Big Marina Grill & Deli

I have to start out by saying that this is the best Mediterranean buffet in the Twin Cities. I was introduced to this buffet only months ago and I am addicted. It boasts the biggest selection of food for a really reasonable price of $ 11.99 for lunch. That price includes beverages as well. And there are four buffet tables to be exact filled with dishes like gryo meat, lamb shank, shrimp, okra, salads, hummus, pita bread, and soups. However, some of the dishes like lamb shank and shrimp are refilled very sparingly. Be sure to grab lots when you see it, or else you might not get any at all.

What what? I haven’t rated this place yet? I totally owe them a good rating and an extra hole in my belt after all this time.
I haven’t sat down and ordered off the menu like a real person here, but that’s actually the norm when they boast such a beautiful buffet. It looks even more beautiful when I’m standing next to it, looking like a homeless person still in my PJs. I come here for lunch often, both getting it to-​go or dining in. Currently, the price for food to go is $ 6/​lb, which is so agreeable! So I go HAM and stock up. Oh and if you live in the area, double-​check your mail because you definitely have coupons in there, fool.
They have everything from soups to all the meats to vegetarian options to salads to dessert. Some of my faves: pea soup, fried fish, lamb on the bone, gyro meat, kabob, falafel, all of their stewed veggies, and that dessert that basically looks like a bale of hay but is so delicious. The service is welcoming and the food is always stocked. However, it drives me nuts that their to-​go containers aren’t segmented. I know, such a first world problem, but a lot of the dishes are saucy and will ultimately bleed all together. And sometimes a lot of dishes at the buffet aren’t labeled.

GYRO meat on a buffet. Enough said! I live in Houston and whenever I visit MN I have to go to Big Marinas. I cant find anything that can replicate the greatness of their buffet in Houston. Again, GYRO MEAT ON A BUFFET! It’s heavenly!
They have a great assortment items too like the chicken drumsticks, rice, mac and cheese, samosas and their krima baklava is a great dessert. But again everything pales in comparison to juicy, thick, meaty GYRO MEAT ON A BUFFET!

This is the only buffet I can eat at and not feel sick afterwards. Oh, and the food is GREAT! I’m not incredibly adventurous in my diet but theres something here for everyone, Middle Eastern and Greek foods to (really good) potatos and mac and cheese probably for tge kids. Their gyro meat and chicken and fish are always good, and while they could have more fruit options the fruit they stock is always fresh. They had banana bread for dessert last time I was there, which was a really pleasant surprise! As always, will be back!

This is my FAVORITE restaurant in Minnesota. The buffet is amazing. The food tastes fresh and everyone in my family is left satisfied– kids gets their favorites like mac & cheese, sweet & sour chicken; husband has lots of chicken and beef options; and I can choose from several vegetarian options. Best babaganoush I have ever had– they include big chunks of garlic which is just delicious. The vegetable samosas are also great. The only recommendation I have is to get an ice cream machine! :)

This is not a replica of Greek food that you’ll get anywhere else. Outstanding authentic Greek/​Mediterranean buffet executed by chefs with perfection! Always fresh, always great!

Lunch buffet is 11 dollars but well worth the price for a wonderful Greek buffet experience. They continually watch other the steam tables and the variety of food and flavors are outstanding. The décor is excellent and inviting although the tables are a little too close together. I guess they must really pack them in at times. They open at eleven and I would say get there for lunch no later then 11:30 or you may have to park in the overflow. Regardless, come anyway you won’t be disappointed.

Very quick and polite service. Again nervously entering this place for the first time. I found it nice and amiable. The staff was quick to help me and offer me options as I was unsure as to what I wanted. Showed me the buffet and pointed out what there was.
I decided on a take away Gyro as I have had a few here and there normally I was less then impressed with it. Yet the meat was tasty, the pita was easy. The fries that came with it stuck out like a sore thumb tho, would have preferred another option yet not going to complain about that to much as it standard for american people. All in all it seems like a decent place yet there was nothing about it that wowed me really.

Decent buffet. Great lunch break option.
The service was quick and polite, quickly refilling pans that were empty on the buffet and to clear plates away. Food was pretty good. The falafel was dry and the salad was lacking– I wished it was nice fresh romaine lettuce, instead of that iceberg mix. I liked that they had mussels and shrimp. Quite a bit of the food was overly greasy, like the gyro meat, but it was tasty, so I guess. They had a lot of fresh fruit options and dessert was included. There were a lot of unique items that you don’t see often on a buffet, like okra, stuffed grape leaves, and mussels. Lots of vegetarian options. I’d go back for a fast lunch if I was in the area.

Been to this place about three times. This place has a great middle eastern buffet. I say when you go to a ethnic restaurant and you see people of that ethnicity frequenting it you know you have a gem ! As is the case here consistently good and the staff always are friendly just good people who care that your happy ! Décor nothing special but food and good service !

