Golden Corral Buffet & Grill — Restaurant in Decatur

Came for Sunday breakfast and was highly disappointed in the small selection of "breakfast" items. Most notably, the bacon was fully supplied, but so burned to a crisp that it was in pieces and turned to crumbs when moved with the tongs. A woman a head of me asked if there was more bacon, the chef's response, "looks to me like there's plenty." I politely asked the chef if this was the expectation as it was merely burnt crumbles and would fall through a fork. His response was, "They burned it back there and this is all there is." As I moved down the line others commented on the bacon as well. As I got my phone out to take a picture he removed it. Disappointingly, the bacon was substituted for more over cooked sausage links and dried sausage patties that could've been mistaken for jerky. The eggs were edible but over cooked because there were brown bits mixed in from them sticking to the cookware. The cheese grits were decent, the hashbrowns while not over or under cooked were sopping with oil. Lastly, the waffles, handmade right in front, was a nice touch, but one after another, the "chef" over cooked each one to a mahogany crisp. It wasn't just a few, every waffle was dark brown and hard like a cracker, like he intended them to be likened to a tea biscuit. Cardboard has more give than those waffles.

As far as service, our waitress was great at first, very polite and checked on us about 3 times in the first 35-45mins. I made sure to thank her every time. I was impressed with her service and had planned to tip her generously until she went to get more coffee for my refill and never returned. I could see her in the back but she just never came back to the dining area for the duration of our stay. So, our cups remained empty until we left. Final mention, as I was leaving I saw a new dish of mac and cheese, piping hot but swimming in about 1/3 inch of oily liquid on top. I couldn't help but to take the serving spoon and push down and when I did even more oily liquid pushed up. I could go on, but there were so many low quality items. I really didn't expect 5 star food on a buffet, but I did expect the simplest dishes to be of edible quality and presentable. Hopefully, I just caught them on an "off day". Needless to say I won't return and...

"SATISFYING" As I begin typing this, I'm currently sitting in Golden Corral restaurant in Decatur, Alabama. I decided to stop here on the way back to Huntsville.

I have long been a fan of the Golden Corral franchise. And, for years, I regularly frequented the Golden Corral restaurant in Huntsville, Alabama, before they shuttered it permanently after COVID-19. However, I never made an online review of it.

Now, this visit will be my fourth visit to Golden Corral, in Decatur, Alabama.

As with my previous visits to this particular franchise location, I was pleased with the food that I selected here on this visit.

The hot dishes were indeed hot, and the cold dishes were cold.

I've always been particularly fond of their fried chicken---especially the drumsticks---as well as their sweet potatoes topped with marshmallows, which I enjoyed today.

Other favorites of mine have often been their talapia and their turnip greens, which I also selected on this visit.

On this day, I also really enjoyed the cantaloupe, which was chilled, sweet, and delicious. The decaffeinated coffee that I requested after my meal was fresh-brewed and hot. Also, the wait staff were friendly and helpful.

However, I do have one notable negative about my visit this time. After I entered the restaurant, there was a group of about six adults milling around---who were apparently all together---assembling their group together. Then, I politely allowed them to go ahead of me to pay for their meal. Afterward, when I approached the cashier, I was told that the price of my meal had gone up several dollars because lunch hour had ended.

● I pointed out to the cashier that the current time on my smart watch was only 4:02 pm.,

● and that I was already in line before 4:00 pm.

● (Furthermore, there was no one behind me in line!)

● I was informed by the cashier that the computer automatically makes the change, ...

Anyway, ... otherwise, I was pleased with my meal and visit.

So, compliments to the team at the Golden Corral restaurant, in Decatur, Alabama, for an enjoyable dining experience.

Sincerely,

G. Curtis

Thursday July 24, 2025

Edited:...

Went to the Day manager about the plates were unclean went to every area that had plates and they all had food on them. I went back up after asking and they still was the same plates out there had to go to another manager that must have just come in or had been in the back and he had all plates removed and washed due to there was no soap. the other manager come out with the soap and said this is why they're not clean you don't say that to a customer. The steak cook was excellent.the manager come around to my table and told me he had all the plates removed told that other manager you need to go get some soap that's what the other manager told the other. And he was sorry was there anything else he could do?? I brought this to his attention because sometimes this happens. but the other manager had the gall to tell me there was no soap so I wonder if all the stuff that had been washed if it had no soap. That is unsanitary and can make people sick/ poison you. The manager that Spoke with me address the problem immediately. I want to say he's a great manager.the manager that was running it on day shift seem like he had no care about it as I brought it to his attention he still left them dirty plates out there. I didn't say nothing to the manager. but I feel I should get a free meal as I waited and waited and had to ask the other manager to get me a clean plate by then my appetite was ruined. They also had a big party in there and people were stacking plates all over the place the plate on every one of the isles they were not clean.now it makes me wonder if the things that hold the stuff on the bar in the stuff that they cooked with if they had no soap how was they?? I feel that me and my old man are to get a meal. signed RKV a customer. I want to say the one manager is very caring. I've been there several times and quit coming because the food wasn't that.started coming back and then found all these dirty dishes and then he told me there was no dish soap that's one heck of a thing to...