I was driving through Madison around lunchtime. I saw several restaurants. This was the only one completely surrounded by vehicles. They were even parking across the street. So I had to check it out. There are three separate seating areas. Plenty of tables and booths. It's like a lot of other buffets: you seat yourself and serve yourself everything except your drink. You pay at the register when you leave ($15). You can get food to go as well and they will weigh your container. The buffet itself is pretty small but has everything you'd want: grilled chicken, fried chicken, fish, chicken dumplings, mashed potatoes, beans, corn bread, etc. There is a separate salad buffet and dessert buffet. Service was friendly and efficient. Paying was quick and easy. Bathrooms were clean. And did I mention the fried chicken was perfect and the cobbler outstanding? read more

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I don't know exactly how long O'Neal's has been around but I'd say a mighty long time. The building is plenty worn around the edges, booths have certainly seen better days, but country humor and hospitality abound. They sell seasonal produce from behind the front counter as well. Everyone is super-nice though you won't normally need much interaction with the waitstaff: you just say what you want to drink, they bring it to you, and you go get your buffet. I don't know if there is also a kitchen menu to order or not, but everyone goes for the buffet--that's clear. The menu changes daily and is written very neatly up on a small chalk board in the front however it's going to be country cookin' at it finest regardless. Saturday night is apparently the fish fry: they had a variety of fried seafood plus a shrimp scampi and fried chicken--also ribs I believe. They apparently always have fried chicken and it's very good fried chicken, too--not the very best I've ever had, but quite good. Of what they had on Saturday night that was good--beyond the fried chicken--I'm a fan of the mac'n'cheese (very good), butter beans, fried mullet (local I would bet, tasted very fresh), coleslaw, and hush puppies. The fried shrimp and shrimp scampi on the other hand seemed to be from frozen and not very good, overcooked. Crayfish were ok. Sweet potato casserole was bland--I've had much better. They fixed four or five cobblers and those I tried were pretty good--apple, peach, and a bread pudding-like one with blueberries. It's not quite five-star but it's an experience at a good price and overall good food. I'd be curious to try the lunch buffet--I kind of felt they were just trying too hard at the Saturday dinner and had a bit too much out to have quality the highest across the board. Still for $17 including your drink you cannot beat an all-you-can-eat buffet featuring very good fried chicken and the other fixin's plus fried mullet--I mean, forget all the other main dishes, that's plenty and a deal at that price. Certainly worth checking out if in Madison. read more

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I do not understand all of these five star reviews. I love a good country buffet but this was just ehh. We arrived at 6pm on Saturday night. Once we navigated the maze of parking outside and found the main entrance door, we stepped inside expecting someone to say something. Nothing. We looked around weirdly and the nice guy that walked in behind us said "just go on in." So we stepped inside a little more and he nudged "just grab a plate." Apparently this place is seat yourself, serve yourself. No menus, no other meal options. We made a plate and found an empty table. Finally a waitress appeared and asked what we wanted to drink. Tea, lemonade or water, that's it. It was such an odd experience. The food wasn't the worst I've had in a buffet but also far from the best. The most memorable part of my meal was the cobbler and my Arnold Palmer. My son liked the wings. Hubby loved the fried chicken. The waitress dropped off our three pre-written tickets for $17 each. The price is definitely affordable especially considering it includes tax and drink. The boys rated it a 4 but it's a 2 for me, so we are rounding it to 3 stars overall with no plans to return. read more

Dishes and restaurant not clean enough for my liking. Staff was friendly. The buffet was being cleaned with dirty towels so I couldn't stomach trying the food. read more

Good food Good service. The waitresses were cordial to the senior citizens. The cream corn was delicious. read more

We stopped here driving to Tampa with my inlaws - this place is AMAZING! Everything has that "home-made" touch. I wish it was closer than the 4hr drive north! But who knows, we might make a special lunch trip one day! read more

OMG the food is so amazing and delicious. The fried fish is so good . I am from Miami and this is my go to place every time I come to Cairo everything is good real county cooking food. read more

