Offsite Low Budget buffet?

[wayneg]

http://www.sweettomatoes.com/locations/restaurant.asp?store_id=72&store_name=Orlando_1

There is another if you look at website but the nearest to the attractions is this one. On International drive up past Wet 'n' Wild on left at junction with South Kirkman Rd.

Quite a good website. Tells you whats on the menu each day.
Their Mushroom soup is the best I have ever tasted.

 

[MichelleChell]

OMG Sweet Tomatos is FANTASTIC! I live in Houston adn we have one. I love to go to it. It is the freshest food ever for a buffet. You will not find chicken nuggets. It has great salads, Soups, Pasta (fresh made in small amounts), pizza, muffins, and some yummy desserts. They will also walk around and hand out fresh baked cookies to your table.

 

[kennancat]

FYI, the Sunday Orlando Sentinel frequently has coupons for Sweet Tomatoes.

 

[HappyCamperToo]

I can't believe we're going in less than 2 days!

I thought I'd bump this up to see if anyone has any new ideas about offsite buffets. I'm gathering addresses/phone numbers of all that's been mentioned so far. Do you think Sweet Tomatoes will take coupons from the Chicago Tribune? They don't say anything on them about only applying in Chicagoland....

 

[allustoms]

If you are staying in a condo, we found that places like TGI Fridays, while a little pricier than a bargain buffet, served such large meals that we were able to take home the leftovers and eat them again another night or have for a lunch. We would have some nacho's and cheese for appitizers if we felt there wasn't quite enough for leftovers.

 

[MYDISNEYHOUSES]

I agree with Golden Corral. I am not usually big on inexpensive Buffet's but last time we ate at the one off of 192 and it was very good. I was pleasantly surpised!!

 

[Figment22]

I can't believe we're going in less than 2 days!

I thought I'd bump this up to see if anyone has any new ideas about offsite buffets. I'm gathering addresses/phone numbers of all that's been mentioned so far. Do you think Sweet Tomatoes will take coupons from the Chicago Tribune? They don't say anything on them about only applying in Chicagoland....

They might accept the coupons, but just to be safe you can stop in at the Orlando Official Visitors Center on I-Drive and pick up the International Drive brochure. Sweet Tomatoes always has a 15% coupon in there. They don't have coupons in the other publications that seem to be everywhere but that one they always seem to be in.

 

[lovindonald]

When we went in August, we discovered CiCis and LOVED it. You can also find coupons around at most places for 10% off your meal. We did the Ponderosa for breakfast and it was ok, not great. The coffee was like mud, and I still can't believe I don't have hair on my chest from it. One place to avoid at all costs is the Sizzlin Grill. That place was disgusting and I thought a little pricey. If you like tex-mex try Moe's Southwest Cafe, not a buffet but great. I did some research on Golden Corral before we left and all I could find was articles about food poisoning at their restaurants so we avoided it.

 

[SyracuseWolvrine]

If you go to Golden Corral, go to the one that's right off I-4 at 535 (technically, i think it's on Vineland Rd, but not sure), not the one on 192.

I'll also second (third? fourth?) the recommendation for CiCis Pizza.

 

[FayeW]

If you go to Golden Corral, go to the one that's right off I-4 at 535 (technically, i think it's on Vineland Rd, but not sure), not the one on 192.

I'll also second (third? fourth?) the recommendation for CiCis Pizza.

We ate at both the Golden Corrals you mentioned, and we enjoyed both. My personal preference in the the one of Apopka-Vineland (535). They have very good mac n cheese, and delicious pot roast. The fresh rolls are AMAZING!!

 

[Sandra22]

Another vote for Golden Corral.

 

[Scotch]

Thanks to everyone who recommended CiCi's Pizza. I had never heard of it before and we gave it a try yesterday for lunch. For the price we paid the meal was really good! (No, not the best pizza but it is $3.99 plus tax for all you can eat.) I made the mistake early on of taking a slice that had been sitting under the warmer plate for a bit -- not good. Then we learned to wait and get slices right after the cook brought out new trays right out of the oven -- what a huge difference in taste! If anyone thinks of any other good recommendations, please continue to post! We'll be here until Friday and for the first time in many years I did not pack our schedule with priority seating at Disney restaurants.

 

[Scotch]

By the way, I'm not familiar with Golden Corral. Is is comparable to the Hometown Buffet chains (which we tried once)? How much are the meals? And are any of the many Asian buffets we keep seeing around town any good (from the perspective of someone who enjoys authentic Asian food)?

 

[bearzabout]

Regarding asian buffets, I really like New York China Buffet. I highly recommend going when they first open at 11 AM for lunch. Everything is hot and fresh. They have a huge variety and most things are very good. There is a coupon for 10% off in the orange Orlando map so lunch is under $7.

 

[HappyCamperToo]

They might accept the coupons, but just to be safe you can stop in at the Orlando Official Visitors Center on I-Drive and pick up the International Drive brochure. Sweet Tomatoes always has a 15% coupon in there. They don't have coupons in the other publications that seem to be everywhere but that one they always seem to be in.

Just back!!

We did end up eating at the Golden Corral on 535 right near I-4. It was GREAT!!!! I am so glad to have been told about it on this thread. Everyone had something they loved, and lots of it!

I forgot all about coupons until I got there and saw the sign at the register which said please present coupons upfront. So I innocently asked the cashier something like "oh, were there coupons available someplace that we should have looked for...?" and he very nicely charged us the coupon price even without even having one! There are huge piles of coupon books as you exit the restaurant, so you can always just go over there and get one if you forget the way I did.

Five big thumbs up from our family.

And thank you all for recommending this place!