Good Prime Rib and Buffet in Alexandria

In a Holiday Inn in the heart of Old Town Alexandria is a restaurant that offers all-you-can-eat prime rib of beef for $13.95. The rib roast is high-quality beef, cooked rare, and sliced about a half inch thick; it's returned to the oven for patrons who what theirs cooked more. There are other main courses at dinner, but many are over budget and none approaches the prime rib in quality. An all-you-can-eat pasta selection for $9.95 is not special. A Friday-evening seafood buffet for $14.95 is uneven but offers a number of good dishes, including a raw bar and steamed snow-crab legs. Appetizers include a good sautéed shrimp in a red-pepper cream sauce.

At lunch there's a good all-you-can-eat buffet for $8.95. The centerpiece is the roast of the day, which may be roast beef, London broil, Virginia ham, turkey breast, or baked salmon. Other hot dishes are available, usually thinly sliced, well-done prime rib, a baked fish, and a chicken dish. Cold shrimp in the shell and several salads are also good. Dessert eaters can try the pie and cake of the day. Coffee and tea are included in the buffet price. Sunday Champagne brunch is more elaborate at $19.95.