# So we're going to go to Golden Corral this year for Thanksgiving **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [October 22, 2025, 10:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-were-going-to-go-to-golden-corral-this-year-for-thanksgiving/1024187 "2025-10-22T10:36:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ekedolphin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ekedolphin/32/10003_2.png) [@ekedolphin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ekedolphin)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2025, 10:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-were-going-to-go-to-golden-corral-this-year-for-thanksgiving/1024187/1 "2025-10-22T10:36:45Z")
My landlord passed away a couple of months ago, and his widow is suffering from dementia that includes memory problems, and hasn’t really cooked much in the past year. So her daughter suggested that rather than subject Cherie and myself to the stress of cooking a Thanksgiving meal for us this year, that she would take us out to the Golden Corral buffet instead. And I _like_ Golden Corral, but still - end of an era, man. ---
**Author:** ![Si\_Amigo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/si_amigo/32/2877_2.png) [@Si\_Amigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Si_Amigo)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2025, 12:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-were-going-to-go-to-golden-corral-this-year-for-thanksgiving/1024187/2 "2025-10-22T12:52:45Z")
Sorry for your lost, but a hooray for Golden Corral! I recently was taken the after not having been for over 10 years and was pleasantly surprised that they came back from Covid strong. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2025, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-were-going-to-go-to-golden-corral-this-year-for-thanksgiving/1024187/3 "2025-10-22T15:58:29Z")
I’ve never been to Golden Corral, but I’m in favor of restaurant meals for all possible holidays. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2025, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-were-going-to-go-to-golden-corral-this-year-for-thanksgiving/1024187/4 "2025-10-22T16:08:41Z")
I’ve never been sure whether the name “Golden Corral” was meant to describe the food or the clientele. Regardless, hope you have a good time. ---
**Author:** ![Si\_Amigo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/si_amigo/32/2877_2.png) [@Si\_Amigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Si_Amigo)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2025, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-were-going-to-go-to-golden-corral-this-year-for-thanksgiving/1024187/5 "2025-10-22T17:07:52Z")
Depends on the time you go. My cousin just took me there and we waited until 1:00 for the senior special ($10.99 all-out can eat with a drink), there was a line out the door waiting for 1:00. Later on it rolls into the family dinner crowd with kids and adults. Again, I was surprised to see a buffet doing it so well after Covid, as I had thought all buffet style places (except a few Chinese ones) had thrown in the towel. ---
**Author:** ![Reeses\_Monkey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/reeses_monkey/32/2885_2.png) [@Reeses\_Monkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reeses_Monkey)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2025, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-were-going-to-go-to-golden-corral-this-year-for-thanksgiving/1024187/6 "2025-10-22T18:32:18Z")
Golden Corral sounds like a nice alternative to cooking. Ever since my Mother-in-law died we’ve been going to Cracker Barrel on Thanksgiving. The meal is good and I don’t have to clean up or watch football ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2025, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-were-going-to-go-to-golden-corral-this-year-for-thanksgiving/1024187/7 "2025-10-22T19:36:18Z")
Golden Corral makes a special effort on Thanksgiving. I’ve always enjoyed holiday meals there. ---
**Author:** ![OldOlds](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a3d4f5/32.png) [@OldOlds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OldOlds)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2025, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-were-going-to-go-to-golden-corral-this-year-for-thanksgiving/1024187/8 "2025-10-22T20:21:07Z")
I have been to GC exactly once, in 2010, in Davenport IA. This is a happy thread, so I won’t threadshit with the story, but it was not a good experience. I’m bringing it up because, given my experience, I’m surprised at all the love and may need to rethink my conclusions. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2025, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-were-going-to-go-to-golden-corral-this-year-for-thanksgiving/1024187/9 "2025-10-22T20:30:30Z")
We used to have a GC in my town but I think it was on its last legs before Covid and then by 2021 the building was completely demolished. There’s a bank and a Panda Express where it stood. In my old age I find myself wishing buffets were still a thing. I mean, obviously they still are a thing being that @ekedolphin is going to one and @Si_Amigo ‘s is hoppin’. But they are few and far between by me. We also used to have a Home Town Buffet. Oooh, I just remembered the casino near me has a buffet. I gotta go there! I just watched a short documentary on the [Shady Maple Smorgasboard](https://www.shady-maple.com/smorgasbord/) in Pennsylvania. That buffet doesn’t look like it’s going anywhere! Anyway, I’ll put my tongue back in my mouth and say to @ekedolphin that I’m sorry it’s the end of an era for you. But also, as someone who is really over making Thanksgiving dinner from scratch (or even from reheated) I hope you and your friends have a wonderful and relaxing Thanksgiving and a great buffet meal! ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2025, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-were-going-to-go-to-golden-corral-this-year-for-thanksgiving/1024187/10 "2025-10-22T20:35:33Z")
