Grand Café — Restaurant in Town of Lyons

This review is specifically for the Christmas Eve Buffet (2021) as well as the bar experience. I've been coming to Grand Geneva for various reasons for almost my entire life, whether for summer sports, skiing, dining, etc. It's one of the few places around that's large enough to feel like you're (kind of) getting a grand experience. The Christmas buffet was OK, but for $50 was overpriced. That's more like a big city price for a small town buffet. The quality wasn't quite there for enough items that it didn't feel worth it. Meat dishes were good, desserts were very manufactured. I'd be alright with paying say $30.

Where they really missed the mark, and I mean completely and irredeemably was with their alcoholic beverages. I get that it was Christmas Eve, there's fewer staff or less senior staff, so I don't begrudge them. I asked for what was essentially a whiskey sour, which their menu touted as a fancy version. I received a glass of Jameson with lemon juice and a sad bit of fruit based coloring. I'm not a person who usually sends things back but dang this was foul. I asked for a Margarita instead. I was served, in the same type of glass, another uninspired wash of bottom shelf tequila, lime juice, and just enough salt to distract slightly from the taste of the tequila. Keep in mind they charged $8 or $9 for what was a frat boy's first attempt at a mixed drink. The waitress was very patient and understanding, so I'd like to thank her. The bartender was probably just following recipes and using alcohol predetermined by management (again, it was Xmas Eve), so I blame lack of organization and planning for the terrible drinks.

I'd love to sit in the lounge at Grand Geneva and drink a really good Old Fashioned while listening to the live piano music. I'm not exactly optimistic, but from what I see Grand Geneva is slowly trying to update and revamp it's dining/drinking experience. They seem to have a new lounge menu since I was there last. I hope that they can deliver consistent, good quality beverages in the future even...

My wife and I went there around 6pm on 12/27/2019 and the restaurant was empty. We asked to get seated without reservations and the hostess said there was nothing available until 7. This restaurant is large and seats lots of people and has plenty of tables that only seat 2 people. We walked around and looked at the decorations for 20 minutes or so and hoped they would contact us before 7 as the place was still empty. We decided to sit outside of the Grand Cafe for the last 35 mins and just see what was going on. Maybe we were missing something.

Nope.

The table for 2 we ended up seated at near the front never had anyone Sit there for a meal. In fact the place was maybe 20% full when we were seated.

We have been here a couple of dozen times over the years and usually without reservations but tonight was the night there had to be a problem. We even heard the wait staff talking and trying to figure out why no one was getting seated when the place was packed and numerous groups had been turned away. The foyer was packed with people and the Grand Cafe can crank out some people as the majority get the buffet.

The food is great and we love going there around the holidays because the place is so beautifully decorated and the energy is great!!

Hey Grand Geneva Resort-if you wanna know why your restaurants aren’t making more money it’s because you have hosts and hostesses turning people away when you have no one in there not because of the food or...

Will not recommend Saturday evening prime rib buffet! Started with the soup. Placard read beef & barley, it was COLD chicken & wild rice. The salads to choose from were dished on what looked like individual salad plates, which made it look anything but bountiful & not appealing at all. The only salad had by our family of five, was a few dried up radishes & some cole slaw that I had tried. The entree line consisted of cold baked chicken pieces, cold french fries, cold chicken tenders, instant mashed potatoes, some kind of pepper vegetable medley, & prime rib (may have been other items, however, this is only what my family ate). The prime rib was the fattiest I have ever had, slopping off the edge of my plate. It was being carved by a young man who clearly did not want to be there nor knew what he was doing. The deserts were ok, until we tried a beautifully decorated cupcake. The frosting tasted like shortening & the cake was dry. We had 2 beers, 1 cocktail, & 2 sodas. Five of us, plus gratuity? I can't say, because I am so embarrassed! Yes, I knew the cost per person before making reservations, however I would've expected the quality to in the very least, match the price!! Very disappointing!!! Just an observation, it would truly enhance the food quality if steam tables were used instead of little sterno cups, which may or may not...