The Gift Horse Restaurant was noted for their nice buffet which offered a fantastic selection of items. This restaurant was also one of the most beautiful restaurant spaces in Lower Alabama. It did take me several visits to finally find it open and give it a try. I was able to enjoy a great experience here during the Christmas season and they really had the place fantastically decorated. Sadly the restaurant has closed but the Gift Horse Antiques Store continues operating. read more

Really bad one here. All the "hot food" was cold and not much flavor on anything. Really sad I wasted 70$ on this. Just really really bad. Sorry. The antiques looked good and the building was cool. Server was nice. But dang. The food :( read more

We came from Ohio for our daughter's destination wedding and we wanted to have a reception for about 20 guest. We used Gulf Shores Wedding Chapel and the owner suggested Gift Horse. Everything was amazing! There was a huge salad selection, with fresh fruit, baked chicken, fried to order chicken-the best we've ever had, a seafood chowder, green beans, collard greens, mac-and-cheese, cheesy apples-delicious, sweet potato casserole, corn, fried fish, hush puppies, a pasta alfredo dish, dessert table with pies and cake. The food was perfectly seasoned, hot, and delicious. Sweet-tea and unsweetened tea. We also had our daughter's wedding cake. We had our own private room and waitress. The waitress was so sweet and so accommodating!! They gave my daughter a beautiful cookbook that I can't wait to get my hands on. We are so happy with our experience here. The food was amazing and we're so happy they were recommended. read more

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Anyone who's familiar with the gift horse knows the story; many years ago the food was good. That, combined with the unique ambiance, made for a great dining experience. However, over the last 20 years or so, the food has went from good to what it is now, poor. Few things are seasoned right and most items that should be hot or warm are room temp. But the few good things left on the bar, plus the popular BOGO coupons, made it worth the trip when in Foley. Well, things have changed. And not for the best. They no longer honor the BOGO coupons. You and a companions $25 lunch, with the coupon, is now almost $40. The few food items that were still seasoned right and tasty, for me anyway, are no longer on the menu. (Mystery crab salad, shrimp bisque, fried bisquits) all gone due to "having to cut back" because of fewer customers. I hate to say it but I won't be back. If you want that gift horse experience, prop up some dark paneling in your dining room and make sure all your food is bland and cold. It'll save you some money and a trip to Foley. read more

Been to the Gift Horse before and food was okay but not hot like it should be served. Wanted to give it another try due to it being a beautiful old building and all the wood floors, walls and even ceiling is awesome. Brought several of our family members and food was not good ‍! I will say they did put out some fresh fried food (only livers) little at a time but it would be something I didn't care for- LIVERS. No desserts for children just cobblers style and they were not good. Most of the food was just a little warm. So we are DONE coming. They need to figure out a better way to keep the food HOT and for the price offer several different kinds of desserts. Lady waiting tables was very nice but that didn't help the cost for what they offered. Need to check into a new cook, better food options & better way to keep food HOT. Beautiful place I must add. Hopefully if changes occur I will take another chance!! read more

Every time I ride by this place, I think it looks like a dump. The whole outside needs a paint job as a different color would certainly brighten up the place and there is moss growing on it and mold. I only ate there once and I'm not much of a person who likes to serve themselves, and the food was only mediocre. I probably won't go back again. read more

When you first walk in, the building itself is insanely beautiful. Chandeliers, stained glass, etc. The lunch buffet was outstanding, every item my boyfriend & I tried was fantastic. We tried the fried chicken, mild wings, baked beans, field peas, green beans, hush puppies, fried fish, and the cheese apples (a signature dish of theirs). No salt was needed and everything was hot and delicious! Our waiter was kind & welcoming, he gave us a brochure to read on the backstory of the restaurant since it was our first time. I highly recommend this restaurant & will definitely be a regular moving forward ! read more

Very pricey for poor food selection/variety. Nice room with artifacts/antiques on the wall and quiet enough for conversation. Hardly any choices for beverages. Nice people in the restaurant, but won't be back. I can say I've been there.. Like I said "VERY" pricey and mediocre food. But, we had good friends to help us through it! read more

The food was amazing the fried shrimp was so good and we love the gumbo and the large salad choices.

