Thoughts on Garden Grove?

[SBWB48]

DBF and I were looking at possibly doing the seafood buffet offered on Friday/Saturday nights. It would be on arrival day, although we get it at 12pm, so timing shouldn't be an issue.

I haven't seen a whole lot posted on this particular restaurant, especially about the Friday/Saturday night seafood buffet, so wanted to fish around for opinions. I've seen a few posts about the one at Cape May, but wasn't sure if this just isn't as popular since its excluded from the DDP, or if it's just not very good...?

Any thoughts, opinions, and recommendations, would be appreciated!

 

[TheRustyScupper]

Our Ratings of Garden Grove Dinner: (*rev 3/16/2016*)
. . . food price value: C
. . . food quality: D
. . . food quantity per serving: A
. . . food prep speed: B
. . . food selection: C
. . . seating quantity: C
. . . seating comfort: B
. . . eatery atmosphere: C
. . . eatery convenience: B
. . . staff friendliness: B
. . . staff attentiveness: D
. . . character interaction: C (Weekend Breakfast, only)

Our Recommendations:
. . . appys:... Create-Your-Own Salad
. . . entree:.. Chef's Vegetarian Creation
. . . dessert:. n/a

NOTE: Effective 7/17/13, the Seafood Buffet is served Fri & Sat, only. The other buffets have been deleted. Dinners are now ala carte. However, there still remains the daily Breakfast Buffet Weekday and the Weekend Character Breakfast Buffet from (6:30am-11:30am). Dinner
service is very spotty and more frequently slow or non-existent.The food is below-par. We found the Prime Rib to more cooked fat than cooked meat, and the chicken to be overcooked. This might be a good place in an emergency, but not on a list when voluntariy chosing eateries. We actually found the Vegetarian choices better than the meat and poultry. (Until now, we always thought "Vegetarian = Bad Hunter".)

 

[SBWB48]

Our Ratings of Garden Grove Dinner: (*rev 3/16/2016*)
. . . food price value: C
. . . food quality: D
. . . food quantity per serving: A
. . . food prep speed: B
. . . food selection: C
. . . seating quantity: C
. . . seating comfort: B
. . . eatery atmosphere: C
. . . eatery convenience: B
. . . staff friendliness: B
. . . staff attentiveness: D
. . . character interaction: C (Weekend Breakfast, only)

Our Recommendations:
. . . appys:... Create-Your-Own Salad
. . . entree:.. Chef's Vegetarian Creation
. . . dessert:. n/a

NOTE: Effective 7/17/13, the Seafood Buffet is served Fri & Sat, only. The other buffets have been deleted. Dinners are now ala carte. However, there still remains the daily Breakfast Buffet Weekday and the Weekend Character Breakfast Buffet from (6:30am-11:30am). Dinner
service is very spotty and more frequently slow or non-existent.The food is below-par. We found the Prime Rib to more cooked fat than cooked meat, and the chicken to be overcooked. This might be a good place in an emergency, but not on a list when voluntariy chosing eateries. We actually found the Vegetarian choices better than the meat and poultry. (Until now, we always thought "Vegetarian = Bad Hunter".)

Thanks! This makes me a little hesitant to try this restaurant now . While we are going for the seafood buffet (saw a stuffed lobster!?) it doesn't seem like there's a lot of positives, and it would be OOP, which isn't terrible, since the DDP isn't accepted. May have to rethink this one...

 

[JerseyJanice]

I'll be staying at the Swan this fall and want to try the Garden Grove. My plan is to ask to see the buffet before we take a table. I'll know looking at the food whether it's a good value for us. This restaurant is purported to give a 20% discount with your AAA card.

 

[luvmarypoppins]

We did try the seafood buffet at the Garden Grove and dh and I did not enjoy it.

We usually go to Cape May which is so much better. Actually there is no comparison.

The Garden Grove was half empty. The salad choices are few. The stuffed lobster is served at your table and its only one to be shared for two people. I don't even like lobster so my dh ate most of it. Our waiter disappeared most of the time and then others came to finally get us drink refills and empty the plates even though the place was half empty.

The dessert choices were not very good either.

We wont be going again even though we usually stay at the Swan and just did in May.

As a side note their breakfast buffet is the best. I love the cooked to order omelets. They are huge! The blueberries were so fresh and huge compared to the frozen ones at the Captains Grille breakfast buffet at the Yacht Club.

 

[chris benton]

Heading there in a few days, and I have a res for the seafood buffet. Starting researching. Yelp is pretty much 10 to 1 horrific/good, and then I search on this board, and see that it's similar sentiments. Any new intel? Is it really this bad? I have a 7yr old who LOVES everything seafood, thought this would be a nice treat for him. I think we'll have to take a [eek at the buffet before being seated. I have no issue finding another joint - life's too short for bad, expensive, food.