Golden Corral Buffet & Grill — Restaurant in The Villages

I had one of the most unpleasant experiences I have had in a restaurant today. It speaks very poorly of the quality of people managing this establishment.

I will attempt to keep this brief, but also I want to be thorough because I truly hope this reaches headquarters. I arrived at the restaurant with a large party, our entire family consisting of grandparents, brothers, sisters in law, and children a total of 14 people.

When we arrived to pay at the entrance as is customary, we explained the number of people so they charge accordingly: it was 2 seniors, 6 adults and X amount of children with different prices depending on their ages. We were clear and honest on everyones ages and drinks, as is right. This establishment as is common in buffets, charges soft drinks seperately (which is more than ok). Apparently, the seniors buffet comes with a soft drink, offer we found out about on site. Since neither of our 2 seniors drink soft drinks, we just figured someone else would drink it.

Same as you would share on any restaurant. From a fast food restaurant that you would give your companion the fries if you do not want them, to a luxury restaurant in which you would or could share the same thing as well. We assumed it is simply something that came with the meal. Little did we know, this was going to be a trigger for a problem.

Mid meal, literally with all our plates full, the lady from the entrance approached our table. What is important to emphasize is the way she approached. She had a rude manerism and agressive posture. She started with something like "I was informed you are sharing the drinks that are specifically for seniors, you knew those drinks were only for the seniors. You have to pay for them". She was talking as if she were addressing shoplifters or robers caught red-handed. We explained that we were not sharing the drinks, it was an honest misunderstanding and only 2 people had taken the drinks, they were not being shared. She continued with a tone, insinuating I was lying over drinks, making the entire table completely uncomfortable. "No, you knew they were for the seniors, you have to pay for them". All this in front of my family, I responded, "ok, as I said, it was a misunderstanding but do not worry, I will pay for the 2 drinks".

She left the table, then came back 2 minutes later saying "it is $4.91" (or something like it). I said, "ok, can I finish my meal first?". She said "no, you have to pay now! Here, you have to pay before consuming". I insisted "are you really saying that I have to get up in the middle of the meal for that? Handle money to then continue eating? It really can not wait until the end?". "No, you have to pay NOW". I had to interrupt my lunch for this ridiculousness. Being absolutely emabarrased before my family, when I was the one that suggested Golden Corral for lunch in the first place. It was absurd and out of place.

Not only was it a brutal way to treat a customer, but it was a poor and unintelligent business desicion. To lose the future business of 14 customers, to recuperate $4.91.

I shall not be returning.

What is worst? Is that I believe she was the manager. I did not bother asking for the manager because considering she had a different color shirt (blue with different tones), no name tag, and gave instructions, I have reason to believe this excuse for customer service was in fact "the manager". I also did not want to ask for the name, honestly I did not want to risk she deny giving it, and putting myself in...

Golden Corral - Restaurant Number: 2564 3950 Wedgewood Lane The Villages, Florida 32162

The night of 12/8/15 at 17:30 we entered one of your restaurants “Golden Corral” in The Villages to enjoy dinner with my family and found many things old and not hot. But we continued to try to eat what was fresh and looked better. More then an hour later we were about to eat dessert but decided to speak with the manager first about there OLD items still untouched and really sick looking. When I spoken to the manager (Mrs. Janie) she was the most rudest person I have ever talked to. I nicely explained that many items has been sitting here since we got here and are old and cold. She said "WHERE" with a bad attitude. So I started to show her the 5 items that were old and has been there for more then an hour untouched. She then called the worker over to correct them and she walked away. Without any apologies or we are sorry for your experience...NOTHING. This was not the way to handle a problem or even more so a customer. So I walked up to one dish to take a "Photo" and she yelled at me to LEAVE HER RESTAURANT. This is so unprofessional in so many ways. So as I walked to get my family she kept yelling the door is here, get out. I said I'm getting my family and we are leaving don't worry. So as I got my family as we return to the front to leave she was on the phone with the police for "Taking a photo" of the old food and not leaving (this is what she was telling them). Because she knows that she could have gotten in so much trouble. As we were leaving one of her workers followed us out. We were leaving but before we could get into our truck the police has already showed up. So after talking with the police she said to the police “I want them banned from this restaurant” so if we show up again we (the family) will be charged for trespassing. I have NEVER been to any restaurant where I have had a problem and talked with the manager only to be KICKED OUT and BANNED! I have one photo of the food and the video starting after I noticed she was on the phone with the police giving them a full description of myself and family. This full encounter with this restaurant was so unprofessional and the need for 4 police cars to show up was unnecessary. Me and my family still can't believe how she handled this situation and we feel so disrespected, embarrassed and belittled by this matter.

After I got back home I called the restaurant to confirm her name as the manager on duty and the lady I spoken to said “Janie” is the manager. I asked for her last name for my letter to corporate and she hung up on me.

I hope everyone that reads this will show your support and not subject your family to a unprofessional and poor ran restaurant. I have contacted corporate and a few other channels and will post an update as I know how this is dealt with...

We Have gone plenty of time to the Golden corral. My husband took me on Sunday 03/19/23. This is the worst experience I've had their, let me start at the beginning when we first went in we were told that they didn't have any knives. Nevertheless we paid and went in found our table and when to get our food. I've never seen the buffet so empty, most of the food was out except for the salad bar and some fried foods like fried chicken or some kind of fried fish the turkey was there for serving it was dried up and look like it was leftover from last Thanksgiving there was a small piece of ham left that was a crust and dried was not fit for human consumption. There were pasta sauce but no pasta I asked when there was going to be some food on the buffet I was told "oh it takes a while to cook" after sitting down and checking back on the buffet several times I started taking pictures then someone came up there and start ordering people start cooking mushrooms and stuff on the grill I end up getting a salad and a steak, I tried eating mistake without a knife that didn't work it wasa primitive experience. After a while I found someone who got me a knife. While in the process of eating the little food I had I kept checking back for some vegetables or something else to eat after a lengthy wait at least over an hour my last attempt to go up there and get something to eat that I wanted I ran into a lady that was there before looking for some food she had pocketbook going out the door she ask me "did you get any food yet" and I said I'm still working on it she stated "I guess I won't come back on a Sunday anymore good luck" and she left. They finally started getting a little food on The Buffy about 5 minutes before I left. As for me I won't be going back to Golden chorale any time soon if ever at all. My experience was horrible if I could give you zero Stars I would give you a zero star if there's way to post all the pictures I got I will post them. These pictures will tell the whole story cuz there's no way I can explain the situation as bad as it was. We were so disappointed with the experience 😞 I wanted to post my pictures not sure if they are up. Forgot to tell you how nasty the buffet was was food all over the place. if my pictures show up you will see for yourself I'm not even...