I discovered this restaurant several years ago while on a trip to Gulf Shores/Orange Beach and it's been a must-visit on all of our subsequent trips. The buffet is full of all sorts of delicacies and I always leave fat and happy. The unique setting only adds to the meal. Highly recommended! read more

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The food was amazing, as we left the restaurant, we couldn"t stop talking about how we would definitely return. The combination of fantastic food, and great service, and inviting atmosphere made it a standout dinning experience. We even started planning our next visit, eager to try more dishes and share the experience with friends and family. If your looking for a place that offers quality food at an reasonable price, this restaurant is a must-visit!! Thank you Gift Horse Staff!! read more

It was our first and last trip to the Gift Horse Restaurant! The building was ever bit as old and historic as the advertisement says. The history is amazing but that's where the amazing stops! It's buffet style with fish and shrimp brought to you table. I believe the food was leftover from lunch. Some of the containers only had a few spoon full left. I was adventurous and tried a little of everything! Boy was I sorry, one dish after another. Dry, cold or just down right awful is about all I can say! I'm just glad a took a small amount of each item. There was No way I was going back for seconds! The fish and shrimp were good,but not $27 worth of good. $2.95 for each can coke. The homemade desserts were worse that the buffet if that is possible. They too looked and tasted old and store bought. Now the service was very pleasant and welcoming but that the best I can say about this place. Save yourself a lot of disappointment and money! Don't go to the Gift Horse Restaurant! read more

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No. No. No. $23.95 per person. We probably should have walked out when we walked in. 6:15 Saturday night and we were the only two people in the restaurant. This was the worst salad bar I seen in quite a while. Very few items to put on your salad. No cheese, onion, tomatoes or cucumber just to name a couple of staples. The food was warm at best. It didn't look like anything was fresh. I had some, what I thought was scalloped potatoes. My wife asked me how the baked apples were? That about sums it up. The food had to have been from lunchtime. The dessert bar did not look any better, didn't even try anything. read more

Im a local. With that said, it is hard to go out to dinner in the Orange beach area without a wait of at least an hour and a half. Dont want to mention last week we were turned away from not one but two restaurants in OWA due to over booking and not accepting any more diners. Then we came across the Gift Horse Restaurant in Foley. Its a hidden jewel of a place. A step back in time with great service and wonderful food. It is a buffet, but it has the flavors of your grandmother's kitchen. Southern cooking at its finest. Highly reccomended read more

7/31/19 Take a step back in time to a place who's decor matches its customers. Canned drinks with a mix of plastic and glass cups. Fancy plastic plates instead of using real dish's. A linen table cloth covered up by a paper table protection. For a mid week this place should have some customers for right up the street is Lambert's cafe and they had a 1 hr wait . In the heart of Foley this place is dead . The hot food is Luke warm on food that should hot. The cold food is Luke warm . The selection is small and honestly the food is sub par . The deserts were no better , all dishes were room temp nothing was hot or kept cold . 14.95 for the lunch buffet and 18.95 for dinner and you get money off if you bring a church bulletins in on Sunday or Monday . Over all chef ramsey needs to go there and give that place a makeover read more

STAY FAR AWAY FROM THIS PLACE!!! The server repeated her self about 10 times stating her name and to let her know if we need anything. For $25/person, the buffet options are absolutely terrible. The chicken taste like it has been sitting around for 2 weeks! Everything else taste they put sugar in it. The seafood is bland, and disgusting! The drinks come from a can at $3/drink! Its 2023 why are people serving drinks in cans! I wouldn't recommend my worst enemy to eat at this place! They should shut the doors and find another life adventure to take on! Can't believe I used my per diem while traveling for work to eat at this place! I should have waited at another restaurant for however long it would take then eat here. With the "decorations" i felt like i was at a wedding in the 40's. PS: only thing that looked good was the cake that is an extra $7/slice! read more

We were the only diners and it took awhile for the waitress to seat us. Food on food bar was only warm and not very tasty. It appeared to be a popular dining spot in its day but I think it's out lived it's prime. read more