Best lunch buffet you can find in the Twin Cities. Yummy food. Excellent service. They sometimes have salmon during the lunch buffet, usually around noon. Make sure you leave room for desserts and hot tea.
Drop 1 star because of my last dinner experience here. Salmon was dry. Other main entries were not good and high quality as they used to be. Dessert items were old and not good. I came here numerous times and this was just one bad experience. It is funny how business always had good quality food when the establishment looked dirty and old BUT the quality of the food went down hill when the establishment got an upgrade.

I love this place! Since a friend took me here for lunch 2 years ago (2012), this has become my go to place for lunch or dinner. I always go for buffet though. Food is amazing, service staff is friendly and I love the vibe here. It’s a wholesome experience. I would say this is probably next best thing to having Middle Eastern food in a Middle Eastern country :)
I always take my visiting friends here and everyone seems to love this food. Most recently I took couple of friends visiting from Egypt here for dinner and and even they were amazed at how good the food was. So this place is proven authentic :) If you are in Minneapolis area, don’t miss it!

The food is really good. Much, much better than any chain restaurant buffet. I like the food, but I wish they had signs or labels so I could learn the names of the ethnic dishes they have. :). Their breads are excellent. Definitely worth the trip.

I had to rate this eatery with less stars because of the sanitation in the men’s room. It was grimy, especially in the stalls. It did not appear to have been cleaned in quite some time. The floor was nasty. And what’s with the trash bin in the stall next to the toilet? I don’t want to know what the paper in there was used for. It concerns me that when I can see poor sanitation on public areas, what goes on in the kitchen and with employee practices? If I had seen the rest room first, I would not have stayed for lunch.
My lunch was good, but the lamb shanks were no longer on the buffet table. When I asked about this I was brought a lamb shank form the kitchen, included in the buffet price. While some other items no longer appear on the buffet (I ate there last about 4 months ago) there is still a good selection and it was all fresh/​recently prepared.

This place. I just don’t even have words for it.
I work close by, so every once in awhile a co-​worker and I will venture over to the lunch buffet on an in-​service day. For what you pay ($ 11 including a drink and dessert), this is one of the best deals in the Cities for some of the best food out there. Sure, they have a few weird dishes (like mac ‘n cheese) to cater to the Americans like most lunch buffets, but don’t let that fool you because the food is super authentic. Awesome gyro meat, hummus, grape leaves, spiced chicken, pita bread, salad, rice, you name it. The buffet is always well stocked, the servers are super attentive about clearing plates, and it’s a quick in and out. The place is always busy, too. Always a good sign.
I have been to several functions catered by Big Marina and their food translates well even in large quantities. It doesn’t look like much being tucked into the corner of a mini strip mall in Columbia Heights, but don’t miss this place. Or maybe you should so that there are more grape leaves for me.
My only suggestion? Make sure you have a breath mint or two post lunch for your insane garlic breath!

Try the ribs. For real. So fricken good! The samosas are also to die for! The dessert bar is pretty lacking, though :(Every time I go there the little cakes and things are dry.

best gyros in twin cities.
Nice and clean place to eat.
Very well managed.
5 stars

Best buffet in town! I can get my Mediterranean fix while my less adventurous (in terms of food anyway) daughter can enjoy mashed potatoes, corn and chicken wings.
I’ve ate here for lunch, mid afternoon and during supper rush and the food is always fresh and delicious. The common ‘go when it’s busy or the food will be stale’ that is true for so many buffets does not apply here.

Was craving a new experience and decided to scope Unilocal for «buffets» on day. Came across this place and figured it’d be a great change from chinese or a busy, over priced brunch buffet.
Very, very surprised at how good it was. The food was fresh and when the bins were getting low, they were refreshed right away. Amazing, and I mean amazing lamb and humus. The chicken and peppers were incredible and the pita bread was killer.
I was hoping for a bit more out of the greek salad and spanakopitas, but the other dishes more than made up for it.
Great, FRESH, desserts as well so don’t fill up entirely on the buffet chow!
Definitely heading back to this place when I get a craving for some Greek and buffet.

I really like the Big Marina, even better than Holy Land!
The reason I’m comparing Big Marina to Holy Land is because they have VERY similar food, they both have big buffets, and they’re on the same road… but about 25 blocks apart.
I’ve been to Holy Land many, many times. I went to Big Marina for the 3^rd time on Saturday, and I came to the realization that I like them much more than Holy Land. They don’t have a grocery store… but…they have a super buffet that has nearly the double the variety of Holy Land. In addition, it’s more intimate and quiet, with great customer service. It isn’t a crazy zoo like Holy Land tends to be.
These guys are a shining light in the culinary darkness of Columbia Heights. Thumbs up!
–Daddy Maxx Retro