Both of these restaurants are extremely popular, so parking is can be tough. It's best to arrive early; around 4:00 PM is ideal.
Golden Corral is another pig-out buffet restaurant. For around $8.00, you eat your fill and then some. Look for their coupons in every Orlando guide. They serve breakfast, lunch and dinner.
The beginning of the experience is a little confusing. You stand waiting with the hordes in lines that will remind you of a Disney ride. When you reach the counter, you are to grab silverware and a plate and put them on a tray. Then, you choose a beverage. Only at breakfast do beverages come free. After paying, you pick a table. The server will come to check your receipt and then will refill drinks and (occasionally) clear the dirty dishes.
The beauty of Golden Corral is in the stations; these are not bars, like at other restaurants. The workers actually are preparing the food in the middle of the bakery station, at the salad station, and on the grill. You crowd around them and get the food which appears and disappears quickly. The stations are set out attractively in the center of all the seating and there's a good flow to the action. Though, the numbers of hungry diners is high, you seldom feel like you're waiting to pick out your food.
The food itself is quite good. It's got some excellent Tilipia and the hushpuppies are a must; they are so American. Broasted chicken, carved turkey and ham, pot roast, grilled steaks...ok, I'm getting hungry, so I'll stop. It's got a lot of meat. But, it has all the trimmings besides. For instance, the mushroom buttons and the battered onions, the sauteed green peppers are all yummy extras that the restaurant thoughtfully provides at the grilling station.
Golden Corral has a lot of everything. It is the teens' favorite place to eat. It is a family restaurant. It isn't high class, but yet, you don't feel like you've lowered your standards while you've eaten. It's tasty, it can be nutrious (if you chose carefully), and it's fast and cheap. Gotta like that!
Truly, if you stop at Golden Corral, you will skip the next meal. That's why I'm going to state again to eat early. DO NOT eat a late dinner there. I believe you will regret it through the bloated night.
I kind of wish that we had gone to Bahama Breeze that night. I still haven't eaten there, but I hear that it is the destination for a romantic dinner. This Valentine's Day, there was a three-hour wait to get in AND people waited! I did ask to walk through and take a look around. The surroundings are great. Atmospheric lighting, sunken pools and bridges, flowers, palm trees, and lots of cushy booths in fabulous colors. The food on the plates looked as inviting. I'll be back.
The large covered patio isn't where I'll head though, and I have two reasons for this. Firstly, the restaurant is right along a busy stretch of road and I wouldn't want that noise. Secondly, the steel drum player was really, really white and seemingly tone-deaf. Couldn't they find a real Carribean musician? Oh, well, after you have a few drinks I suppose he sounds better.
Golden Corral Map
Bahama Breeze Map
