LOOKING to force its way into Slough’s gastronomic scene is Tang’s Oriental Buffet.

Boasting just under 200 seats and about 100 dishes it is not taking the subtle approach.

As my partner and I entered the eatery, which is at the site of the old Dragon King, by Empire Cinema, in Slough High Street, we were greated at the till where customers pay on entry.

To the left is a bar and straight in front, rows of dishes plus a live cooking station.

After you have paid and been shown your seat the rest is up to you. Handily laid out in a row, from starters to mains, finishing with deserts, the food is freshly cooked and wide-ranging with dishes originating from China, Japan, India, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand.

I started with a strange mix of dim sum, sushi and battered chili prawns and continued in that vein throughout the evening.

With so many tastes on offer it is easy to be distracted and I fell into that trap on a number of ocassions.

I won’t detail every dish I ate (it would take far too long) but I was particularly impressed by the sushi and teppanyaki.

For desert, once again, I went for a disparate selection. Chocolate moose, ice cream, a particularly delicious chocolate cake and, for old times sakes, milk bottle sweets.

The restaurant itself, despite its large number of seats, does not feel like a cavernous dinner hall.

Instead the seating has been cleverly broken up with parties of more than 10 in one area while smaller tables are placed at the other end of the restaurant with the buffet separating the two.

There is also a further room for conferences which is out of sight.

It feels clean and has modern trimmings with extra touches, such as designer rope hanging from the lights.

The waiting staff, who are obviously relieved of some of their traditional duties such as taking orders, are smiley, attentive and quick to clean your table.

How they will cope when the restaurant hits its full capicity is yet to be seen but throughout our meal they were well on top of things.

I left feeling over-full but in good spirits.

There is something for everyone so it is unlikely anyone will be disappointed.

It looks like Slough’s restaurant scene has a new heavyweight.

A lunch buffet costs £6.99 (Monday-Friday) or £7.99 (Saturday). Evening buffets (from 5.30-10.30pm) costs £11.99 (Monday-Thursday) or £12.99 (Friday-Saturday). A Sunday buffet (also bank holiday Mondays) costs £10.99.

Where: Unit N77, Queensmere Shopping,

High Street, Slough, SL11DG

Phone: 01753 525 188

Website: www.tangsbuffet.co.uk

Opens: Monday to Saturday, noon-10.30pm. Sunday, noon-10pm.

Prices: Lunch buffet: £6.99 (Monday-Friday) or £7.99 (Saturday). Evening buffets (from 5.30-10.30pm): £11.99 (Monday-Thursday) or £12.99 (Friday-Saturday). A Sunday buffet: £10.99.