Are you hungry? Do you like fried chicken? Are you in or near Madison, Florida? If the answer is yes, you must consider a lunch at O'Neal's Country Buffet! When we entered, we noticed plenty of folks filling to go containers. This must be THE place. The Sunday lunch on a recent visit was $15.00 and included tea or lemonade. The buffet was plentiful with delicious fried chicken, chicken & dumplings, turkey wings, teriyaki wings, turkey dressing, yams, greens, fordhook lima beans, mashed potatoes, rolls, baked chicken, tetrazini, and macaroni & cheese. There was a salad bar with lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, broccoli salad, dressing, watermelon, banana pudding and chocolate pudding. There was a dessert bar with bread pudding, peach cobbler and one other that escapes me at the moment. The service was great considering the large Sunday afternoon crowd, even at 1:30 pm! Lettie did a great job!! You pay at the counter by the front door after the meal and they were selling local produce, local honey and peanut brittle. Get the peanut brittle. I am sorry we only purchased one package. It was delicious and for $3.00 was a sweet bargain! We will certainly return the next time we are in the area. read more

Lots of variety of food you shouldn't ever go home hungry. Very good prices and had lots of southern delicacies a little less spice than what I'm used to, but everything was still very good. It's definitely a mom and pop type local buffet. Our server was very nice, polite and informative. read more

Everything was fresh, seasoned just right and plenty to go around being that it was a Buffett. Overall it's a good choice for checking out.

Best and freshest country buffet I've been to! Busy during lunch for our visit but STILL kept hot and fresh food on the buffet!

What a great find...excellent fresh and delicious food The service was great. The food was kept fresh and hot. The restaurant was very clean with an excellent staff. read more

Awesome southern cuisine. I highly recommend it. Service is great too. Very comfortable and welcoming.

Exactly what you would expect for a Southern buffet. Catfish was good. Fried chicken excellent. Great cabbage and beans.

O'neal's is the place to be in Madison Fl. Food was hot and fresh and they keep it coming. The place was packed and people wanted the hot chicken and shrimp. Great service as well read more

OMG! This is an old, old place that has served hundreds of thousands of meals. This buffet is a true southerners dream! I haven't had fried okra this good since by grandma cooked it in 1960. The greens were wonderful and the creamed corn was amazing. Fresh mashed potatoes and cornbread dressing with the best fried chicken. I also had a pork chop that was a thin bone in and they had homemade bbq sauce. Don't skip the dessert bar with 3 kinds of cobblers, bread pudding and banana pudding. They have a small salad bar with things like broccoli salad, cucumber, onion and tomatoes in vinaigrette and just regular salad fixings. I met a man whose first time coming here was in 1974 so the place has been around a while. The place is old but it is clean, the food is great and the employees friendly. I love this place. read more

Food is good! When you walk in it hard to get your food and lots of people are in the way. Waiters and waitresses are very fast! This is the OG of Madison FL! Love this place though! read more

We love this place! We travel to Okeechobee, Fl from Alabama, on a fairly regular basis and we schedule our trips around lunchtime, we don't want to miss lunch at O'Neal's. I recently had my son with me, this was his first visit. Needless to say, after eating the WONDERFUL FOOD, he was hooked! Not only is the food good but the service is always wonderful. They never forget us and always greet us as if we were there "yesterday "! read more

O'neal's Country Buffet - Bonnie & Gerry - Buffets Near Me - Madison, Florida

Good country cooking worth getting off the highway for, that's for sure. I always do as often as I can. Heard good things about them from colleagues pining away about how good they were from way over in Orlando. Crying about them a few years ago, and they're right. O'neal's is one my favorite buffets and I don't like buffets so much. Different days, different foods, I don't know which is which but everything's always been really good. Good stuff. Real good comfort food and real good people too. Oh so good!!! Should say they're not exactly off the highway but a good 15 minutes worth it. read more

