Views On Golden Coral

[donrobo]

HI i have been told from a friend to go to the golden coral diner to eat as the menu is fantastic.
I did a search on it and my friend was right it had an ENORMOUS selection of dishes although she hasn't been yet but is due to go in 2 weeks.

The question i am asking is " has anyone been to it ?"and "what are the prices approximately?"

thanks donna

[marioner]

It was approx $35 for 5 of us (breakfast) and there was loads of choice, my family really loved it, except me that was. I prefer to be seated and served a meal rather than buffet. But is was great value for money.

[BCKloon]

Around $8.99 all you can eat buffet :)

[MrB]

From using the GC and reading on the Dibb it can depend upon the restaurant. On the whole found the food OK. About $10 for entree and then all you can eat buffet. The kids liked it.

[poohspals]

I have heard some good reports on it from the Dibb. We are going to try it out for the first time this trip

[mouli1]

ghastly,broken and chipped plastic plates ,wouldnt go back again not a pleasant experience for us

[loadsapixiedust]

DD calls it 'the trough' It's an all-you-can-eat buffet with lots of choice but not the best presented food you'll find and it can get very busy and very messy.

A good cheap option especially if you have kids because they can try everything. You'll usually find coupons in all the tourist booklets for money off. There is a different 'theme' for dinner each night.

[spenners]

We love it for breakfast. Never had lunch/dinner. I think it is good value :thumbs-up

[sueandco]

This was recently discussed on another thread and it seemed that there is a great deal of variation between branches with some much better than others.

[winnie-T-P]

we loved it,much preferred it to ponderosa

[michelle76]

This was recently discussed on another thread and it seemed that there is a great deal of variation between branches with some much better than others.

Yes there is, the first one we went to, I wasn't too impressed with, the food was lovely, but the dining area had a very unpleasant smell in it. We decided to try another one and were very pleased with the dining area and food. I will certainly be going back on my next trip over there.

[mac]

We go a couple of times each trip, It's good value for money and a great selection of different food, the meatloaf is fantastic.
Last time we used one in LBV which was very clean

[rusty30]

Horrible place - never had a decent meal in any of them, regardless of location.

DH likes these "pile em high, sell em cheap" kind of buffets but I refuse to go near them anymore. He took the kids to a Golden Corrall for breakfast when we were there last week. Even he came back this time and said "Never again". Cold food, dubious hygeine and rubbish quality.

You can eat MUCH better for not much more money. Chilis, TGI's, Outback, Bennigans, Tony Romas all have reasonable entrees for under $10 and are FAR FAR superior to the rubbish you will be served up at these "all you can eat" places. Yes its cheap, but you certainly get what you pay for. They are only ever full of British tourists who want vast amounts of food at the lowest price possible - personally, I prefer quality over quantity, and you dont need to pay a lot for EXCELLENT food in the US (especially in the tourist areas around Orlando).

Well, thats my opinion - I guess you have to try it yourself, but believe me, you can do an awful lot better!

[pixie family]

We last ate here 9 years ago when we were on our honeymoon.
I keep meening to try it again but have just never got around to it. Perhaps next year.... :wavey:

[WindsorHillsPad]

Cheap, quick, busy, canteen feel. Alright if you are hungry and tired and want something quick and easy. Not alright if you are dressed up to go out for an evening meal. Some people are VERY greedy and it is quite worrying (but strangely interesting) to watch.

[debs1505]

Sorry, another no from me. We only go if we are mega skint towards the end of the holiday, but it's too much of a free for all, work canteen type of place for me. Cheap plastic plates, food sitting for ages under heat drying out, people piling as much food on their plates as they can. Just not my cup of tea. BUT, it is 100% better than Ponderosa!!!!!! :wavey:

[Burties]

:thumb: :thumb: Love G.C...never had a bad meal yet. :thumb: :thumb:

[geordie39]

if you want to eat the nite befores buffet leftovers for breakfast on a dirty table its the place to go , we are staying 2 weeks onsite on the DDP so we wont have eat at such places...... cant wait :tounge:

[coombsyl]

Some people are VERY greedy and it is quite worrying (but strangely interesting) to watch.

:d: :d:

I know exactly what you mean Annie - it is quite fascinating. It's ok for a quick meal - you just dive straight in there. We preferred the one at LBV.

Must admit we have never, ever seen leftovers from the previous night at breakfast as the menu is totally different and the bakery replaces rolls and cookies regularly.

[carolmc]

We have visited GC many times - never had a "dodgy" meal yet - nor have I had chipped plates or a dirty table.

[teabag]

Another vote for GC - never had a bad brekkie, lots of choice, always had clean table, great service, hot food - far far better than Ponderosa and bottom of the pile for me Sizzlers and IHOP. I must admit the ice cream for breakfast is a turn off and something I don't let my kids have much to their annoyance!

