San Diego - Seeking Christmas Buffet

[toliver]

Last year I treated my mom to the Christmas dinner buffet at the 94th Aero Squadron in Kearny Mesa. I thought the food was just okay and that the lines to access the buffet were insane (winding through two "rooms" of the restaurant). We had 4pm reservations and by 5pm the restaurant was packed to the rafters with people, hence the long lines for the buffet.
In fact, when I broached the subject of going back to the 94th Aero Squadron again for this year's Christmas dinner, my mom mentioned that she was offput by the long lines.

So I would like to know if anyone can recommend a Christmas dinner Buffet in San Diego or outlying areas.

I have done extensive Googling and found some San Diego Christmas buffets that end too soon (we're looking for 4pm or 5pm reservations). I also found a number of restaurants that were serving a set Christmas menu but they won't do because my mom really enjoys a buffet where she can try a little of everything. She also has a more...er...pedestrian palette...so high concept, upscale food is out.
There is the Hotel Del Coronado buffet. I don't mind the higher price (my mom would freak out if she found out how expensive it was so shhhh...it will be out little secret) but I just want more options to give her.
She lives in Santee but just about every section of San Diego can easily be reached from there within a half hour (God Bless the San Diego Freeway systems!).
Oh, and the The Hornblower Cruises Christmas buffet (say that five times fast!) is out as my mom gets seasick.
Thanks for any and all suggestions.

[toliver]

Regarding places that have Thanksgiving buffets also having Christmas buffets...I've been finding it about half true. Tom Ham's Lighthouse, for example, is open Thanksgiving but isn't open Christmas Day.
But I came across that article online listing Thanksgiving buffets and will do some more research by phone.

As for the Indian Casinos, it's definitely an option. The regular buffet at Barona is pretty good (reminds me of a good Vegas buffet) so eating there on Christmas Day could work.
I've also had the buffet at Valley View Casino north of Escondido, and while it's good it's so far away (about an hour drive) it may not be worth the trip.

Thanks for the suggestions.

[DiningDiva]

Do NOT even consider Tom Ham's Lighthouse. For some unfathomable reason we have the office Holiday luncheon there every year, buffet style. The place is dirty, in need of some serious rennovaiton and the food 10 steps below mediocre. The only reason to go is the view which is indeniably terrific. Horrid, horrid, horrid.

[pbhomey]

My goodness Diva! How do you really feel???

[Jim Strain]

The casinos would be a good choice. They're relatively convenient to Santee, and they're set up for massive crowds, the buffets are pretty good and appeal to folks with traditional tastes. Christmas is a big day for them, so you'll be smart to get reservations.
. . . jim strain in san diego.

[pbhomey]

The same restaurants that have a Thanksgiving buffet will usually also serve a Christmas buffet. They will be listed in today’s Night & Day section of the Tribune and in today’s Reader.

This link will give you other ideas as well:
http://www.chowhound.com/topics/342781

The Hornblower is a nice calm cruise, not too many waves in the harbor. But the food is OK at best. The Del will be mobbed with people. I would suggest the Westgate Hotel...great service and quality food. The Lael’s at the Hyatt downtown is also quite good.

[trace]

Hey toliver,

I get seasick really easily and i did the Hornblower dinner cruise with no problem.....just a little fyi...

I can't even go out on the bay normally....but this cruise just goes down past the Coronado Bridge and back if I'm not mistaken.....no seasickness for me....

I'm also looking for Christmas dinners for some friends of mine to go to...so I'll be checkin back here to see if anyone else has posted...

[beth1]

My husband and I went on a Hornblower cruise last year, and it was great. The ship was really stable, we wouldn't have known it was moving had we not looked out the window. The food and service were excellent. We're not going this year because he's deployed, but we will do it as soon as he gets back, and will continue to go for Christmas as long as we love here and their service doesn't change.