Best buffet
YOUR PICKS
A plate of some of the delicious items from the buffet at the Blue Willow Inn. Photo: Curtis Compton / Staff
You say, “I don’t even *like* Southern food normally and I love their food (even though it is VERY Southern). Pecan cheddar biscuits… fried green tomatoes… those are my favorite items there. It’s a bit of a drive, but it is worth it.”
2) Café Bombay
3) John Boy’s
OUR PICKS
The sweet, syrup-drenched Gulab Jamun from MGR Palace. Photo: Becky Stein/ special
1) MGR Palace
We say “It’s no surprise that one of the Atlanta area’s best Indian restaurants also has one of the best lunch buffets around.”
4) Mirch Masala
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© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
627 comments Add your comment
DTfor3
September 1st, 2009
4:39 pm
Wendy’s used to have the best – with the buttered hamburger buns used as garlic bread. Mmmm…
Now… its got to be Ci-Ci’s pizza… just amazing food!
Jim
September 1st, 2009
4:39 pm
On another note http://www.bing.com/maps/default.aspx?v=2&FORM=LMLTCC&cp=pm62m87zz0mh&style=b&lvl=2&tilt=-90&dir=0&alt=-1000&phx=0&phy=0&phscl=1&scene=28548635&encType=1
My wife introduced me to a chinese buffet in Conyers. If it works, the link above shows it. It’s the best little chinese buffet in the world.
Amy
September 1st, 2009
4:46 pm
Blue Willow, Dillard House or the Smith House in Dahlonega.
Blessed4ever
September 1st, 2009
4:48 pm
Chanterelles in Atlanta, located in the West End across from Hank Aaron’s Krisy Kreme…proves to be a mixture of carribbean and soul food…the baked rosemary chicken and rice is awesome.
Kev
September 1st, 2009
4:59 pm
Zuma Sushi has the best sushi lunch buffet in ATL. It’s in VA Highland. Freshest fish, great decor, beautiful neighborhood, and quick & friendly service. I’m not saying this to insult anyone, but if you think Ru San’s is good you simply don’t know what real sushi is supposed to taste like.
Buckner's?
September 1st, 2009
5:09 pm
I see a lot of Golden Corral haters out there. Maybe you haven’t been in awhile. They have really stepped up their game with the grilled/carved meats. There are a few other decent items on the dinner buffet and the breakfast buffet is killer. Good omelet station and awesome cinnamon rolls when they are hot and fresh. I am not saying it’s the best buffet in Atlanta but it’s pretty good food for a good value…if you can get past the chaotic feeding trough atmosphere.
I heard Green Manor in Union City is a good southern buffet. I am going Friday for lunch so I guess I will find out. Hopefully it is a better alternative to Buckner’s. Also, Chow Baby is really good. The fact that you basically get to be your own chef with so many choices to create your own stir fry is cool. If your meal is bad, it’s your own fault.
Larry
September 1st, 2009
5:11 pm
The PhatAss House in Atlanta, some good eatin there.
LV
September 1st, 2009
5:13 pm
I wish you people would stop recommending Buckners. The line on Sundays is long even when I sneak out of church early.
The cobbler there is bad for you, you really don’t want any of it and you should leave it all for me.
Jessica
September 1st, 2009
5:14 pm
WHY would you go to a buffet on a limited diet and then blame the restaurant for your not being able to eat? That really doesn’t make sense.
Dawg88
September 1st, 2009
5:14 pm
Simply Southern on Hwy. 20 in Free Home. All you can eat for $5.49. Great fried chicken. Just like Grandma used to make.
KW
September 1st, 2009
5:15 pm
Blue Willow? It may be a charming place to eat, but it’s certainly not a top buffet! I’m looking for a little more than Fried Chicken, ham, potatoes and peach cobbler when it comes to a Buffet. Yes, they have a few more items than that, but not by much.
WWW.MYSPACE.COM/KYOU37
September 1st, 2009
5:19 pm
China Buffett on sundays only though!!! ALL YOU CAN EAT CRAB LEGS… LOCATED ON AUSTELL ROAD AND EAST WEST CONNECTOR (AUSTELL, GA) “CHINA BUFFETT”
ONLY 9.99 AND THE BUFFETT IS HUGE!!!!!!