> [@OldOlds](#): > > I’m bringing it up because, given my experience, I’m surprised at all the love and may need to rethink my conclusions. I’ve only been to one as well, up in Massachusetts. That was neither bad nor good, “interesting” is about right. It’s possible that your location was having a bad day. I’ve heard of other buffets (i.e.: not GC) being unable to control their patrons on a bad day; think _[Animal House.](https://giphy.com/gifs/animal-6zYMqU45raBI4)_ ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2025, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-were-going-to-go-to-golden-corral-this-year-for-thanksgiving/1024187/11 "2025-10-23T03:23:49Z")
Our Sizzler closed and reopened as Barnhills Steak and Buffet. The buffet is pretty good. ---
**Author:** ![SCAdian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scadian/32/3292_2.png) [@SCAdian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SCAdian)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2025, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-were-going-to-go-to-golden-corral-this-year-for-thanksgiving/1024187/12 "2025-10-23T03:51:16Z")
> [@ZipperJJ](#): > > Oooh, I just remembered the casino near me has a buffet. I gotta go there! Both of the casinos here had buffets (one, IIRC, was on the verge of opening a second buffet), but they closed them for covid and haven’t reopened them. ☹ The Golden Corral here closed around twenty years ago. And I don’t remember when the Chinese buffet closed, but it was around fifteen years ago. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Winston\_OBoogie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.winston_oboogie/32/2945_2.png) [@Dr.Winston\_OBoogie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Winston_OBoogie)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2025, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-were-going-to-go-to-golden-corral-this-year-for-thanksgiving/1024187/13 "2025-10-23T17:05:05Z")
> [@ekedolphin](#): > > My landlord passed away a couple of months ago, and his widow is suffering from dementia that includes memory problems, and hasn’t really cooked much in the past year. > > So her daughter suggested that rather than subject Cherie and myself to the stress of cooking a Thanksgiving meal for us this year, that she would take us out to the Golden Corral buffet instead. > > And I _like_ Golden Corral, but still - end of an era, man. If you’re concerned about “end of an era”, what if you (and other tenants? Don’t know your exact situation) offer to cook Thanksgiving Dinner? ---
**Author:** ![Spiderman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiderman/32/230_2.png) [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2025, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-were-going-to-go-to-golden-corral-this-year-for-thanksgiving/1024187/14 "2025-10-23T19:18:07Z")
Our Thanksgiving plans will be changing from past years due to a move. Have no clue what we’re doing yet. ---
**Author:** ![ekedolphin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ekedolphin/32/10003_2.png) [@ekedolphin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ekedolphin)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2025, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-were-going-to-go-to-golden-corral-this-year-for-thanksgiving/1024187/15 "2025-10-24T02:20:16Z")
> [@Dr.Winston\_OBoogie](#): > > > [@ekedolphin](#): > > > > My landlord passed away a couple of months ago, and his widow is suffering from dementia that includes memory problems, and hasn’t really cooked much in the past year. > > > > So her daughter suggested that rather than subject Cherie and myself to the stress of cooking a Thanksgiving meal for us this year, that she would take us out to the Golden Corral buffet instead. > > > > And I _like_ Golden Corral, but still - end of an era, man. > > If you’re concerned about “end of an era”, what if you (and other tenants? Don’t know your exact situation) offer to cook Thanksgiving Dinner? I’ve never cooked Thanksgiving dinner all by myself before, and it _would_ be all by myself. My sister doesn’t cook at home or do much of anything but walk the dog and do her leg treatment and occasionally wash the dishes when she comes home from work at Taco Bell. She cooks all day and doesn’t want to come home and cook for us too, and it sucks, but I can understand that. (There is definitely an unfair division of labor, though, but that’s just, like, my _opinion,_ man. On the other hand, I’m the only one of us three who doesn’t drive.) My mother is disabled, overweight and incapable of standing for long periods of time. She can’t cook anymore. Besides, she cooked for me for the first 30 years of my life. And our co-tenant, Big Steve, is a single-leg amputee who uses a wheelchair and not an artificial leg. He cooks simple meals for himself but we can’t both occupy the kitchen at the same time. And Andrea, the landlady’s daughter, refuses to _ever_ cook anything more complicated than a microwave meal, and only ever washes her own dishes and not anyone else’s. But she works 12-hour days five days a week, and on top of that, she’s making sure her mother survives on a daily basis, and also that we don’t get the house foreclosed on. If there is to be an at-home Thanksgiving dinner, it would fall to me and me alone. And I’ve never done it before. I’ve only ever made mashed potatoes, stuffing, and cranberry sauce. I know nothing about how long it takes to cook a turkey, or making pumpkin pie or pecan pie, or green bean casserole, or sweet potatoes. I cook all the _other_ meals, and shop for a lot of the groceries. No. I can’t do it. I can’t spend 12 hours cooking and then be the only one cleaning up afterwards. I would cut a bitch. So I’ll let Golden Corral do it this year. I’m not even paying for it. My biggest responsibility will be keeping Mom’s buffet plate full. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Bredin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/96bed5/32.png) [@John\_Bredin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Bredin)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2025, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-were-going-to-go-to-golden-corral-this-year-for-thanksgiving/1024187/16 "2025-10-24T02:41:53Z")
For as long as I could remember, my mom made Thanksgiving dinner with all the trimmings, pretty much by herself except for laying and clearing the table. My sister would offer to help with cooking and the dishes but mom always declined. Then when my dad died and mom sold the house, we decided that the family Thanksgiving would be in a restaurant. Her condo actually had a nicer kitchen than our 1920s bungalow (I think every room _except_ the kitchen was remodeled), but I think we realized it was just too much. Mom doesn’t have the least nostalgia for home Thanksgivings, it seems, and we’ve eaten in a restaurant every Thanksgiving since. ---
**Author:** ![Cartooniverse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cartooniverse/32/3084_2.png) [@Cartooniverse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cartooniverse)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2025, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-were-going-to-go-to-golden-corral-this-year-for-thanksgiving/1024187/17 "2025-10-26T13:40:56Z")
> [@ekedolphin](#): > > > [@Dr.Winston\_OBoogie](#): > > > > > [@ekedolphin](#): > > > > > > My landlord passed away a couple of months ago, and his widow is suffering from dementia that includes memory problems, and hasn’t really cooked much in the past year. > > > > > > So her daughter suggested that rather than subject Cherie and myself to the stress of cooking a Thanksgiving meal for us this year, that she would take us out to the Golden Corral buffet instead. > > > > > > And I _like_ Golden Corral, but still - end of an era, man. > > > > If you’re concerned about “end of an era”, what if you (and other tenants? Don’t know your exact situation) offer to cook Thanksgiving Dinner? > > I’ve never cooked Thanksgiving dinner all by myself before, and it _would_ be all by myself. > > My sister doesn’t cook at home or do much of anything but walk the dog and do her leg treatment and occasionally wash the dishes when she comes home from work at Taco Bell. She cooks all day and doesn’t want to come home and cook for us too, and it sucks, but I can understand that. (There is definitely an unfair division of labor, though, but that’s just, like, my _opinion,_ man. On the other hand, I’m the only one of us three who doesn’t drive.) > > My mother is disabled, overweight and incapable of standing for long periods of time. She can’t cook anymore. Besides, she cooked for me for the first 30 years of my life. > > And our co-tenant, Big Steve, is a single-leg amputee who uses a wheelchair and not an artificial leg. He cooks simple meals for himself but we can’t both occupy the kitchen at the same time. > > And Andrea, the landlady’s daughter, refuses to _ever_ cook anything more complicated than a microwave meal, and only ever washes her own dishes and not anyone else’s. But she works 12-hour days five days a week, and on top of that, she’s making sure her mother survives on a daily basis, and also that we don’t get the house foreclosed on. > > If there is to be an at-home Thanksgiving dinner, it would fall to me and me alone. And I’ve never done it before. I’ve only ever made mashed potatoes, stuffing, and cranberry sauce. I know nothing about how long it takes to cook a turkey, or making pumpkin pie or pecan pie, or green bean casserole, or sweet potatoes. > > I cook all the _other_ meals, and shop for a lot of the groceries. > > No. I can’t do it. I can’t spend 12 hours cooking and then be the only one cleaning up afterwards. I would cut a bitch. > > So I’ll let Golden Corral do it this year. I’m not even paying for it. My biggest responsibility will be keeping Mom’s buffet plate full. THIS is the best reason to make this choice. Which I do applaud. Because _you_ deserve not to be stressed and tortured by this event. Enjoy the buffet !! ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2025, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-were-going-to-go-to-golden-corral-this-year-for-thanksgiving/1024187/18 "2025-10-26T18:43:25Z")
Here we tend to eat with some relatives (who do all the cooking because they have the time) before the day, and then go out for the big day. So we get a bit of both. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2025, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-were-going-to-go-to-golden-corral-this-year-for-thanksgiving/1024187/19 "2025-10-26T19:02:41Z")
I don’t think I’ve ever been to Golden Corral itself, and I’m not sure offhand if there are any around here, but there have been a number of other all-you-can-eat buffet restaurants around, which were a real godsend to families of teenage boys.