My friend Marielle and I drove from Pensacola yesterday to do some shopping in Foley and to eat at The Gift Horse, a restaurant I had never eaten at but had long wanted to try. We arrived around 11:30 and were seated immediately. There were only about 6 other customers in the restaurant at that time. Stepping into the restaurant is like stepping into a 1980's time warp machine. It is a beautiful old building that has a faded, quirky southern charm to it. It is a buffet restaurant, and they had a large selection on it. The fried chicken and fried fish were especially good, as was the selection on the salad bar. They are famous for their Apples And Cheese casserole and Bread Pudding, and they did not dissapoint. I can see why the younger "foodie" crowd would not like it. It is just unpretentious, old time southern cooking. The employees were all very kind and efficient. I would definitely return. read more

Gift Horse Restaurant - The dining room of The Gift Horse with stained glass window and chandelier. - Buffets Near Me - Foley, Alabama

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I was introduced to this restaurant by my grandmother over 20 years ago. At the time, I thought there was nothing better. I took my 2 young teenagers there this week over spring break, and I think it was my last visit there. Like other reviews say: 1. At noon, there were no customers other than us. 2. The food looked like it was microwaved leftovers from the day before. 3. Nothing was hot. Was dry and room temp. 4. My kids ate about half a plate of food each and only one got desert (but only ate one bite). It too looked like a table of leftovers pulled out of the fridge. I looked around the desert table but also got nothing. 5. The price! I didn't know how much the buffet was going in, but was shocked at my total. After tax and tip, our lunch for 3 was $70. 6. Service was good. Waitress was friendly and attentive. Again, I've been so many times through the years and always loved it, but I told my kids to not let me go back again. Sad. read more

Our waitress Megan is absolutely adorable however the food was mediocre at best and the price of $18.95 each was ridiculously high and unwarranted. It has been several years since we last ate here and to be certain we will NEVER be back. There are so many wonderful places to eat in Foley that have wonderful delicious food and many of them have affordable prices. Being a local we like to support independent businesses but I hate getting ripped off. I need to stop writing now because I'm just getting madder and madder thinking about the meal for two that was so crumby and cost nearly $60 after tax, tip and SERVICE CHARGE for using a credit card read more

Food was barely hot, and was way too expensive. The building is beautiful. Still not worth it.

This is an expensive buffet. The salad bar didn't even have cheese or the normal toppings. The waitress was nice, but could barely understand her. The hot food buffet only had one recognizable item. Over priced. Would not recommend and will never go back. 54 for two people. for lunch plus tip read more

We just had the salad bar and it was late afternoon. Things were pretty empty when we went to the salad bar. However the beef stew was hot and delicious. Lots of beef and very tender.The lobster bisque was good too my friends said. There were a couple groups of people eating the full buffet they said it was good. read more

When I called to see if they had buffet at night, he was very rude... He said, that's what we do... Buffet, $20.95 click. So much for southern hospitality. read more

We were a little worried when we saw we were the only patrons this evening (close to closing), but the food was very good. I had peas, green beans and water chestnuts in a cream sauce, fried chicken, fried fish, fried shrimp, mac and.cheese, mashed potatoes, shrimp bisque, and a roast beef and rice dish. I love making bisque at home. My only feedback on this bisque would be to cut out about half the butter, add tomato paste, and cooking sherry to give it some more complex flavors. They also have a very generous veterans discount. read more

