always had two each. It's not a huge buffet, so if you're expecting something massive, you will be disappointed. $55 for AYCE Dungeness crab is good enough for me!! read more

Cafe Florian - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Foster City, California

AYCE and Bottomless Mimosas for $55/person! Who would have thought this hidden gem can be found inside the Crowne Plaza in Foster City. The crab legs and prime rib were the stars of the buffet, but they have your traditional breakfast dishes along with Asian fusion eats. The staff is very attentive and constantly makes sure your mimosas are refilled before you can even finish read more

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Seafood quality went down hill, crab was salty, oyster Rockefeller over cooked, teriyaki steak no favor, crispy skin sea bass not crispy, cooked prawns slightly overcooked, smoked salmon heavily smoked don't recommend this restaurant anymore. read more

Amazing food, ambiance, and great view. Great customer service, fast service and overall enjoyable atmosphere. read more

Cafe Florian - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Foster City, California

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Food went downhill over the years. I've seen a lot of influencer on social media hyping this place up, but it's all hype. Pros: Omelette Bar Prime Rib Crab Legs Unlimited Mimosas Cons: $50 per person Dried oysters Missing items: sushi, bbq rib read more

I've been here before and decided to check them out again another time as I enjoyed it before. It is a nice place to have a pleasant relaxing breakfast morning. The place is elegant and quiet with friendly staff who are attentive and helpful. Breakfast buffet is available as well as ordering from their menu. I elected to order a healthy hearty breakfast of an avocado toast with a side of fruit and it was satisfying with my dark roast brewed coffee. I enjoyed my breakfast as I occupy my time reading my book and I was relaxed without being disturbed. It was nice. Will definitely return. read more

Cafe Florian - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Foster City, California

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