[Claire44]

We always have breakfast at the LBV one and have never had a bad one in all our visits. If you go to that one look out for a server called Cynthia, she's lovely and always looks after us, she remembers our names and what drinks we have from one holiday to the next and always greets us on our first day with a big hug each.

[teabag]

The one on the 192 near to Formosa Gardens has a lovely lady who runs the omelette station (a bit like Rusty Lee - remember her?!) she will cook anything to order, all the locals tip her $$$$, she has quite a fan club. I personally don't go for omelettes but after tasting hers, will certainly go back. She has been there for so many years ...

[Petalsoftly]

Never had plastic plates? The steak I had on three seperate occasions was gorgeous, and we liked this place because it had a good choice of vegetables.

[spoony]

Sorry, another no from me. We only go if we are mega skint towards the end of the holiday, but it's too much of a free for all, work canteen type of place for me. Cheap plastic plates, food sitting for ages under heat drying out, people piling as much food on their plates as they can. Just not my cup of tea. BUT, it is 100% better than Ponderosa!!!!!! :wavey:

Strange I think the complete opposite, Ponderosa was the food sitting out drying up and people eating too much and GC was the far better place to eat. Saying that we only ever had Breakfast in either of these on the 192.
Just never ever go to Shoneys it made the Ponderosa Breakfast look like it came from a 5 star restaurant.

[Sean_and_Sue]

The only GC we've been to is the one west on the 192 near Formosa gardens and only had breakfast there.

Great in 2004, but dirty, scratch plastic plates and poor quality of food in 2006.

I've read recent reports of the restaurant being much improved, so will keep an open mind.

My first stop for breakfast next time though will be Cracker barrel. Never had a bad meal there and the food is fantastic :thumbs-up
I would of never thought to of gone to Cracker barrel until I read about it on the Dibb.

[olgaandcoda]

We went in NOv 2005 and someone recommended the GC, went for breakfast and everything was fine, not dirty, freshly cooked food.

We preferred Pondorosa, again never had a bad meal there, but some dibbers seem to hate it. At least there is a fantastic choice in Orlando, so if you don't like somewhere there is always another one down the road.

We never tried Bahama Breeze, but have been impressed with dibbers reviews and will try it next visit.

[tink_magic]

We have been to GC a few times over the last couple of years. I prefer Ponderosa to the GC as your steak or meal is brought to you at the table and you help yourself to the buffet. At Christmas last year it was practically impossible to get a steak at the golden coral as the queue was massive if you got your potato and veg etc on the way to the steak like normally it was cold by the time you got your steak and if you waited until you got your steak first people wouldnt let you back in to the veg.

In quieter times it is worth visiting but if it is busy it is much better going to a restaurant with table service at least you get your meal broght to you there

[BevS97]

We've only been once, to the one on the 192 near Formosa Gardens. We had plastic plates (well they are like a sort of unbreakable melamine like you'd have for school dinners)

the food was awful and the whole place had a roadside cafe feel about it. I wouldn't go back.

For a similiar price, you can eat freshly cooked food at Dennys, IHOP or Perkins. You only get one entree rather than 50 but at least the one you get is edible.

[jcjcjc]

HI i have been told from a friend to go to the golden coral diner to eat as the menu is fantastic.
I did a search on it and my friend was right it had an ENORMOUS selection of dishes although she hasn't been yet but is due to go in 2 weeks.

The question i am asking is " has anyone been to it ?"and "what are the prices approximately?"

thanks donna

We Love the Golden Coral, my OH is a fuzzy eater and he's also a veggie,there is plenty for him, I love the food and also DD eats for free as she is only 2.
You see them making the food, the deserts are fab.

We use it alot.

[ameliaUK]

I think with 3 girls all liking different things ,Golden Coral will be ideal for us and we will certainly be giving it a try .
There is one next to the Fairfield Inn where we are staying,will also try bahama Breeze one evening ,Were not great ones on eatingout so anywhere will most likely be good for us

[spickard]

I knew when we went in that it was pile it high junk food but it was worse than that. We did it only once as one of my kids ate Chocolate cake for breakfast!.

We really liked Perkins where the food was cooked fresh for you and served by a waitress who gave us lots of info about the parks we were going to that day.

We also went to the Ponderosa which was quite bad as well.

Sandra

[beth-xx]

bahama breeze is one of the best places to eat ever we tried it near the end of our holiday and said oh i wish we had came here all the time lol. It is quite busy but then thats because of the great food !! i loved it was one of the best places i thought !!!

