Buffet Opens With Fresh Approach, Fresh Ingredients

It should come as no great surprise that the Seasons Buffet at Mohegan Sun has renovated to seat more customers, however, the traditional buffet menu has also expanded to accommodate common food allergies and dietary preferences. 

Chef De Cuisine Craig Schmalz has added organic, seasonal, vegetarian and heart-healthy options wherever possible and gluten-free options in the pasta, bread, pizza and desert menus. 

"We try to take that into consideration wherever we can," he said of the allergy or intolerance to wheat-based products that causes adverse effects for some people. 

Schmalz said the breakfast menu has gluten-free pancake and waffle options plus egg dishes made with egg whites and turkey bacon. 

The new buffet, which is scheduled to open July 1, will offer more than 200 items at each meal. Schmalz stayed true to traditional buffet offerings like the carving station with side dishes and added specialty stations for barbecue, a fajita bar, wok-cooked cuisine, fresh-rolled sushi, two raw bars with oysters and clams on the half shell and a "New England" station with fried clams, shrimp and baked beans.

Schmalz said the buffet will have lots of "good, simple food done well." 

Richard Zazzaro, the Vice President of Food and Beverage, said the low counter-tops and fresh, small-batch artisanal dishes follow industry trends and the customer-oriented approach of the restaurant. The buffet will also utilize two self-serve kiosks technology so customers can buy tickets ahead of time. 

The buffet is a $9.5 million dollar investment and has expanded from about 600 to 800 seats, which will include 90 semi-private tables and 70 tables for private seating. The restaurant will hire 20 additional servers and 10 more cooks, according to Zazzaro. 

Sunburst, the casino's other buffet, will close down as a buffet and be used for catering and banquets. 

Zazzaro said the Seasons Buffet will also feature the Coca-Cola Freestyle machine, which allows patrons to customize their drinks and make an infinite amount of flavor variations.  

"I think it's a bold move by the Mohegan Tribe," said Zazzaro of the updates made to the buffet, "they have made a world-class establishment." 

With approximately 250 linear feet of space for food, Schmalz said, "there's a lot going on here, you can't go away hungry." 

The buffet will be open at 3:30 p.m. on July 1. Thereafter, its hours are 7:30 a.m. to 10 p.m., Sunday through Thursday and 7:30 a.m. to midnight on Friday and Saturday. Breakfast will cost $12.95, lunch will cost $21 and dinner will cost $25.