I’ve always been a bit sceptical about how ‘all you can eat’ restaurants can possibly offer food that’s truly tasty: after a visit to Jimmy’s in Bath I stand corrected.

My son had pleaded to go here for a birthday treat, and, reassured by my older children that it was ‘really nice Mum, honest’, I agreed.

Hidden away upstairs, it’s a huge L-shaped dining and food servery area. Considering we’d booked, at first I was a bit disappointed to be seated quite near the bar and the entrance, but I soon realised we’d got a good deal. There are lots of huge tables, as it’s clearly a popular place for parties, both family outings like ours and stag and hen nights.

We ordered soft drinks and a bucket of beers from around the world and joined the pleasingly short queue – short thanks to the fast service, as the place was packed – and tucked into a huge variety of starters. Schezuan pepper fish, sushi and dimsum proved our favourites and we all went back for a second go.

Jimmy’s does Chinese, Mexican, Indian and Italian, and there is a huge choice. We all felt the Indian and Chinese offerings were the best, the curries were as good as those we have had from specialist Indian restaurants, with a variety of spicings. The pastas didn’t seem quite so tempting and were the only dishes which seemed to dry out a little under the warming lights.

One of the family is veggie and she was particularly pleased to find not just vegetable dishes but tofu and lots of different types of fish.

While we were eating we heard a rather odd – and very loud – thumping noise, which our next visit to the food area identified as chefs preparing the ice cream teppanyaki – choose your ice cream flavour, add sweets and have it pounded together. David tried it and said it was too sweet (!) and after quite a short time we began to be very glad we were not sitting closer to where it was being prepared and to wish they would stop making all that noise.

Our meal, for five, cost £110.88 including drinks, not unreasonable especially as it was Saturday night, the highest priced all-inclusive charge at £15.99 a head. During the week and at lunchtime it is cheaper, although not all dishes are available every lunchtime.

Would we go back? Yes, but hopefully when not every little diner wants ice cream thumped into mush.

* Daily from noon, last booking for food 9pm most nights.
* Prices: Vary according to day/time, from £7.99-£15.99.
* Disabled: Lift access, plenty of space for wheelchairs.