Golden Corral Buffet & Grill — Restaurant in Springfield

Thinking that it was on the southern end of town, we thought this would be the better one. Now I'm sure that Covid has impacted their business/staffing etc. But to show up for breakfast and to have little to no food out on the buffet is unacceptable. Clearly I observed new hires being trained. However, there wasn't really any observable Manager running the things. No plates, no syrup, pancakes and waffles that were hardening up. No breakfast meats except bacon. Just a very poor showing all together. I get its Buffet food so I wasn't expecting high end cuisine, i also wasn't expecting a buffet that was 70% empty and what food was available was old. Restaurants already faced an uphill battle prior to Covid, these folks better figure this out or they will be like many other Golden Corrals that have closed post-pandemic. Updated 3/30/24. Addition by subtraction, now that Springfield has 1 location, the location was busier, staff was more attentive and food was much better. Went for breakfast the Saturday prior to Easter and with the exception of the girl. At the register, the entire staff was friendly and attentive. If you're craving an omelette, make sure you get one made they have plenty of ingredients to make specifically how you like. This was by far the best Golden Corral visit AT ANY location...

Don't believe their automated messages or the staff when you call. I called today at 10:30am and asked when the lunch buffet started. They said 11am which is what the automated message said too. Lunch buffet is supposed to be 12 per adult. When we got there at 11:26am they charged me 17.99 each and said it's the dinner buffet. 2 sodas was 6 bucks. I told the cashier their message and staff both said lunch starts 11am. She said "well I guess that needs to be changed" then looked at me like I was the problem. I would've went somewhere else if we hadn't drove all the way across town just to go there. Apparently there is no lunch buffet on Saturday even tho their message and the staff said there is. The only good thing was the waitress Eva. She was very good with my kids and she was also quick to offer refills and took our used plates almost immediately. She was working a whole section by herself and did an amazing job. Props to her for making the experience better. She deserves a raise. She even quickly cleaned up the mess my son made when he dropped his mac and cheese fork, she then went and got him a new fork and spoon. Don't let the automated message and staff lie to you. There is no lunch buffet on Saturday. They're bait and...

Typical Golden Corral buffet fare, it's always good but seldom great. They now have servers at every station to fill your plate. Which makes it really hard to build the plate you actually want. A little more of this, less of that and the server starts looking at you funny so you just shut up and take whatever they choose to ladle onto the plate.

There is plenty of free parking with handicap access inside and out. Clean restaurant including the restrooms.

There was one little abnormal event, they shut me down from taking pictures. The first guy was just quite rude about it, saying he didn't care if my pics and review brought in any customers or not. I visited with the manager who was on the floor and he verified what I'd been told that it was Golden Corral's policy of no pictures. I would point out that this is the 5th Golden Corral that I've been in and taken pictures. Not a word about policy from any of the others.

That's all ok, that's their business but it is enough for me to not consider it as a dining choice in the future. I still give it 4 stars because I did enjoy...