[stationeryguru]

It's great for a cheap evening meal but I wouldn't go more than twice in a 2 week period. We had a fantastic meal at Perkins and will definately go back there next time we go (hopefully 2009).

[Princie]

We liked Sizzler better

[Disneysue]

We tried Golden Corral this year for the first time after reading good reviews about it, but didn't get past the door !! There was a sign saying "no travellers cheques" and that put us off straight away.

After talking to many people over there we are glad we didn't go in.
We were told a good restaurant will accept any form of payment.

Top of our list is Bahama Breeze (cocktails to die for), then Sizzlers then Ponderosa.

[KathStacey]

Go wow the carrot cake is to die for and the steak what can i say no wonder my partner put 1.5 stone on in 2 weeks :d:

[Petalsoftly]

I knew when we went in that it was pile it high junk food but it was worse than that. We did it only once as one of my kids ate Chocolate cake for breakfast. Sandra

See I can't understand that? We only saw lots of salad and loads of vegetables. The cakes were on the dessert counter. And GC can't be blamed for children eating cake for breakfast.

[gavvy]

ghastly,broken and chipped plastic plates ,wouldnt go back again not a pleasant experience for us

This is my experence too not hygenic!

[joblot]

After talking to many people over there we are glad we didn't go in.
We were told a good restaurant will accept any form of payment.



The travellers cheque saga has got nothing to do with the quality of the place. Mcdonalds accept travellers cheques. There was a post on here a couple of months ago that put this down to the number of counterfeit cheques in circulation. :)

[mainecoon lover]

I must say i have done this once last year and never again :nonono:

[princessfiona]

Having been to Florida with parents I was a Ponderosa fan, but this year dh and I decided to try the Golden Corall. I am glad we did as they certainly had a great choice of fresh food. Everything you could imagine and plenty of ot. The only bad point I think is that if you go at the busy time (6-8pm) then it can get a little dare I say rowdy at the buffet trying to see whats there and get your choice, however I would def recommend it. An evening buffet meal for an adult with juce was $11.99

[jcjcjc]

See I can't understand that? We only saw lots of salad and loads of vegetables. The cakes were on the dessert counter. And GC can't be blamed for children eating cake for breakfast.

Lots of healthy eating options, massive choice for everyone, you really cant compare it to the awful ponderosa.

For us GC is ideal, great service and lovely food, great value aswel and its always been clean.

we use the one on the 192 marker 4 or 5

[JAL]

We go a few times each trip, especially for the early bird senior specials. Some of the restaurants are a little tired looking but we've never had a problem with hygiene or the quality of the food.

[michelle76]

if you want to eat the nite befores buffet leftovers for breakfast on a dirty table its the place to go , we are staying 2 weeks onsite on the DDP so we wont have eat at such places...... cant wait :tounge:

We went for breakfast at golden coral, but discovered they don't serve breakfast only lunch which starts at about 11.30. The tables have always been clean when we have went (with not even a speck of salt).I would recommend GC to all my friends and family. :thumbs-up

[teabag]

Which Golden Corral did you visit that didn't do breakfast? We always go to the one on the 192 about 7am and lots of customers around. Mind you on one of our last visits 3 coaches pulled up with American students, glad I was in the front of line by then :grin:

[igoefamily]

Horrible place!! Piled up plates of half eaten food, dirty floors, dirty tables. We went once and would never go back. I know some people seem to like it but I would much rather pay more for a meal and not feel ill sitting in the restaurant. It truely was discusting.

[Petalsoftly]

Overview then: It depends on the day, time and where you go. So in other words go and see for yourself! :D

[carolmc]

Yes, that about sums it up. Go and see

[ju_itfc]

Ha ha, breakfast buffets in the USA. Always sure to stir up a debate with contrasting arguments.

Golden Corral was one of Orlando's best kept secrets. Everybody (large amounts of Brits) went to Ponderosa and Sizzler but then a few guidebooks recommended GC over those two and now GC is the preferred choice of just about everyone.

With this come problems. I must admit a visit to GC nowadays is not as pleasant as a visit in say 2003. The food is still of a standard that Ponderosa and Sizzler can only dream of, but the customer service is lacking now. They just can't cope with the numbers.

We have only ever gone for breakfast and at that price it is good value. However I would much rather spend my evenings in a better restaurants, the likes of Tony Roma's, Ruby Tuesdays and Bennigans are some that come to mind. An overall much more enjoyable experience.

I say go and see for yourself. I will continue to visit but whereas I might have gone 4 or 5 times in a 14 night holiday, the truth is now more likely to be once or twice.

[derrykerry]

We went to nearly every restaurant on the 192.

My favourites for buffet meals were Houlihans and Golden Corral (no plastic plates, immaculately clean, great staff and divine omelettes).

Also loved Perkins.