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Golden Corral (split from Stay at home humor thread)

DaveNV

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Never eaten at Golden Corral. Really. Am I missing something? LOL

No. It's like Denny's - without the ambience. ;)

Dave
 

Passepartout

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I had lunch in a GC maybe 20 years ago. Never been in one since. Didn't need to. 'Nuff said.
 

plpgma

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I had lunch in a GC maybe 20 years ago. Never been in one since. Didn't need to. 'Nuff said.
Ditto! Went there once when the kids were little -- vowed afterwards to never return to one again!
 

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pedro47

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Ok, Tuggers please be kind to GC.
 
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Jan M.

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if you haven't gone to a golden corral how do you know?
Their reputation must be bad!

I guess we should pity the TUG people that meet every year at the Golden Corral in Orlando Florida o_O

https://tugbbs.com/forums/threads/come-to-orlando-jan-22-for-our-2020-tug-meeting.294683/

I am one of them. Lol. I can tell you from first hand experience that all Golden Corrals are not the same by a long shot. A few months before going to my first TUG get together a friend had been telling me that it's possible to eat very healthy at Golden Corral. He cares for his very elderly father, they frequently stay at the timeshare resorts in Orlando and often eat at Golden Corral. I decided to give it a try when I was in Orlando by myself with our then 4 year old granddaughter. When she and I got back to our house for the rest of her stay it took some work to convince my husband to give our local GC a try but we were both pleased with the selection at our location too. When we were all talking to our son about where we had eaten he couldn't believe that I of all people would willing set foot in a GC a second time. He assumed I was sacrificing to make his daughter happy because she loved the chocolate covered strawberries we did in chocolate fountain. Several months later when I took her home from another stay with us she and I had a Grandma and Zoey day out. After going to the playground and getting our hair cut we made the horrible choice to eat at a GC there in Ohio. It was absolutely awful and not just in the selection of foods they offered. We left still slightly hungry. When we got back from our day out and were telling our son and DIL about it they said now you know why we couldn't believe you would ever willingly go back to a GC.
 

dago

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I am one of them. Lol. I can tell you from first hand experience that all Golden Corrals are not the same by a long shot. A few months before going to my first TUG get together a friend had been telling me that it's possible to eat very healthy at Golden Corral. He cares for his very elderly father, they frequently stay at the timeshare resorts in Orlando and often eat at Golden Corral. I decided to give it a try when I was in Orlando by myself with our then 4 year old granddaughter. When she and I got back to our house for the rest of her stay it took some work to convince my husband to give our local GC a try but we were both pleased with the selection at our location too. When we were all talking to our son about where we had eaten he couldn't believe that I of all people would willing set foot in a GC a second time. He assumed I was sacrificing to make his daughter happy because she loved the chocolate covered strawberries we did in chocolate fountain. Several months later when I took her home from another stay with us she and I had a Grandma and Zoey day out. After going to the playground and getting our hair cut we made the horrible choice to eat at a GC there in Ohio. It was absolutely awful and not just in the selection of foods they offered. We left still slightly hungry. When we got back from our day out and were telling our son and DIL about it they said now you know why we couldn't believe you would ever willingly go back to a GC.
Wow - I never thought I would get such a discussion from my sarcastic comment - You all have me curious now that I may have to try GC - JUST Kidding - I never have had a desire to go to one, even before I heard all these comments. Not sure why. Maybe I had a premonition. Which GC in Ohio did you go to?
 

pedro47

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GC liked all restaurants that offer any kind of buffets; must change their operation restaurant system and the way they conduct their business because of covid-19. ...

In fact all restaurants that offer dine in service must change their sitting arrangements because of social distancing.

Covid-19 will change our lives, our work spaces & habits, our shopping habits, going to beach and sporting events the list goes on and on ... IMHO.
 
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Jan M.

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Wow - I never thought I would get such a discussion from my sarcastic comment - You all have me curious now that I may have to try GC - JUST Kidding - I never have had a desire to go to one, even before I heard all these comments. Not sure why. Maybe I had a premonition. Which GC in Ohio did you go to?

Our son and his family live in Olmsted Falls so it wasn't too far from there. If that had been my first experience with a Golden Corral I can guarantee you that I would never consider even for a second going to another one. If you're staying in Orlando the one we go to for the TUG get together and the one not far from Vacation Village at Parkway are both good. Both locations have a very nice selection of fruits and vegetables and I like the baked fish. The senior lunch is a good deal.
 

DaveNV

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Our son and his family live in Olmsted Falls so it wasn't too far from there. If that had been my first experience with a Golden Corral I can guarantee you that I would never consider even for a second going to another one.

That's kind of my experience with IHOP. They opened one in my town, and people raved about it. We went. Meh. The service was poor and the pancakes were raw in the middle. (I don't mean undercooked - we're talking it was still PANCAKE BATTER in the center.) I put it down to the newness of the place. A year later we went again. Service was poor and the pancakes were raw in the middle. WTH? Another few years went by, and my daughter dragged us there for lunch. Guess what? Service was poor, and the pancakes were raw in the middle.

I'm done. I won't be going back. :rolleyes:

Dave
 

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That's kind of my experience with IHOP. They opened one in my town, and people raved about it. We went. Meh. The service was poor and the pancakes were raw in the middle. (I don't mean undercooked - we're talking it was still PANCAKE BATTER in the center.) I put it down to the newness of the place. A year later we went again. Service was poor and the pancakes were raw in the middle. WTH? Another few years went by, and my daughter dragged us there for lunch. Guess what? Service was poor, and the pancakes were raw in the middle.

I'm done. I won't be going back. :rolleyes:

Dave
Stop ordering pancakes!!!
 

dioxide45

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We know this whole meme is a lie. Golden Corral didn't have the Chocolate Wonderfall back in 1982! They didn't introduce it till 2011.
 

dioxide45

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For us, Golden Corral is one of those places we go to when it has been so long since the last time that we have forgotten what it was like. We go and are miserable afterward. I talked about this in 2012. Going to Endless Shrimp or the Never Ending Pasta Bowl ranks up there too.

That said, I enjoyed the Orlando TUG meetup there this past January!
 

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Went once on a road trip with friends years ago. Not impressed and would not go back.
 

dioxide45

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Golden Corral's business model isn't to offer a five star dining experience. They offer average service with average food to the bargain conscious diner. Nothing more. They aren't out to try and earn any Michelin Stars. Looking for a full belly at a cheap price? Golden Corral is the ticket!
 

bbodb1

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RCI Weeks: LaCosta Beach Club, RCI Points: Oakmont Resort, Vacation Village at Parkway. Wyndham: CWA and La Belle Maison, and WorldMark.

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bluehende

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Like others we were hit or miss on GC. We went a few times when our kids were young in the Orlando area. You cannot beat a buffet for kids. Many choices and those desserts. Quick easy and cheap. We enjoyed the Orlando area ones and tried one by us. This was the worst restaurant experience we have ever had. For waistline reasons we do not hit them now. However, a couple years ago after a very long hiking day in the Smokies it was easy to stop at the one in Pigeon Forge as it was late and we were starving. Made myself a nice salad and pigged out on steamed shrimp. I waddled away very satisfied.
 

pedro47

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The GC that Tuggers used is one of the better one. The food is always hot and fresh. Great location..Plus, the staff are very curious IMHO.
 
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