When it comes to dining out with the whole family, buffets offer a perfect solution. They provide a wide variety of options to satisfy even the pickiest eaters, and the casual atmosphere means kids can be kids without disturbing other diners.
That said, not all buffets offer kid-friendly activities and attractions to keep your little ones entertained. To help you out, we listed four of the best family-friendly buffets across the United States that offer great food and fun experiences for all ages.
Pirate's Table Calabash Seafood Buffet (Surfside Beach, SC)
Pirate's Table Calabash Seafood Buffet is a family-friendly restaurant offering an extensive all-you-can-eat buffet with a pirate theme. The restaurant boasts one of the largest buffets on the Grand Strand and features prime rib and other meat dishes, a salad bar and soup station, and a wide variety of seafood options---including crab legs, mahi, salmon, and shrimp. Additionally, there is also a dedicated children's buffet section with kid-friendly options and an extensive dessert bar.
What makes Pirate's Table unique is its 105-foot buffet, designed to look like a pirate ship, and a 10,000-gallon pool where live mermaids perform.
Chef Mickey's (Lake Buena Vista, FL)
Chef Mickey's is a popular character dining experience located at Disney's Contemporary Resort in Lake Buena Vista. This all-you-can-eat buffet restaurant offers American cuisine and the unique opportunity to meet Disney's Fab Five characters: Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Goofy, and Pluto.
The restaurant is situated on the fourth floor of Disney's Contemporary Resort, easily accessible by monorail from the Magic Kingdom. It is important to note that there are no PhotoPass photographers at the restaurant, which means families should be prepared to take their own photos with the roaming Disney characters.
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Pizza Ranch
Pizza Ranch is a popular Midwestern fast-casual buffet restaurant chain known for its pizza, chicken, and family-friendly atmosphere. Founded in 1981 in Hull, Iowa, Pizza Ranch has grown to over 200 locations across 13 states in the Midwest and Great Plains regions of the United States. This makes it a great buffet option if you're traveling.
As its name suggests, Pizza Ranch is famous for its pizza options, which include adult-friendly and kid-friendly ingredients. Besides pizza, the restaurant serves fried chicken, wings, and desserts.
Some locations offer kids-eat-free nights as long as an adult buffet is purchased. Other locations also offer a FunZone arcade where kids can play games and earn tickets that they can exchange for prizes.
Goofy's Kitchen (Anaheim, CA)
Like Chef Mickey's, guests who dine at Goofy's Kitchen will have the opportunity to meet beloved Disney characters while enjoying American breakfast, brunch, or dinner.
There are plenty of menu highlights, including Mickey-shaped waffles and pancakes, Goofy's famous peanut butter pizza, a carving station with sirloin and turkey breast, and an extensive dessert station. Special dietary accommodations are also available upon request.
