We have enjoyed dining at Shangri-La in all its various incarnations since we moved to Augusta in the early 1990s.

We followed it from Peach Orchard Road to Washington Road at Interstate 20, and westward when it opened a second restaurant at 3847 Washington Road in Martinez. That's where Shangri-La Gourmet Buffet continues to offer the best Oriental buffet fare in the Augusta area.

The selection is massive and diverse, the food is usually kept hot (no small feat on a buffet) and fresh. There is some variety in the offerings, but our regular buffet favorites include General Tso's chicken, sesame chicken, curry chicken, chicken and broccoli, and stir-fried green beans.

There also are plenty of seafood and beef entrees, some Americanized dishes, kid favorites, a salad bar of sorts and fresh fruit.

Lunch Buddy Donna and I pick Oriental restaurants based on the hot and sour soup, and the chefs cook some of the best in Augusta. It's peppery without overpowering the palate.

Maybe it's because we've been going there for so long, but the staff greets and treats us like family. We always feel pampered.

The only complaint I have about Shangri-La is its desserts. There's a soft-serve ice cream machine and an assortment of commercial cookies and cakes that are average at best. Some of the cakes are downright odd. One tastes like bubble gum, which I guess is fine for the average 8-year-old. I tend to avoid the dessert bar.

Dinner buffet can be pricey, but the lunch buffet is a good value on weekdays. It's served from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday-Friday and from 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Saturdays and costs $6.59.

JOIN THE LUNCH LINE conversation at the Lunch Money blog at blogs.augusta.com.