Ryan’s

My family frequent this place on Sunday. We love their buffet. Great variety of food, great price and service. Can’t ask for more.

The service improved, but not the food. Pinto beans not fully cooked, tea/​soda had strange taste. Utensils (spoons) were all dirty with food on them! Need to check cleaning machine.

Sometimes buffets can be so-​so but this one is pretty decent … and the service staff is always top notch … I always enjoy coming here

Horrid… nasty… Dirty silverware, poorly cooked food. Filthy restrooms, uncaring management and price gouging.
Our Easter Day visit will be our last ever to rhis failing franchise anywhere.
No notice of the Easter price increase prior to paying… when asked for cash back for a tip they want you to pre tip. I prefer to tip based on service after I receive it… not prior.
Steaks all rare or medium rare… slinging water over the grill to flame it up with no consideration for water on the steaks…
Turkey and Ham station features some sort of laminated by product perfectly molded…
Ice cream machine down… all day they said and still charging $ 1.50 more than the posted price.
I guess as long as there is obesity in America they might remain open… doubt it.

The food is pretty good. Just a few items I like. It’s not a big selection. Fried chicken is delicious. The rolls are good. Steak pretty good. Taco meat nasty. The shells are always soft. The Mac n cheese I don’t prefer at all. You may like it. Salad bar and dessert ok. Servers are pretty good even tho they act like refills aren’t free. Overall a decent place for your money

I think all of the feedback given so far has been accurate. Sometimes it really is the «Worse buffest ever!» and other times «my expectations were far exceeded.» I guess I just wish this place was more consistently great and reasonably priced.

Under new management now and is better than it was a year or so ago. Much cleaner and food bar has better and fresher food now. Not much of a place for steaks but otherwise ok

Worst buffet ever! Food was dried out and had no taste, salad bar was very limited. For $ 11.99 I wished I’d went to a Chinese buffet

Would like to see more vegetable choices. Having some cottage cheese would also be nice. The ice cream doesn’t have much cream in it, and the desserts are of fake whip cream, I’m sure in order to reduce costs. The Ryan’s at Banks Crossing near Commerce does a little better job though with their recipes, cooking, presentation, variety, and neatness and cleanliness. Although neither one is as good as the Golden Coral in Winder, and I wish they would put one in Athens. This Ryan’s here in Athens also lets some of the food containers go empty for awhile instead of quickly replacing the contents. This creates people hanging around the bar waiting for it, then jumping on it all at once creating a traffic jam (especially with the fried chicken). (The baked chicken is too dry and can sit for long periods as non-​fresh so be careful). I think management wants to make sure its all eaten up before replacing any of the food display containers. From my several years of very sporadic experience eating and speaking with management and staff here, I think this Athens Ryan’s is more food cost conscious. For example, on Sundays they seem to purposely avoid having someone stationed for very long and for infrequent periods for the carving and serving of the roast beef. And then if you finally get some its a very small portion. Also, one time when they ran out of broccoli, the manager told me it was because it went up a bit in price. For dessert, the cake slices tend to be dry and stale. The ice cream has a low fat skim milk taste. Overall the staff is very friendly, and I am noticing some improvements in the cleanliness issues that others have commented on. If you’re looking for organically grown, healthy food source choices or higher quality in general, don’t bother. It’s mostly canned, low grade and mundane.
UPDATE: New management. Cottage cheese was just added after a very long absence (years). But is not at all consistently available.
Also, the ice cream is better now, but still not the taste quality of the free ice cream at Jason’s Deli for instance. The chicken is somewhat better too. Business has increased a bit. Still, overall Golden Coral has them beat by a long shot.

Fresh and a wide selection of food. Attentive and friendly service. Great deal when your starving and just want to eat.

Bad service!
I’ve asked for steak 3 times!
The manger told me he’ll bring it for me!
I was still waiting for the steak until I finished my dinner and no one has sown up!
I won’t come again to Ryan’s!

I think I found the best deal in all of America today. $ 4.99 for a lunch buffet to die for. I was planning to eat at Jason’s Deli’s salad bar but figured I’d see what Ryan’s is all about instead. My expectations were far exceeded. For less than the price of a Jason’s Deli salad bar I got an equivalently impressive salad bar plus all of the extras that come with a Ryan’s buffet… baked fish, baked chicken, cooked veggies, etc. I don’t indulge in the desserts, fried items, etc. but if you want those you will be even more happy than me. I could eat at this place everyday. The only thing lacking was the service but who could care at $ 4.99.
PS: Jessica and Dennis treat customers like royalty. Incredible service from them.