Golden Corral

I'm amazed that this place got an average of three stars!

I have been there several times, only one of which was through my own choice.  The other were business meetings and I had no say.

You can find good food here, but it's surrounded by a lot of deep fried things.  The soft ice cream dispenser is kind of disgusting.  The service is, as you might expect.  There is a lot of noise and, given the nature of the place, a lot of people moving around, ALWAYS!

Much has been said about the clientele and their rambunctious kids.  All of it is true.  Consider the neighborhood and its proximity to I-55.

If someone is treating you, then go for it and choose from the food troughs carefully. If you have any choice in the matter, then go elsewhere!

My wife and i went out to Golden Corral over the weekend and we were not impressed with the food at all. My wife said for the money we could have went anywhere else and fed both of us and we would have enjoyed not only the food but the atmosphere as well. This place  needs some TLC. there dishes are not very clean when they come out of the dish washer. The steak has got to be the worse cut of beef ever and thats if it even is beef. I will definatly will never go there again no matter how starving i am. This is more a kids/teens place than anything, they can eat cheap and eat alot.

OK, lets get this over with.
This place is the Mecca of Sh!tholes.
Then why did I throw 3 stars for it?
'Cos if you choose wisely you can eat well.
Never mind the Calcutta-like Sanitary conditions
Never mind the crappy service
Never mind the inattention to temperature standards
If you choose wisely you can eat well

I'd rather eat here than Applebees, Chili's, Bakers Square, Denny's, and most other chain restaurants, primarily 'cos those places are sh!tholes masquerading as serious restaurants, and they suck right out loud.

GC offers no subterfuge that they are a sh!thole. Yes, there are signs and adverts that are 100% hyperbole. But what they SHOULD say is "We Suck And We're Proud Of It!"

That said...

Get the Steaks at Rare or Medium Rare, and they're better than you'd think. The Broiled Fish have never disappointed. I hate Pot Roast, but theirs is pretty good. Broccoli/Cauliflower/Greens are all good-So are the Hush Puppies. How can you futz a baked potatoe? Review the items I just mentioned, and you can assemble a decent feed. And don't get me started about the Fried Chicken, 'cos it is among my favorite Fried Chicken ever. Crunchy and tasty old fashioned basic Fried Chicken. Get it fresh from the kitchen, and it's a treat, indeed.

Skip the Chinese, Italian and Mexican Dishes. Ditto the Ribs if you're adverse to pure fat. Skip any of the "specials" like Bourbon Street Chicken. Soups are hit and miss, take a small sample and judge-i've had good and bad.

The cold salads are usually pretty good, but the fruits are hit and miss. If they look good, they prolly are.

Desserts? The Banana Pudding is always great. So is the sugar-free Blueberry Pie. Carrot Cake and RedVelvet Cakes are always good. They make a big deal about the Chocolate fountain. That's exactly what I say about it: Big Deal...

The Soft Drinks always have a good "throw" They serve Pepsi products, and they always taste refreshing.

Let's talk about the floor show.
No matter your station in life, no matter how unfortunate a hand nature dealt you in the looks or figure department, no matter if your BMI is at critical mass, you'll see a bigger loser, an uglier troll, or a bigger mammal than you could ever be. Obese people love buffets, and you will get tired watching them go up for 6ths and 7ths. And you'll see people dressed in ways that you wont believe. It's fun watching suburbanites wander in there unaware of what lies within, and seeing the complete dread on their faces.

Good luck trying to get a drink refill. And make sure you give the plates and silverware more than a cursory look. I think they wash every third piece for sure. And make sure you go to the can before you get there, 'cos you don't really want to visit the facilities. In fact, unless I have known filth on my hands, I won't even wash my hands here. I know where my hands have been. The very definition of cognitive dissonance is refusing to micturate/B.M at a place where you are going to sup. And keep an eye on the kids. Parents love to let their horrible little spawn run amok here, despite the rules that ask that no kids visit the buffets or plate/utensil stations. More than once i've seen a kid scratching their ass or picking their nose and then go for a swipe in the pudding with the same finger. Ewww!

GC is an adventure for sure. I maintain you have to know what GC is to appreciate the Everest Room. Both ends of the stick, you know-(and I'll give you one guess as to which end of the stick GC is). Buffets, even the high-falootin' ones at Casinos have a certain amount of hazard at their heart. If you choose wisely and have a decent feed, you walk out feeling much better than when you went in. Honest.

In the final analysis, GC is so bad it's good. This is in direct contrast to the defunct Olde Country Buffet which was just bad, in any case. Why? I dunno.

Yelp makes no provision for the "What if's" So consider the rating TWO stars solid, with the potential of 3 stars if you choose wisely...

Good Luck...