Off-site Buffet?

[AEfx]

Anyone have any recommendations on an off-site Buffet, both for breakfast and dinner? I know there are a lot out there, but we are looking for something either near Universal or over on the 192 area.

Any first-hand accounts of any of them? We have one night where we'd really like to try something off-site and economical but with a good choice, and one morning where we'd like to get a buffet breakfast. I'm especially interested in variations between different locations of the same chain, i.e. the Ponderosa $4.99 breakfast sounds like a deal, but I don't know which location is best.

We need to balance out the Princess Meals and all the character meals on our next big family trip. Appriciate the help!

AEfx

 

[PigletIsMyCat]

I would avoid all off-site buffets like the plague. I have eaten at Golden Corral for dinner and it was easily the worst $11 bucks I have spent on food in my lifetime. I was interested in trying Shoney's but actually cannot find anyone willing to go with me. I have friends who've lived down here much longer than I have and have warned me about both Sizzler and Ponderosa. My DH has had the buffet from Cici's Pizza and was horrified by what they consider 'food'.

The only buffet I have never heard anything negative about is the breakfast buffet at Houlihans on 192, west of WDW property.

There are plenty of delicious non-buffet options off property, like Denny's, Bahama Breeze, and Logan's Roadhouse. It isn't a buffet, but Logan's Roadhouse at the intersection of 192 and International Drive is our absolute FAVE place for dinner (off WDW, of course). If you need a cheap breakfast off property, I'd go to Denny's or McD's. Or Chick-Fil-A, which serves only chicken - no beef. Very interesting breakfast menu.

Remember, we are native New Yorkers who actually love food and are willing to pay for it. But we draw the line at dirty buffets with horrible food choices, and that is all we have experienced first hand down here with the exception of buffets on Disney property.

 

[shoppingnut]

Up by Universal there is one and there is one on rte 192 for either breakfast or dinner, it's not a buffet, but the food is good, I would recommend Cracker Barrell.

Bahama Breeze and Logan's Road House are not cheap. If you go up on international drive, you will find many options, Olive Garden, etc. which are reasonably priced chains that are clean and serve good food.

I despise Denny's, the service in there is horrible. Perkins is located right in the Crossroad's on rte 535 and Hotel Boulevard, so is Pizzaria Uno, Friday's, Chevy's and a few other places. The place that I like and they give you a good amount of food is the Ale House which is right off of rte 535 about one or two lights up from the Crossroad's, there is one also up by Universal.

 

[PigletIsMyCat]

Up by Universal there is one and there is one on rte 192 for either breakfast or dinner, it's not a buffet, but the food is good, I would recommend Cracker Barrell.

Bahama Breeze and Logan's Road House are not cheap. If you go up on international drive, you will find many options, Olive Garden, etc. which are reasonably priced chains that are clean and serve good food.

I despise Denny's, the service in there is horrible. Perkins is located right in the Crossroad's on rte 535 and Hotel Boulevard, so is Pizzaria Uno, Friday's, Chevy's and a few other places. The place that I like and they give you a good amount of food is the Ale House which is right off of rte 535 about one or two lights up from the Crossroad's, there is one also up by Universal.

We find Cracker Barrel disgusting. We've been there three times to try, and each time have been terribly dissatisfied.

Logan's isn't terribly expensive; their prices are comparable to Friday's, like a burger is about $7. They do have more expensive steaks, up to around $20 for a porterhouse with two sides. And Olive Garden is no less expensive than Bahama Breeze; they are part of the same chain restaurants. You can expect to pay $8 for a sandwich and around $10-$14 for an entree. Same as Olive Garden; they're even owned by the same company as Red Lobster and Smokey Bones, Darden.

We also hate the Perkins down here. The ones on 192 that we have been to are shabby, poorly staffed, and have a limited menu. We used to have Perkins on Long Island, and it wasclean, friendly, and had a nice menu. Denny's are hit and miss; some are wonderfullly clean and staffed well, some are horrible.

 

[AEfx]

Thanks for the replies, guys! I did some further research on my own and it sounds like you are all right on about avoiding buffets like the plague, LOL.

We've decided to do our "off-site" dinner at DTD or Citywalk, instead (trying to decide now, but it's leaning towards Bubba Gumps), but will now be looking for two places (or one place to eat twice) for breakfast in the Universal Studios area.

If you had to pick some place within spitting distance of UO, what would you choose? I know there are Denny's and IHOP's out there. Are they some of the "better" ones? It's not even about price - we just want a place to get a good breakfast so we can hit Universal running.

Thanks! This will be my first big family trip since I started staying off-site (last few have been solo) and I usually eat so much on the go I have yet to have the opportunity to try any of these out.

AEfx