Atlanta Native
September 1st, 2009
5:31 pm
Oh yeah, I forget that Brazilian joints like Fogo De Chao are all buffets. I generally avoid buffets at all costs (annoying servers at places where they want me to line up at a trough instead of ordering table service) due to my tendency to put on the pounds easily. However, I will go for Brazilian if that’s where the crowd is going. For buffet food, the ones I’ve been to have all been great and where else can you get tenderloin, lamb chops, marinated sirloin, great sausages, boiled jumbo shrimp, cold cuts and cheeses galore and a really great salad on a buffet?
I look forward to the voting by readers v. the AJC picks on this one.
BTW is it OK to hide bacon from the buffet in between your folds for later? Technically, it is inside you.
B'ville Boy
September 1st, 2009
5:34 pm
The Lighthouse Resturant has Good Catfish, but it’s in Milner, not Griffin. The Country Kitchen in Barnesville has the BEST seafood buffet on the weekend!
EAV Blue
September 1st, 2009
5:38 pm
Mirch Masala! Amazing Indian food.
Native Son
September 1st, 2009
5:50 pm
I’ve not been lucky enough to try it myself, but my wife swears by The Blue Willow in Social Circle. She says they’ve taken southern cooking to a whole new level, and if you knew my wife’s culinary taste, this would absolutely qualify as a testimony.
P.S: She’s a caterer, and a damn excellent cook\baker and neither one of us is overweght.
Leigh
September 1st, 2009
6:08 pm
Hey Alan – unless you want to reimburse Golden Corrall etal for all the OVEReating you have done all your life at buffets, then don’t expect them to give you a break when you eat smaller amounts now. Quit whining – grown men should not need a note from home in order to go out to eat.
hunter
September 1st, 2009
9:24 pm
Maru Sushi Off south cobb dr. and the east west connector. Great buffet all around, even if you don’t even like sushi!
Tara
September 1st, 2009
10:17 pm
Maru Sushi!!!!!
Naomi
September 1st, 2009
10:28 pm
Charlie’s in Fayetteville hands down. All of the food is well seasoned, cooked to perfection and the price is very reasonable.
Eric
September 1st, 2009
11:13 pm
BBQ Masters Mobile Express is the best bbq ever the sauce is to die for, i wish the Executive pitmaster would tell me what he puts in that sauce, Please!! Please!! Please!!! don’t take that sauce away from me
Bill
September 1st, 2009
11:30 pm
For long-timers in Atlanta, memories of Ma Hull’s and Deacon Burton’s come to mind … Thelma’s too!! And sad that LaPrad’s is gone
I Get Around
September 1st, 2009
11:45 pm
Mandarin Garden on J.C. Blvd. in Norcross. While it caters mostly to oriental-style food lovers, you can also find 4-6 different types of wings (all are fantastic) and lots of veggies and other meats/seafoods to choose from. It is charged by the pound for take out (depending on what you get, some prices are different per pound), and if you eat in, it’s all you can eat for a modest charge. Since moving to Lawrenceville, I have really missed it, and eat there whenever visiting my daughter, who lives 2 blocks from it. Try it! You’ll love it!
I Get Around
September 1st, 2009
11:53 pm
P.S. Mandarin Garden also has sushi/sashimi, crab legs, prawn, fish prepared many different ways, fried chicken, tons of different salads/dressings (made there) and many different mushrooms. It’s not just ONE little island of a few items. There are 3 islands of foods (both sides) and a horseshoe shaped buffet that goes around it. It’ll take you 30 minutes just to check out everything available! This place is fantastic. No, I’m not affliated with it in any way…but when I find something good, I want to tell people!
jennifer
September 1st, 2009
11:58 pm
Jones Kitchen in Jesup GA
dawg-dude
September 2nd, 2009
3:44 am
1)Buckner’s- Jackson
2)Ole Time’s- Dublin
3)Pelican’s Point-outside of Darian
4)Seminole Wind- Thomasville
Miss_Lola
September 2nd, 2009
3:49 am
Fogo de Chao.
Buffet; they come to you (with the exception of the salad bar, which is NOT an “ordinary iceberg lettuce” affair.
Pay one price; all you can eat. That’s a buffet.
DFM? NOT a buffet in the sense of all you can eat….but they DO have a lot of unusual choices which are made in store from their own ingredients.
Fogo de Chao is a true buffet-and – is in Atlanta.
Billy
September 2nd, 2009
3:54 am
#1 BUCKNERS -BUCKNERS- BUCKNERS
Hugh
September 2nd, 2009
9:46 am
I second the vote for Daddy’s in Acworth. Their strawberry cobbler isn’t out on the buffet table but ask for it with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and you can die happy…
My allegiance lies with Auburn, not the SEC
September 2nd, 2009
9:50 am
Fogo de Chao is simply amazing, but second mortgages are harder to come by these days….