O'neal's Country Buffet - worth every penny - Buffets Near Me - Madison, Florida

The food was great! You have a big verity of home cooked food a d desert. I recommend O'Neal's

I heard many great things about this place and it is all true. This restaurant gets really busy, and sometimes lines are long at the buffet. But, I understand why they are so popular. The food is simply delicious. Baked beans, meatloaf, cornbread, mac & cheese, banana pudding, etc. All your soul food classics are here. Their crispy, mouthwatering fried chicken was my favorite. There were so many items. Unfortunely, I got full too quickly, and I couldn't try them all. Service was so-so. Our waitress was nice, but not too attentive. Still, 5 stars for this incredible Southern style buffet. read more

O'neal's Country Buffet - Mac & cheese, fried chicken, meatloaf, steamed broccoli and corn bread - Buffets Near Me - Madison, Florida

Amazing find! We got there close to closing and they still were filling the Buffet. Which was very impressing!

The food was as good as the reviews said. Tasty, hot and flavorful. Service was quick to clear plates and very helpful. Wait staff is friendly. read more

O'Neal's Country Buffet was a big disappointment. I ate at a great country buffet in Zephyrhills a decade ago and really loved it so when I was recently at an event in the Madison FL and saw that there was a local country buffet there I was really excited to try it. Almost everything was overcooked and/or dry. The fried chicken was barely warm. The fried fish was hard and boney. The shrimp scampi was mushy with barely discernible garlic taste. Most of the vegetables were very bland (although the creamed corn was tasty). The only other dishes I could label as ok were the mac and cheese, and the bread pudding. And the cost was not cheap. Sorry, folks, but I cannot recommend this place at all read more

Great Country cookin! My favorite is to get a go box to take home, they charge by the pound. It's a great deal that way! They are always busy so make the trip 30 mins b4 the lunch on Sunday's! read more

For good food I'll travel from Tallahassee to Madison it's 9:36am and I'll be waiting for them to open4/10/22 good morning I'm on my way

Great place for a nice buffet with a variety to choose from, as well as a dessert bar.

I loved this place if you are driving through Madison FL stop here for lunch. Super nice people run the joint. He food is amazing. My only complaint is there weren't too many green vegetable options. Just green beans. I would have liked to see some greens for sure. I will eat here again if I am out this way for sure. read more

O'neal's Country Buffet - Country food galore!!! - Buffets Near Me - Madison, Florida

Wow, wow, wow!! As I sit here unbuttoning my jeans I have to share this amazing little hole in the wall. The restaurant reminds me of a friendly clean cafeteria. The food...to die for! As you can see I stuffed my plate. The fried chicken was full of flavor, juicy, and I was surprised not a drip of oil. I had fried green tomatoes, mashed potatoes, sausage which was amazing definitely fresh and pack with flavor, corn bread and Lima beans. The price was great for all you can eat! I will definitely be back!! read more

O'neal's Country Buffet - My first plate! Yumm - Buffets Near Me - Madison, Florida

Depending on where you are from or what demographic this is Country Cookin', Grandma's Cooking, or Soul Food! Maybe a combo of all three so you really can't go wrong. Went here on the recommendation of a customer I was with and the food was perfect all the way around! The fried chicken was fresh (in other words the chicken wasn't frozen before it was fried) large selections of veggies, fried foods, sweet tea and dessert! I also had the chicken fingers, rice, lima beans, green beans and various other items topped of with a southern staple of banana pudding. All the way around a great experience to this little mom and pop, small town place. Pretty much everyone knew everyone there. It's definitely a HOLE in the WALL read more

O'neal's Country Buffet - Buffets Near Me - Madison, Florida

Nothing fancy about the building or food but it is quick and filling. Good selection. The drive from the interstate to the restaurant is pleasant and the little town was vibrant. read more

Oneals never disappoints. Food is always hot and fresh, with plenty of variety on the buffet. The seafood buffet is my favorite and their wings are some of the best I've ever had. Get there early or you could be waiting a while for a table. read more

