The Crystal Palace sign, hanging over the front entrance.
From the "prepared salads" section of the Crystal Palace buffet, this is a Greek-style Tomato Salad and a Sesame & Pumpkin Sunflower dinner roll.
On the front of the plate is a Greek-style Tomato Salad from the Crystal Palace. There were a few more tomatoes than what are pictured here, but I wanted to show what else is in the mix... there's some black olives, feta, onion, herbs, and leafy greens... which make it "Greek-style".
There are several kinds of dinner rolls available at the Crystal Palace. Pictured here is a Seasame & Pumpkin Sunflower Dinner Roll.
Pictured here are the Edamame Salad (left) and Moroccan Couscous Salad (right) from the Crystal Palace.
Rather than piling as much as I can on one plate, I like finding things that pair well together. Such was the case with this small plate of Edamame Salad and Moroccan Couscous Salad. The combo paired very well together!
A closer look at the Crystal Palace's Edamame Salad.
On the front of the plate, a Moroccan Couscous Salad.
On this plate, from the prepared salads area on the Crystal Palace buffet line, is the Cucumber and Red Onion Salad (left) and some Mediterranean Pasta Salad (right).
Front and center, it's the Cucumber and Red Onion Salad (the red onions must be hiding), from the Crystal Palace.
On the back of the plate, we have some really great Mediterranean Pasta Salad!
The Cucumber and Red Onion Salad and Mediterranean Pasta Salad are a really great pairing!
A small little detail that occasionally gets missed are the ridges in the cucumbers. Those striations are found on "English Cucumbers" and not the more typical America garden variety. While the food at the Crystal Palace is very Americana, I like to think this is a small nod to the European origins of the Winnie-the-pooh characters that you'll meet while at the restaurant.
The English Cucumber and Red Onion Salad is so garden green looking! On the top of the plate is some of the Crystal Palace's Mediterranean Pasta Salad.
Peel and Eat Shrimp with Cocktail Sauce is a guest favorite at the Crystal Palace. It's paired here with some Moroccan Couscous Salad.
From left to right, Moroccan Couscous Salad and a couple of Peel and Eat Shrimp.
Pictured here are some rather large Peel and Eat Shrimp with a little Cocktail Sauce along with a Moroccan Couscous Salad.
Ooooo... an almost veggie plate! From the Honey Glazed Carrot going clockwise... Fire-Roasted Corn Spoon Bread, Broccoli, and Artichoke Cream Pasta.
Ahhhh... now here's a plate Rabbit would love! It's a giant Honey Glazed Carrot, Fire Roasted Corn Spoon Bread, a little Broccoli, and some Artichoke Cream Pasta!
Now we're getting warmer! There's a whole table of items that are considered sides. Pictured here (going clockwise from the bottom) Sauteed Green Beans, a Honey Glazed Carrot, Bangers And Cabbage, and some Fire-Roasted Corn Spoon Bread.
The Bangers And Cabbage (front right) are very nearly a "main entrée" on their own! They paired great with the Fire-Roasted Corn Spoon Bread!
From left to right... Sautéed Green Beans, a Honey Glazed Carrot, Bangers And Cabbage, and Fire-Roasted Corn Spoon Bread.
Here's a small plate Rabbit would love! It's a Honey Glazed Carrot (on the bottom, going clockwise), Fire-Roasted Corn Spoon Bread, Steamed Broccoli, and some Artichoke Cream Pasta!
Ooooo... what do we have here? It's some Sun Dried Tomato Cream Pasta and a portion of Honey Soy-glazed Salmon!
Rather than filling up one plate with all kinds of different things, I like to find items that pair well together, and approach the buffet like it's a tapas (small plate dining) opportunity. This Sun Dried Tomato Cream Pasta went really well with the Honey Soy-glazed Salmon.
The Sun Dried Tomato Cream Pasta was really great. It was kind of a light cheese version of Mac and Cheese, but with Sun Dried Tomatoes and some herbs.
Sun Dried Tomato Pasta from the Crystal Palace "warm sides" buffet line.
Here's a closer look at the Honey Soy-glazed Salmon. The whole fish is (more or less) on the buffet line, and a large serving spoon is available so you can select as much as you want!
Here's an Americana Southern Favorites plate! Starting from the front and going clockwise — a Oven-Roasted Chicken Leg, Fire-Roasted Corn Spoon Bread, and Collards and Ham!
Front and center, Collard Greens and Ham.
The "ham" pieces in these Collards and Ham are quite large!
