Ruby's Inn Cowboy's Buffet & Steak Room — Restaurant in Bryce Canyon City

SAVE YOUR MONEY, SAVE YOUR SANITY, GO SOMEWHERE ELSE. Even if you have to drive an hour, it's worth NOT eating here.

One of the worst dining experiences I've ever had. Definitely the most expensive meal I've ever had in terms of price vs. value. $50 for lunch for 2ppl???!! This was about 10x what I would have willingly paid for the meal we experienced.

We walked up right after a man that was asking for a table for a large group. There were only two of us. The preteen hostesses (4 of them) didn'tv think to check if we were with the large group. They also didn't check with the 3 separate couples that queued up behind us. After around 5 minutes, I finally stepped up to inform the girls that we were looking for a table for 2.

Meanwhile there are 3 employees sitting in a booth adjacent the hostess area and one gets up to help find a setup for the large group (were they all just hanging out in the booth while on the clock?)

Across from the hostess stand is a cashier counter (I'm not sure what they do there as our check was presented and charged by our waiter.) There were between 2 and 10 people behind the counter at any given point. Mostly hanging out, laughing, and having a good time chatting while we all stood waiting on a table. Half the people coming in and out of the cashier's area were not in uniform though they clearly "worked" there. Most were back there looking at their phones and drinking sodas from some other fast food place.

After finally getting a booth, we started in on the buffet. It would have been an adequate buffet at $8, but for $18 it was absolutely grand larceny! Mediocre in every possible way.

The tarter sauce packets next to the fried fish were hot, not just warm, not room temp, actually hot. Salmonella anyone? 🤢

The entire time we were eating, there were dozens of employees wandering around the dining room. Not working or being useful in anyway, just wandering around talking, laughing, staring at teenage girls. The experience was surreal.

The only bright spot was our waiter Alex from Maldovia, who was fantasti. Along with one other waiter from Romania, they seemed to be the only two getting anything done out of a staff of dozens. In fact, staff outnumbered guests 2:1 yet there were lines for seating, dirty tables everywhere, and empty containers on the buffet. They even had some poor lady stationed next to a trash can right in the middle of the dining area (I think it was supposed to be a bussing station, but it just ended up being weird and kind of gross.)

Cannot...

There’s limited options, but if you have any option but this one, pick something else.

We ate here for dinner since we were staying at Ruby’s for the night. We had 2 ribeyes, a buffet, cocktails, and dessert. The menu says they have prime rib in limited quantities, but we were there right at the start of dinner, and they didn’t have jay; it should likely clarify they only have it specific nights. First, the ribeyes: these were genuinely the worst steak we’ve had in recent memory. The steaks were unseasoned and frankly a waste of meat, the baked potatoes with them were overheated with huge globs of cheese that had been sitting so long it didn’t stir into the potatoes, and the “vegetable” was 3 pieces of unseasoned (like not even a speck of salt or pepper) asparagus that appeared to be steamed. Next, the buffet: The salad bar is the best part of the experience, and that’s saying something because the flavor of items (whether it be the dressings or anything else) was lacking, but there were quite a few options at least. The pot roast gravy tasted like it came out of a jar, the macaroni and cheese had never seen a sprinkle of seasoning, and the chicken was so overcooked it had to be ripped off the bone. Overall, for the food, flavor is a problem (whether the buffet or menu items). Even basics like salt and pepper might go a long way to making the food edible; it doesn’t have to get wild, as I understand the food needs to appeal to a wide population, but edible would be a good start. Next, the dessert: One of the desserts stated it was homemade, so we asked if the cheesecake was also homemade, to which the server responded “eh not really”. So, we decided to order the originally listed homemade coconut pie, to which the server responded that they didn’t have that option because “it’s out of season, like the prime rib” 😂 I’m not sure when pie (without fresh fruits or meat started having seasons, but we just said ok and moved on. Finally, the cocktails: Recipes for basic cocktails - old fashioned, mojito - are made strangely, and not for the better. For example, the old fashioned had “lemon lime mix” in it and was quite terrible. Our server was friendly, but there’s not a chance we would go back. We would make sandwiches in our hotel before...

Ruby’s Inn Cowboy’s Buffet & Steak Room is an admirable, historic, important and interesting place. The Southwest is full of company towns, and this is one for sure. This place has been around since 1916, it goes aways back! This all-in-one place runs the gamut of Western-style Ranch House, Buffet, Steakhouse and Diner all in one. Not to mention, the property incorporates lodging, shopping, gift shop, conference center, campground, Rodeo grounds and an RV park. And holds well for a captive audience for those (most tourists) not familiar with the area, unless you’re willing to either research or explore. Ruby’s offers visitors Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner with table service or buffet, as well as in-between snacks and beverages. Ruby Syrett brought his family here and decided to stake the beginnings of a little empire. Although Ruby’s Inn Cowboy’s Buffet & Steak Room doesn’t serve the greatest food in Utah, Ruby’s Inn does have decent eats in a home-style way, especially in the middle of nowhere, and is probably Garfield County’s biggest employer, employing an estimated 600 folks during its busy season. From its breakfast offerings of your average breakfast goodies such Omelets, eggs and so on, you can enjoy decent and pretty well-prepared Burgers, Club and Reuben sammiches, BBQ Brisket Melt, Nashville Sliders or Fish Tacos, Country Fried Steak (which happens to be very, very good), Soup and/or salad bar, some Seafood, Prime Rib, Ribeye Steak and Flat Iron Steak (which is done pretty darn good in my preferred medium rare – I enjoyed it). They offer sides that will satisfy anyone, like baked potato, Coleslaw, French Fries and more. They offer a variety of appetizers, seafood and steak options too. And some decent deserts. This out-of-the-way place does an excellent job of offering meals that will satisfy your needs and can be enjoyable. Remember, you can’t expect Delmonico’s or the Ritz in the middle of nowhere! Overall, it’s OK, maybe not great, but when you have such an overwhelming place and offerings, get so many people and families visiting for their meals, they’re doing a great job. Kudos Ruby’s and thank you Syrett Family, for being there for the weary family during their excursions to the natural...