We brought my mother-in-law here after church today. She lives in Dowling Park and we drove up from Orlando to visit with her. I checked out Yelp (as you do) to find something nearby that was quick, easy, and offered something for everyone. My mother-in-law said O'neal's always seems busy when she's driven by, so she was game for checking it out today. Let me say that this place was super busy. The after-church crowd was out in force and when they dumped more fried chicken on the buffet, it was like a swarm of bees around a pollen laden flower. After one bite of the fried chicken, I could understand the frenzy. That fried chicken was Dang Good. It was light, crispy, and perfectly seasoned. The other sides we had were all delicious--home cooked. The dessert buffet held three different types of cobbler and there was banana pudding, chocolate pudding, and cake on the salad bar. Overall, we'll definitely take her back to O'Neal's. The service, for being a buffet was excellent. The sweet tea was good. I just wish there wasn't such a traffic jam around the buffet and the register, but that's not such a big bother when the food is great. read more

O'neal's Country Buffet - Buffets Near Me - Madison, Florida

Had a terrible experience there today. We arrived there toward the end of the lunch rush....waited 30 minutes without seeing a server to take drink orders and had 5 children with us who were thirsty. My daughter needed ketchup too so I went to the front looking for that at the salad bar while I waited in line to inquire about drinks for the kids. There was only a large vat of ketchup on the counter with no containers except styrofoam bowls beside it so I took one and the woman running the register got angry and told me those bowls were only for take out orders. I already had the bowl in my hand so asked if I should go ahead and use it and she said "I'd prefer not." She was extremely rude in front of a dining room full of customers and a long line of people who were waiting to pay their checks. I was told the woman's name is April. I have never patronized a business where an employee was as rude as that woman was and I won't be back. The food wasn't good either. I used to eat there a lot and the owners and employees were always friendly and kind but I won't be back because of that woman. I'm rating it with one star only because this review won't post without at least one star. read more

We were staying at the state park not far away and wanted a good buffet. Based on the Yelp reviews we decided to make the trip over. But am I glad we did! The fried chicken was perfect. There were the typical buffet items like mashed potatoes and green beans, etc. Everything we tried was great. The dessert station had some great things as well, like banana pudding. Loved it! read more

Great food, we go there often. Friendly staff, ice tea is great but would like a soft drink sometimes....

Plenty of space and always fresh food. Make sure to get the ice cream and cobbler for dessert!

A little dumpy place from the outside on hwy 90 heading through Madison going north towards Georgia. But don't let the looks fool you it looks like it used to be some kind of hamburger place in the 50s you know the ones with the girls skating around to deliver your food... yes it is that old ... but their buffet of southern favorites and a few specialties of their own was so good and so fresh and so well cooked like the catfish it was some of the best I've ever had, there was lots of fresh vegetables too like field peas Brussel sprouts cream corn the kind that's freshly cut off the cob.. A little salad bar area that had fruit, banana pudding and some kind of tomatoes and spaghetti noodles and I think scallops or something in it I didn't try it maybe next time , anyway there was salad with fresh tomatoes that they sell for $1.25 a piece at your check out. I will be back this is my second time there the first time for dinner I went for lunch back in September which has a lot of lunch type items fried chicken mashed and gravy ,collard greens carrots ,And an array of other vegetables and sides they have a dessert bar with apple pie cobbler, peach cobbler and ,some type of bread pudding but my favorite was the Apple ,they also had banana pudding but I don't think it was homemade pudding it might've been caned and so I don't recommend it maybe they'll start making it fresh after this review ..Rachel was our server and boy was she enthusiastic and spot on with the service . We had lots of questions about the area and she was kind enough to tell us what she knew. I definitely am going back and you should too .what a beautiful countryside lots of antique stores and really friendly great people. read more

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Buffet. All you can stuff in your fat belly. Sure to get the meat sweats and additional time on the porcelain throne

Great place to stop in when you're on the road. Worth the detour off I10 to come here and eat the buffet. Good selection of home style country cookin. read more