It is one of the few places my dd ever wants to eat! The rolls are really good (the honey butter is awful, but you can get regular butter if you ask). We eat there because of the variety. You have to be careful though....some are really good, and some are just wretched!!! We have one near our house that is pretty inedible, and one about thirty minutes away which is usually good. My mom has one outside of Houston that is incredible!!!
Some Golden Corral's are corporately owned, and some are franchises. Some of the best ones are franchises, and some of the worst ones are franchises.
The steaks are really good, so it is a good place to get a steak and baked potato. The dessert pies are really good, and the selection of veggies is not bad.
Of course, ever since I have been pregnant, the smell of that place makes me want to throw up (I don't know why? Pregnancy is just insane!!), so I have not been joining my family for dinner there, but every so often we have humor the seven year-old and indulge her.
I would say, walk into your nearest Golden Corral and look at all the food before you pay for the buffet. If it doesn't look good.....just leave.