The Fire-Roasted Corn Spoon Bread paired particulary well with the Oven-Roasted Chicken.
There's so many combinations of mini-plates that you can make at the Crystal Palace. Of course, they have much larger plates too... if you want to go on "full buffet" style and pile high a couple of big plates!
Here's another great pairing from the Crystal Palace buffet. We have Cheese Perogies on the top of the plate and some Jambalaya on the bottom (with a giant bay leaf too)!
Here's a closer look at those Cheese Perogies from the Crystal Palace.
Here's a closer look at some Jambalaya I found at the Crystal Palace. It was complete with andouille sausage and everything.
Oooooo, pretty!!! On the left we have a Roasted Beet Salad and on the left a Roasted Potato Salad!
Here's a closer look a the Roasted Beet Salad from the Crystal Palace.
Front and center is the Roasted Potato Salad from the Crystal Palace.
The Roasted Beet Salad and Roasted Potato Salad really complimented each other well.
From the "prepared salads" section of the buffet at the Crystal Palace, a Roasted Beet Salad on the left and the Roasted Potato Salad on the right.
Ahhh... now here's one of the standouts for me on the night that our party dined at the Crystal Palace, it's an Herb-crusted Tilapia with Served with Tomato Olive Relish (top) and some Sautéed Green Beans on the bottom of the plate.
Here's a closer look at the Herb-crusted Tilapia Served with Tomato Olive Relish from the Crystal Palace. Each night, in addition to the carved meats, there are two or three additional "main entrée" style items.
At the front of this plate is an Herb-crusted Tilapia served with Tomato Olive Relish which paired nicely with the Sautéed Green Beans on the back of the plate!
From the carving station at the Crystal Palace, here's some Roasted Turkey and some sliced to order Grilled Flank Steak. (Those orange things are Carrots.)
Front and center that's a good chunk of Roasted Turkey! This one isn't "dressed" at all because I wanted to show that this really is "carved" real turkey and not some pressed, pre-cut deal. Turkey Gravy and Cranberry Sauce were available if you wanted to go full Thanksgiving style!
Here's a closer look at the Grilled Flank Steak. Just like the Turkey, this was a really good cut and surprisingly tender for a flank steak. A Demi-glazed and Horseradish Whip were available as well.
Ahhhh... some items from the carving station in the center of the Crystal Palace buffet line. From the top, clockwise... Honey Glazed Carrots, Grilled Flank Steak (a Demi-glaze and Horseradish Whip were available), and Roasted Turkey (Turkey Gravy and Cranberry Sauce were available).
This is a buffet menu board at the Crystal Palace. These are fairly easy to read and placed near (usually above) the food items. Specific items may change daily though.
The menu board for the children's table is lower, so the little ones can read it. (Side note, this food is actually pretty great too... so if you want some Mac and Cheese... here it is!)
This is a typical "prepared salads" menu board from the Crystal Palace buffet line. It's important to note, that while the culinary is very "Americana", the specific food items could change daily.
Here's a look at one of the dessert buffet menu items signs at the Crystal Palace.
You can combine all sorts of goodies from the dessert buffet line to create small dessert plates!
On this dessert plate (from the top down), a Toffee Molten Brownie Bite, Chocolate Chip Cookies, and a Warm Caramel Apple Tartlet.
A closer look a the Warm Caramel Apple Tartlet from the Crystal Palace dessert buffet.
Here's a closer look at a Toffee Molten Brownie Bite from the Crystlal Palace dessert buffet line.
You can build all sorts of mini dessert plates with the available items. Pictured here (clockwise from the top), a Toffee Molen Brownie Bite, two Spiced Cannolis, and a Honey Pot Tart with a Bee!
Here's a closer look at the Spiced Cannolis from the Crystal Palace dessert buffet line.
Awe!!! These little Honey Pot Tarts with Bees are some of Winnie the Pooh's favorite desserts!
Ooooo, a Toffee Molten Brownie Bite!
The Bees in these Honey Pots are just too cute!
Here's another dessert plate that you can build from all the selections on the dessert buffet table at the Crystal Palace.
Ooooo, a Spiced Cannoli from the Crystal Palace dessert buffet, and it has Mickey shaped sprinkles too!
Front and center on this plate is a Banana Cream Pie (in a tiny edible cookie cup).
Here's a closer look at the No Sugar Added Raspberry Tart from the Crystal Palace dessert buffet line.
There's also a self-serve, soft-serve, ice cream machine at the Crystal Palace... and a toppings bar naturally!
