Ole Times Country Buffet coming to Savannah!!! (Brunswick, Tifton: home, camp)

[Newsboy]

I drove down Stephensen today and almost wrecked my car when I saw that Ole Times Country Buffet is getting ready to open in the old Ryan's location. The fellows inside said it would be about two weeks!

This chain started in Tifton (I believe) and has bought up closed Ryan's locations throughout south and middle Georgia and north Florida, turning them into all-you-can-eat home cooking buffets that I SWEAR ON A STACK OF PAULA DEEN COOKBOOKS is the best, most authentic Southern food you'll ever eat in a restaurant. I was living in Brunswick when they took over the Ryan's there 4-5 years ago and OMG! People would stand in line for an hour to get in! Fantastic food, reasonable prices, a great addition to the Southside family dining scene. They actually scrape cream corn OFF THE COBB out back! The mashed potatoes have peel and lumps! The fried okra is dusted in cornmeal, salt and pepper and the best I've ever tasted! The country fried steak is REAL MEAT -- not grisle, breaded, seasoned and smothered in gravy. Their BBQ pulled pork and Brunswick stew are award winners. On Fridays and Saturdays they do a seafood buffet that's as good or better than any around these parts.

I know some folks immediately turn up their noses at the very idea of "buffets" -- but this one is outstanding! It will put Lady and Sons to shame.

oletimescountrybuffet.com

[gentlearts]

I am one of those people who resists eating at the trough, but I'll trust you on this one.

[ellie]

I love buffets like that. Thanks for the heads up.

[Newsboy]

They've been open a week and already jam packed out the door. Ate there tonight for the first time. As good as I remember it! Paula Deen eat your heart out!

[masonbauknight]

I've also been down on buffets, but... real creamed corn, okra dusted with cornmeal, country fried steak without the gristle? I'll be lining up like everybody else.

Newsboy, you didn't mention the desserts. What about the southern desserts at Ole Times? They better have pecan pie and coconut cream pie (at the very least).

[Newsboy]

Originally Posted by masonbauknight

I've also been down on buffets, but... real creamed corn, okra dusted with cornmeal, country fried steak without the gristle? I'll be lining up like everybody else.

Newsboy, you didn't mention the desserts. What about the southern desserts at Ole Times? They better have pecan pie and coconut cream pie (at the very least).

-- Real creamed corn: CHECK!
-- Okra dusted with cornmeal: CHECK!
-- Country fried steak, fork-tender, smothered in gravy and onions: CHECK!

I'm not a big sweets / desserts person, but I do recall banana pudding, lots of pies and cakes, etc.

Seriously, there's no way to even begin to list how big this buffet is. If you can name it, they've probably got it (or if not, can make it on request). Just for example, I noticed they had THREE different kinds of corn: creamed, whole kernel and still on the Cobb, and two kinds of green bean: skinny snap ones and big fat flat ones, both seasoned with pork. Black eyes peas. Butter peas. Lima beans. Pinto bean. Cornbread dressing. Mac and cheese. Squash casserole. A dozen different kinds of cold salads. Meats meats and more meats.

It's really good. Really.

[ellie]

I want to try this place soon, since I know it will probably go downhill quickly once the gluttons, who frequent Golden Corral, find it and camp out there.

[gentlearts]

Originally Posted by ellie

I want to try this place soon, since I know it will probably go downhill quickly once the gluttons, who frequent Golden Corral, find it and camp out there.

I know, right? The height of dining pleasure is watching a bunch of obese people Bogarting the crab legs. I'll pass.

[masonbauknight]

@gentlehearts. You've just said what I avoided saying: why I don't like buffets. Not only do they promote America's obesity epidemic (much worse in the South), but they attract some pretty large ladies and gents who aggressively shove you aside. But NB is describing real country food *from scratch* -- I assume the green beans aren't canned and the mac & cheese is homemade (not the atomic-orange "cheese food" in the blue box). This is southern food the way our grandmothers made it -- the best regional cooking in the country if you except the weak coffee served throughout the South. Just hope they can keep the quality going for a while.

@Newsboy. A native southerner "not into sweets"? With pecan pie and coconut cream pie around? Oh well. But thanks for the post. Question: What do you think of Cracker Barrel, which does follow the "from scratch" southern food gospel?

[gentlearts]

I think if they make it expensive enough, the types I'm talking about will still be at Western Sizzlin, or Golden Coral.