Ponderosa — Restaurant in Monitor Township

I stopped here on the way back from a business trip. I hadn’t been to a ponderosa in years (thought they were all gone). Not this one. The building is newer and the outside shrubbery trimmed and nicely landscaped. Inside it was very clean with a number of people working to keep it so. This is definitely not your ordinary buffet. Everything was freshly made and constantly monitored for freshness. The hot foods were hot and the cold food cold. There is so much it’s hard to know where to start. Huge selection of delicious foods of all kinds. The chicken was tasty and juicy whether baked fried or wings. Wonderful selection of fish and shrimp. Fresh cooked veggies green beans and carrots. Piping hot mashed potatoes with both beef and chicken gravy. The various beef selections at the buffet were taco meat and meatloaf both excellent (we just got the buffet so no report on the steaks). Always two homemade tasting soups I had the broccoli and cheese. My wife had the chicken noodle both superb. In addition our drinks are constantly refreshed and dishes removed as soon as they were set aside. Our server Kathy went out of her way to make sure we were attended to. She would fit in as a server at a 5 star restaurant!

I drove here again with my wife (2) hours from my home just so my wife could try it. Just as outstanding as my first visit. Will make sure to come here occasionally as it is a long drive. If it were closer I would be here weekly. You must try...

Eat there twice a month sometimes more all of 2017. Place is always clean. Every now and again I have ran into corn not warm. Once in the years time they had the dinner rolls way under cooked. But in their defense they were super crazy busy and a new staff person in the kitchen. I mean no one is perfect. But the majority of the time the food is great. The people that work there have always been friendly and nice. Sunday, January 6, 2018 was there about 4:30pm and this waitress that was working out area, and she just stood.out to me. She was hustling around and beds just always smiling. I messed with her and she.laughed. Later she had walked past me and bumped me with the broom by accident. She was trying to get around by six of us customers and a man moved and he bumped me and that was why the broom touched. She apologized to me, and I laughingly told her I would hit her back later. Well before we left I had told her a little story on what happened at a restaurant like this place down in Texas. We both had a good laugh and then she was I believe getting ready to go home when we were leaving. But I can tell you, she appears to have a great personality and seems to be happy with her job and enjoy it. She is a people person for sure. Her name now that I finally remembered after I asked her for it isisa Duso, Dewso, or maybe spelled Doso. She is great and took care of me and my...

I stopped for dinner on a Tuesday evening around 6:45 pm and there were around 8 other customers dining in. I ordered the beef tips, cooked medium rare with french fries. I also asked them to hold the onions.

I took a table close to the buffet bar and noticed how clean it was and very large as well. My server came over to my table and brought me my drink and some napkins. He told me to help myself to the buffet and I started at the salad bar. By the time I was done with my salad my server brought me my dinner and the beef tips were small and the fries were seasoned. Had I known that I would have ordered the baked potato. The beef was very chewy and, in some spots, very gristly, to where it was uneatable. I ate what I wanted of the beef tips, and I was glad the buffet was included in my meal. I should have gotten the buffet only.

I went back for another salad and then finished it off with a bowl of soft serve ice cream.

It was nice to stop here and reminisce about the 80’s and 90’s visiting, the long gone, Ponderosa in my hometown. If I’m in the area again, I would stop by, but only for the buffet. While I was there, I noticed how well they kept their buffet clean and up to par. Really one of the better buffets you will find. I see why this place is one of the few locations left, their staff...