I've read many of the reviews here, some good and some bad. My wife and I had been disappointed with the family Thanksgiving dinner last Thursday and had kind of eaten junk and just got by for a few days after going to our tailgate, which is tailgate food, which ours is good, but we wanted to try to get back the Thanksgiving dinner experience now that we were home. Sunday is a good time to come since you can get your buffet 2 for 1 if you bring your church bulletin. We had come here after church so we had our bulletin. The buffet was unique in its offerings. The "salad" part consisted of many cold type salads, not lettuce and your standard fare, but things like macaroni salad, broccoli salad, chicken salad, and maybe 15 more that I didn't try. I did a broccoli salad and a green pea type salad, which I liked both. There was also cold boiled shrimp as well, which I ate, although they were kind of hard to peel. They also had seafood gumbo and shrimp bisque for a soup. I got the gumbo, which I like the flavor, but could have used less rice and more seafood. Another gentleman said he tried both and like the shrimp bisque better. As for our main course, we both got the turkey and dressing. Turkey was plenty moist and dressing was also very good. We both had the green beans that included new potatoes. I liked them myself as did my wife. The macaroni and cheese was not the best I have had but it was good. I am not a sweet potato fan for the most part, but I truly liked the praline sweet potato casserole. Flavor was great. The cranberry sauce was also very good. Fried Brussel sprouts was a new twist for me and they were cooked perfectly. The baked tomatoes were also good. There were also fried crab claws on the buffet as well, which I loved. Other things I saw were chicken, roast beef, and a few other items. I couldn't eat that much for sure. I had unsweetened tea which was fine. Yes the Sprite my wife had, came from a can; does that really matter people?? Kim was our server and she was more than awesome. Yes, I know it is a buffet, but she kept it fun for us, very outgoing and friendly. The deserts are also good like the bread pudding and my wife had something that we are not sure what it was but she did love it. I could eat this all the time, but because of the amount of food, maybe twice a month for us. We did walk when we got home of course. read more

Gift Horse Restaurant - I think I put the whole buffet on my plate. - Buffets Near Me - Foley, Alabama

For the crowded tourist mess that is Gulf Shores and Foley, this was a nice surprise. We were the only customers at one point and still had a good experience with this southern buffet. It is a BEAUTIFUL old building and our waitress was so great. Enjoyed our meal. And by the way, our intention was to go to Lambert's for southern food (we were tired of seafood), but there was a line of about 50 people waiting in line to get in. I refuse to do that on vacation. This was great! read more

Working in town and decided to give this place a try. This is the absolute worst food experience is had anywhere in the country. There is not one thing on the buffet that tastes good, and dinner is over $35 after tax, tip, and service fee. Don't waste you money or appetite read more

This place is just beautiful. And the food is delicious. Salad bar has every type of salad you could ask for , also great deviled eggs. Main courses change daily today was baked, fried chicken,two types of beef, one was a bit tough,fried cauliflower, fried shrimp, apple and cheese casserole,praline sweet potatoes and I hate sweet potatoes but these were delicious. Many other items I can't remember and their fried bisquits. Also seafood gumbo and the best crawfish gumbo loaded with crawfish. It was 16.95 pp on weekdays it is 12.95. The building itself has quite a history. There is brochure on your table you can keep to let you know all the changes that have gone on. This will certainly be on our list of favorite restaurants. Customer service is very good , waiter was very friendly. You do pay in the gift shop and the clerk taking the money today was very rattled and a bit rude. He needs to calm down and be able to answer questions without a surly look. First time we went here it was wonderful. We went thanksgiving it was awful. Things were cold. Turkey in some kind of broth was tasteless. Next and last time we went for my husbands birthday. No one else was in there , should have been the first clue. It was such a huge disappointment. Tasteless and cold. The desserts were so dry and stale. We wont be back. read more

Place is beautiful on the outside and stunning on the inside. Opened the door and we were greeted by a wonderful Southern lady asking if we were here for lunch. We were told that it was a buffet and were seated. The buffet was wonderful from the shrimp bisque, to the many fresh salads and entrees. Being a Northener, I had never had some of the dishes scalloped apples and cheese for one. Which was delicious. I tried a little of everything and was so very pleased. Fresh, breaded fish and rolls were brought to the table and the fish was perfectly done and delicious. The decor is beautiful and the word that comes to mind is genteel. Also the lady who took care of us was wonderful. We really enjoyed our lunch on all levels. Go , you won't be sorry. read more

The atmosphere is extraordinarily beautiful. Very elegant. They serve buffet only for lunch and dinner. The roast was tender and flavorful, reminds you of moms Sunday dinner. The salad bar is large many options to choose from and type of salads such as chicken salad, egg salad potato salad, tuna salad, etc, several types of chicken bbq, fried, wings. This is a great place for children . Plenty for them to eat. Soups of the day are also available on the buffet. They have a dessert buffet which is why I did give them a 5 star. Nothing to write home about. Pecan pie and some mush with cherries and I could taste some sort of booze in it. Not that great. However, you could buy slices of cake that were under glass. These are separate from the buffets and are charged extra. I would like to try their high tea which would be great for a little girls party. This place is big enough for an event. The place has beautiful wood ceilings and decorated in English/ colonial furniture with large dining tables. The ambience is very quaint and old Britain. They also have a balcony overlooking the lower dining area. read more