There's always room for ice cream!!! Especially when it's soft serve and there's a fun toppings bar too!
So many desserts!
You can build many different dessert plates from all the options at the Crystal Palace. Pictured here, from the top, clockwise... a Key Lime Pie Tart, a Banana Cream Pie, an Apple Caramel pie, and a No Sugar Added Raspberry Tart.
The small dessert in the back, with the brûléed top, is a Key Lime Pie Tart.
Front and center here is a No Sugar Added Raspberry Tart from the Crystal Palace.
In the front (from left to right), a Caramel Apple Pie Tart and a Banana Cream Pie (in mini form).
Winnie-the-Pooh at the Crystal Palace Restaurant.
Piglet at the Crystal Palace Restaurant.
Tigger at the Crystal Palace Restaurant.
Eeyore at the Crystal Palace Restaurant.
All four walk-around characters at the Crystal Palace Restaurant! From left to right, it's Winnie-the-Pooh, Piglet, Eeyore, and Tigger.
This is a look at the west side dining area at the Crystal Palace restaurant.
There are small atrium features in both the east and west dining areas. The centerpiece of the room serves three purposes... it's part planter, part air condition system, and part booth seating for tables positioned around it.
A "Welcome to our Friendship Day Celebration" banner hangs from two pillars on near the room's centerpiece atrium.
The west dining area at the Crystal Palace takes on a hexagonal shape thanks to the walls and seating arrangements.
Here's a look at a table that's set, and ready for guests. Most of the tables at the Crystal Palace have wrought iron chairs, while a few offer partial bench style seating.
The dining area in the west side of the Crystal Palace is slightly larger than the dining area on the east side, mostly thanks to the tables pictured here on the right. On the east side, this area is actually an outdoor patio for guests waiting to get into the restaurant.
Aside from the empty dishes on the tabletop on the left, this is probably one of my favorite photos of the dining area. I think it shows all the elements and detail that makes the room so special... from the atrium in the center, to the ornate columns, and unique color combinations like the pale blue ceiling color, that all ties together to lend the feeling that you're dining in an elegant, turn of the century, indoor garden.
This photo was taken from the west most point in the restaurant (and in the west dining room obviously), looking toward the center (past the atrium) where the buffet lines are located.
From an HVAC engineering standpoint, the building is very interesting. There are no air vents in the ceiling, because it would break the "turn of the century" design aesthetic. Instead, you'll find air vents in some interesting places, like at the bottom of these columns.
No matter where you go in the west side dining area, you'll be able to see the hexagonal shape of the dining room.
In the right hand side of this photo, you can see the entrance area topiaries. Just to the right of those topiaries, is where the buffet is located.
Here's a quick look at a six-party table. The seating can be a little close at the Crystal Palace.
Here's an newly set table, all ready to go for the next guests!
This is a view of the east dining area. The Crystal Palace has two main dining rooms.
The decore in both dining areas is very similar. This eastern dining area is a little smaller than the west side though.
Both dining areas have smaller atriums at the back end of the room. In addition to being the home for some plants, they also act as bench style seating for tables that are positioned around them.
Just outside the wall on the left of this photo, is an outdoor waiting area/patio. It is why the east dining area inside is slightly smaller. On the west side, the roof line (and air conditioning) are extended, and use the "outdoor waiting space" as "indoor dining space".
Here's a closer look at the east dining room's atrium feature.
This photo was taken standing in the east most point in the eastern dining room. Notice in the distant center (way off in the back) you can see the dessert buffet area in the center of the restaurant.
There are not any "full" booth style seats at the Crystal Palace. These half-booth, half-chair combos (pictured on the left) are as close as you can get to a booth.
It's the Winnie the Pooh topiary, located in the center atrium area at the Crystal Palace.
Hey Piglet! From the angle, you can see the buffet area in the background. These topiaries are located in the center atrium area at the Crystal Palace.
The topiaries in the center garden area at the Crystal Palace are made up of small flowers (artificial, but still). Pictured here are Tigger and Piglet.
Directly below the center atrium at the Crystal Palace, there's a very larger planter garden, with topiary versions of popular Winnie the Pooh characters. Pictured here are Eeyore and Winnie the Pooh.
It's a close-up of the Piglet topiary at the Crystal Palace! Each of the center atrium topiaries is made up of small flowers.
Awe, I like Eeyore. He's my favorite character at the Crystal Palace.
This Winnie the Pooh topiary, is located in the center atrium display area at the Crystal Palace Restaurant — Eeyore and Winnie are on the east side of the large circle of plants (or the left side, if you're walking in through the front door).
