Golden Corral Buffet & Grill — Restaurant in Mishawaka

Golden Corral used to be an unbeatable deal. I previously rated this location five stars, across the board, but the quality of the food has dramatically dipped in the last year. Sadly, after today's visit, the downward trend seems to be continuing.

In early 2023, management seemingly laid off a large portion of the kitchen staff and replaced them. I'm also beginning to believe there may be new management since then, as well, but if so, they're doing a rather unfortunate disservice to the brand.

Some of the menu items were taken away and replaced. Others have since been modified. I've also watched as they've begun to use pitchers to literally water much of the food down, and not just a small amount to re-moisten the food, but enough to completely dilute the flavor.

One of the main attractions is the "all you can eat steak", but the steak has gone from a really good 7.5/10 to almost inedible. Many of the chefs now do not speak English, and it's a struggle to get a good cut of meat that is cooked to your likeness. Today, rather than having steaks slowly cooking, the cook had them all well-done, ready to go sitting in a metal tub. Myself and several others were shown fatty, well-done steaks with no good sear. When I asked for a medium, the chef held one up and said "Well?" No, medium. He then grabbed a different piece, again well done, butterflied it, and proceeded to cook it for about 15 seconds, enough to get it lukewarm.

The atmosphere has changed as well. Previously, the restaurant would play Country music at a moderately low level. Not my type of music, but it was low enough to just be background noise. Lately, the music has changed to a local adult contemporary station, playing pop and pop-rock music, but the music is completely drowned out by Latin music, blasting from the kitchen. Loud enough that on two different occasions, the manager has come out and told them to turn it down, only for it to slowly creep back up in volume. Sitting anywhere in the restaurant now, you're likely to hear two very different songs playing at the same time, making it hard to think or even enjoy the atmosphere.

The worst part if that, despite all these recent negative changes, the prices have dramatically increased, almost $5 a person over the last 16 months. It was $38 today for two adults — Insanity. I understand that inflation is an issue right now, but there is quite literally nothing being done to warrant these price hikes. I feel rather pessimistic writing all this, but this Mishawaka location has done such a dramatic 180 lately that I'm questioning if I'll even go back.

On the upside, the staff are typically friendly and cordial. In the many times I've been to this location has a waiter/waitress been an issue. Drinks are usually refilled and plates taken away in a timely manner. I've definitely had days where I've gotten no refills and my server disappearing, but every job as bad days.

As someone who used to enjoy Golden Corral once or twice a week, and has several of my own photos in this location's gallery, I cannot recommend this location. You're almost better off going...

My mother and I decided to take my daughter out to dinner Saturday night at this buffet because it's close to where we live and it had been awhile since all three of us enjoyed going out to eat together. Plus, we hadn't been to Golden Corral in a awhile. UNFORTUNATELY, the experience was anything but a good experience. We had an employee come to our table a total of THREE times to tell us they were closing at 9pm, and if we wanted any more food, we needed to go get it. The first time she approached, I figured she was just trying to make sure we got our fill... giving her the benefit of the doubt even with her flat face and uncomfortable demeanor. The second and third times were unnecessary and rude. It was only 8:30 and customers were being uncomfortably made to leave. NUMBER ONE rushing people while they are trying to enjoy their dinner is terrible service Two, they should have stopped letting people in by a certain time in order to have the place shut down within a reasonable time frame. Three, they were moving tables to the point you had to squeeze through just to get by, and again, it was only about 830pm. Four, because of this, employees' actions, the servers probably very rarely get decent tips because of the way she decided to run Saturday night dinner. We were heading out the doors and I told the woman who had worked the cash register to have a good night and coming in through the door with a bottle of windex she stated "Just don't touch the glass please " as we were leaving. FYI, if you are miserable and hate your job FIND A DIFFERENT ONE. $56 for two adults and a child just to have some of the most terrible service I've ever experienced and I have never walked into a Golden Corral with high expectations to begin with, but this takes the cake! Still tipped our server and decided to make this review after realizing that this lady probably does this every night and ruins it for her servers to make a living! I honestly hope she...

Food was terrible. Used to be good. I went for sweet potato since my diet does not include bread n rice. I should’ve listened to my husband and went to a restaurant. First, the salad bar had some old lettuce, then no potato at all. No soup. No chicken liver. They used to serve catfish with bones for lunch, but nothing. Still serving breakfast at 11. Before, by 11 all the lunch menu was out. The workers were too loud in washing dishes. Made me so uncomfortable. What made it even more worst was the fact the waitress asked if we could tip her. That is not our job we already paid $15 for a nasty meal. Ask your damn employer to pay you your wages stop depending on tips. We paid food, if you can’t afford to pay your server, do it yourself or do not serve people at all. This waitress asked my husband what are we drinking. It was suppose to be 2 senior coffee but the cashier put 2 cokes. My husband told the waitress 2 coffee not coke she said, “well if you tip me I will make sure to get your coffee. You don’t hath to tip that much.” If he told me this when we were at the restaurant, I would’ve slap her with something. I didn’t tip her my mil gave her $3. We all told my mil she shouldn’t tip this b. And then she tried to be nice n gave us a coke that we didn’t even drink. She even told my mil she was just joking. Joking? You do not tell no one to tip you and you will give them what they asked for. If you don’t get the minimum wage from golden corral, go wash a toilet somewhere. I will never ever set foot in this place. I miss the old golden corral food. No wonder some of your employees eat at panda buffet. These people said they like panda food better. I should’ve listened. Do better man. It’s people’s health and money. We don’t collect money...