Let me say first that I am a regular at Western Sizzlin, but not by choice. My dad takes me and my family to lunch at this restaurant on a regular basis. But the only reason I say "not by choice" is that the delicious foods always tempt me to eat more than I should, which is a real detriment to my waistline.
Yes, the decor has a western theme and country music is piped through the speakers. But I'm as small town as they come, so this is like coming home. The bathrooms, though small, are always clean and stocked. In fact, they're cleaner than the bathrooms in many nicer--and more expensive--restaurants in town.
I am pretty obsessed with cleanliness, so it's safe to say that everything here is always clean. Even the giant mirror on the wall, which can't be easy to maintain. The tables are clean, plates clean, buffet clean. If I've ever been tweaked out about something dirty, it's because of something I saw a customer do, and there's not a lot the management can do about that (Besides, that's the nature of the buffet).
The food selection is very nice for a place this size. The salad bar is always fresh and has a large variety of offerings. It's actually in 3 sections (standard salad, toppings like croutons and nuts, plus cold foods like fruit and cottage cheese) so it's pretty big.
The soups vary, and typically they have two at a time. Common offerings are chicken rice (good!), chicken noodle, potato, clam chowder, chicken gumbo, and beef vegetable.
The hot buffet includes the standard choices, such as mashed potatoes (yum), fried chicken (delish), spaghetti/baked pasta (also good), and green beans. Other things get rotated through, but I've seen fried chicken livers, spring rolls (rare but my favorite), fried rice, pot roast, and chicken pot pie. I LOVE the stuffing they sometimes offer, but my dad isn't thrilled by the chunks of onion in it, so it's all about personal preference, I guess.
In addition, buffet customers can also enjoy hot rolls, a bar with potato toppings, and assorted desserts (cookies, cakes, cobblers, soft serve & toppings).
My absolute favorite at Western Sizzlin is not offered on the buffet, however. I am a big fan of their steaks. I order them infrequently because otherwise I'd outgrow all my clothing in no time, but they are delicious! Tender. Juicy. Flavorful. I asked someone I knew who worked here many decades ago what made the steaks so tender, and he claimed it was what they used to marinate them. No idea if that is the truth, but something makes these steaks especially yummers.
In addition, the service here is excellent. The staff is friendly and efficient. They handle any situation--a spilled drink, a loud kid--with kindness and a pleasant approach. We're always greeted with the kind of service that makes us happy to return. read more