Hey there Eeyore. The Crystal Palace features four characters from Winnie the Pooh — in topiary form — Winnie the Pooh, Piglet, Tigger, and Eeyore. They're all located in the center of the restaurant, in a large atrium planter.
From this angle, you can see the main entrance doors for the Crystal Palace just behind the Winnie the Pooh topiary (to the right).
On the "prepared salads" section of the Crystal Palace buffet line, a Greek Style Tomato Salad.
From left to right at the children's table at the Crystal Palace... Chicken Nuggets, Mac and Cheese, and a Corn and Peas Succotash.
From the "warm items" section of the buffet, here's some of the Crystal Palace's Steamed Rice.
There's many great "side" items on the Crystal Palace buffet line, here's a photo of some Steamed Broccoli.
Ooooo... I bet Rabbit would like some of these! Honey Glazed Carrots on the Crystal Palace Buffet line.
Some Sautéed Green Beans on the Crystal Palace buffet line.
An Americana Southern traditional side dish, Collard Greens and Ham.
Honey Glazed Carrots are one of the side item on this visit at the Crystal Palace.
This Jambalaya was a great find on the "hot sides" section of the Crystal Palace buffet.
Bangers and Cabbage might be a little more UK than US, but that's okay... they're for Christopher Robin. We're pretty sure he likes them.
Some hot and fresh Bangers and Cabbage on the Crystal Palace buffet line.
Warm, Fire Roasted Corn Spoon Bread is a comforting Americana classic.
They don't put out too many of these Roasted Chicken pieces on the buffet at one time... which is a good thing. They keep them hot, fresh, and replenished often... so you will be sure to get some great roasted chicken.
This was a highlight item for me on this visit, it's an Herb Crusted Tilapia with Tomato and Olive Relish. Sooooo good!!! I love the slightly acidic and garden fresh combo of tomatoes and olives paired with a white fish.
The prepared desserts can be a little tricky to grab sometimes. You've got to really have some "tong" skills. Pictured here are some No Sugar Added Raspberry Tart Squares.
The children's buffet table at Crystal Palace is a little closer to the ground than the adult buffet line. It's the perfect size for children to participate in the experience of picking out their own food from a buffet.
In the center of the two buffet sides, is a carving station. You can walk up to it from either side.
This is the "hot" prepared food table/area at the Crystal Palace. To the left of this area (and just out of the photo) is the "cold" prepared foods, and to the right is a "carving station" where meats are carved to order. This whole setup, is duplicated on the right hand side as well. Both sides have the same food items.
Here's a closer look a the "hot and warm items" buffet line at the Crystal Palace. There's one of these on the left and right hand sides of the buffet area, and they both feature the same items.
The buffet area at Crystal Palace is quite large. Here, we're looking straight down the center at the "carving station". Closer to the camera on the left and right, is the dessert area. All food items are duplicated on both sides of the buffet.
Here's a great shot of the main center carving station at the Crystal Palace. The ornate detailing on the walls and ceiling trusses throughout the restaurant is amazing.
The buffet area at the Crystal Palace is divided into a right and left hand side. Both sides serve the same food items. This photo was taken standing in the left hand side, and looking toward the center. It provides a clear view of the whole buffet area (except for the dessert counters, which are just out of the photo, to the right).
This is probably one of my favorite photos of the buffet area at the Crystal Palace. The dessert tables are in the center of the photo, but this really is a picture of the entire buffet area. Because the area is usually so full of guests, it's easy to miss some of the amazing details in the floor, walls, and ceiling. A great, light hearted take on Art Nouveau styling from the late 19th century.
The front entrance and exit area at the Crystal Palace.
Near the front entrance (on the inside walls) there is some artwork that inspired some of the design elements at the Crystal Palace.
On another wall near the front entrance, there's some artwork regarding the flowers that can be found in the center, east, and west atriums, and hanging throughout the Crystal Palace. (The focus though, has moved away from flowers and in the interior garden in recent years.)
In the very center of the Crystal Palace, you'll find the largest atrium (on the left side of this photo). Pretty much as soon as you walk through the entrance, a path leads left and right around the large planter and topiary feature. Pictured here is a walkway that leads to the east dining area.
In the very center of the restaurant, there is a large planter feature with an ornate skylight in the roof above. Most of the ceiling throughout the location is painted a powder blue color.
Here's a closer look at the skylight atrium feature at the Crystal Palace. You can't stand directly under it, there is a planter and some topiaries directly underneath.