Hugh
September 2nd, 2009
9:50 am
Second on the list should be Doug’s Place in Emerson (AKA, Emerson Hooters) the waitresses are worth the trip there!
Momma Bell
September 2nd, 2009
11:51 am
Fresh and everyday – Matthew’s Cafeteria in Tucker, GA.
Splurge and need to unbutton your top botton – Blue Willow and Buckner’s
Matthew’s is great b/c it is priced well, cooked fresh and changes daily!!
James
September 2nd, 2009
12:01 pm
McDonalds.
Mark
September 2nd, 2009
12:01 pm
Daddy’s Country Kitchen on South Main in Acworth has a $7 all you can eat buffet that is fantastic southern country fare.
Island Eagle
September 2nd, 2009
12:34 pm
Another vote for Buckners and then Old Time Country in Warner Robbins. El Potro in Brunswick has a fantastic Mexican buffet.
Fat Tony
September 2nd, 2009
2:06 pm
Definitely Buckners. Worth the drive and worth the $$. In fact, stop what you are doing. Get in your car and go eat there right now.
lard azz
September 2nd, 2009
2:12 pm
William @ 11:32…they don’t care.These lard azzes could care less about good health. That’s why are system is breaking down.
GENE
September 2nd, 2009
2:16 pm
SUE’S IN ELLIJAY WILL TOP ALL OF THEM SUE’S LOG CABIN ON HY 76 CHICKEN CHICKEN THE BEST PLACE TO EAT . YOU GET TO SEE THE NORTH GA MT’S .
milan
September 2nd, 2009
2:22 pm
For the BEST South Indian Buffet – MGR palace in the Walmart Plaza in Stn Mtn- Great Variety+ includes Dosa and Nan.
cmal
September 2nd, 2009
2:25 pm
JOURNEY’S END Loganville is probably the best all round eating place. They usually have about 5 main courses, more than most places. Example: Friday. Bar-B-Que,shrimp,chicken,salmon,fish,oysters,roast. Dessert Pecan Pie, Cobbler,various cakes. Salad bars serves boiled shrimp. Where as Buckners only serves chicken.
am
September 2nd, 2009
2:27 pm
Hey Sunshine!! I can top that, when taking my obviously frail, sick, wheelchair bound father out to the doctor the week before he died we decided to grab a quick lunch. After paying the big bucks at Golden Corral and fixing my father a plate he was to ill to eat. The MANAGER REFUSED to give an 80 year old man a to go box! Even after explaining he was ill and hadn’t had any food at all. I have never been back! My sister has occasional business meetings not scheduled by her there, and she will stop and pick up a drive through lunch rather than eat there!
Sarah
September 2nd, 2009
2:28 pm
Whatever happened to Morrissons Cafeteria and the White House restaurant both in Buckhead both with good home cooking buffets
Diva_Lady
September 2nd, 2009
2:42 pm
Blue Willow Inn & Anna Poorna on Chamblee Tucker for Indian cuisine
smile216
September 2nd, 2009
2:50 pm
Blue Willow is absolutely the best. Everything there is first-rate! Not a Buckner’s fan at all. Fried chicken there is good, but the sides are average at best.
OTP
September 2nd, 2009
2:53 pm
BLUE WILLOW INN. hands down. enough said.
Carla John
September 2nd, 2009
3:06 pm
I don’t do buffets. I would never touch a handle that has been touched by many, many others. Ew!!
Falcons Fan
September 2nd, 2009
3:21 pm
Cafe Bombay! Great Indian Food….think you need categories unless this ia an all Southern Cooking thing
Ms. C
September 2nd, 2009
3:22 pm
The best kept secret buffet in Tucker Georgia on Lavista Road, up from Red Lobster coming from I-285 is called KACEY’S. It’s only $7.00 which includes the ice Tea. Fried Green tomatoes, Fresh Collards, Home cook candid yams, ribs, fried chicken, baked chicken, fried fish,etc. the dessert bar needs improving, but the salad bar is great as well. each day some of the menu changes, but nothing is a failure. Try it, you will like it for the money.
Robert in St Mtn
September 2nd, 2009
3:23 pm
Blue Willow in Social Circle.
Wayne J
September 2nd, 2009
3:25 pm
Apparently many of you people are not aware that there is a “OK CAFE”- Takeaway, which is a buffet.