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If the Overlook Hotel (from 'The Shining') Had A Southern Franchise.... Creepy, overpriced place with few food choices and nothing served at proper temperatures. Not enough vegetables, meat offerings were clearly the cheapest cuts and since when is a buffet allowed to skip mashed potatoes? Canned sodas, weak tea, horrible Oliver Twist desserts (want a nice slice of cake? That's another $4.95) and one disappearing waitress. Another Coastal Alabama gustatory disappointment. read more

Had lunch there yesterday. They brought out little servings as you would choose at a buffet. Cornbread tasted rancid or old. The fried bread was not palatable. The shrimp soup was salty and had 2 shrimp. The rest of the side dishes came out and the number of items was plentiful but most were not palatable either. The seafood croquet had rice stuffing and a very slight seafood taste. The praline sweet potato was stale. The cucumber salad sample was the best thing offered. The seafood salad was tasty but very mayonnaisey. I could go on and one. My friends liked the coconut pie. By that point in the meal I was kinda grossed out. read more

Stay clear very disgusting, food temperature under 140° on the hot buffet. Stale desserts and cookies.Needed to make a bathroom run before I even walked out of the place.Credit card was charged almost $52 for two, we both had iced tea to drink. We did not order any special desserts we pulled it off the Buffet. read more

We went during the COVID-19 breakout so I'm sure we did not get a fair impression. The odd thing was, when we asked to see a menu or an explanation of what was on the menu we were rushed to a table without an answer. We stayed for the soup and then left. Had we known the menu we would not have stayed at all as it wasn't our type of place. The waitress was a lovely woman and I felt bad for leaving but it just wasn't what we wanted. read more

N Two of us ate there last night. The restaurant is beautiful, parking is good, and it's easy to find. There weren't many people there which is a concern for a buffet but it was fabulous. They brought fresh fried shrimp and fish to the table on request and both were delicious. The food at the buffet was hot and fresh tasting, a good selection of salads, sides and entrees. Service was super friendly and very attentive, we wanted for nothing. It's worth every penny and for me, a guaranteed stop every time I'm in the area. read more

Very pretty restaurant. However, this restaurant has gone downhill! The food in the warmers was cold, and tasted just as it had been sitting out all day. We purchased a $6.00 slice of cake, and it was dry. I would not recommend to have a meal at this restaurant. read more

We stumbled upon the Gift Horse restaurant while visiting the area. The buffet was great, good southern home cooking! The server was very attentive and super sweet. The decor was cute also! Not sure why it only has 3 stars but I'd recommend checking it out read more

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Just had a fantastic lunch at the famous Gift Horse! Having been there many times through the years, I admit I wondered how they would manage service in a buffet restaurant and do justice to the delicious food. Our server gave lists and brought our choices, continuing to offer selections. In this pandemic with which we are dealing, we sympathize with restaurants; they have to work so hard to keep patrons safe. The Gift Horse manages beautifully and the food is as delicious as ever!!! read more

This place has tons of character. I would have liked to walk around but was there with family. Just soak in the ambiance. The waitress was so energetic and friendly. I have never in my life had such amazing, friendly, warm service. This lady needs a raise! Buffett was ok. Salad bar had tons of pre-made salads but not much in the way of being able to make your own. Maybe a little balance could be had. The hot food was hot! We're eating no/little carbs and we're still able to walk away full. They had shrimp, fish, baked BBQ chicken, beef noodles, cheesy broccoli, an asparagus casserole, cheesy grit, potatoes, and pralined sweet potatoes. Two types of soup. Yum! The desert bar was great for those who could eat it. The waitress even brought out a chocolate pie because one in our party wanted a different chocolate option. I'd go back, the food was decent but I'd go back for our waitress - she was amazing! read more