"Fine" Dining23 Heinä 2025

Golden Corral Has Won the Buffet Wars

🥩 Golden Corral's 100-Year Plan & Dumpster Drama 🗑️

This week, we dive into the sprawling buffet empire that is Golden Corral. From hygiene scandals to military youth camps, this chain has been through it all and somehow, it's still opening new locations.

Joining me is Ben Cassil, host of Live from the Big Apple, to help unravel the chain's bizarre history, including its long-standing relationship with the troops, a giant brawl over steak, and a game of hide-and-seek with their meat because of an impending health inspection.

Plus, Ben pitches a Discworld-themed restaurant, and we dig into some unhinged Yelp reviews from our local Golden Corral.

🏢 A CEO with a 100-Year Plan
🫡 Ties to the Military (We Support the Troops)
🎤 If You're Jeff Foxworthy...You Might Be a Buffet Spokesman
🍫 Goodbye, Chocolate Fountain (We Hardly Knew Ye)
🗑️ "Dumpster Gate" & a Protected Whistleblower
🎸 Why the Founder is NOT the Lead Singer of Tool
🪄 A Discworld Restaurant That Lives in Our Heads Now
🌟 Yelp Reviews That Made Us Question Reality

💬 COMMENT BELOW: What's the wildest thing you've ever seen at a buffet?

📢 SUPPORT THE SHOW & JOIN THE COMMUNITY:
🎉 Patreon (Bonus episodes, full Yelp segments & more): https://www.patreon.com/finediningpodcast
💬 Discord (Food talk, memes, cursed Yelp): https://discord.gg/6a2YqrtWV4
🎥 Watch full episodes: https://www.youtube.com/@finediningpodcast
🔗 All links: https://www.linktree.com/finediningpodcast
🎤 Ben on IG: @bencassil | Podcast: Live from the Big Apple

Patreon Producers: Sue Ornelas & Joyce Van

👉 NEXT WEEK: It's finally our turn to experience the buffet ourselves. We eat at this Golden Corral (that definitely used to be a Circuit City) and let's just say... it wasn't great.

Tämä jakso on lisätty Podme-palveluun avoimen RSS-syötteen kautta eikä se ole Podmen omaa tuotantoa. Siksi jakso saattaa sisältää mainontaa.

Jaksot(170)

Outback Steakhouse: "No Rules, Just Right," Survivor, & Bloomin' Onion Perfection

🥩🦘🍺 Outback Steakhouse: "No Rules, Just Right," Survivor, & Bloomin' Onion Perfection 🍺🦘🥩 This week, I'm joined by VyVy Nguyen (@cest_la_vyvy) to explore the not-so-Australian history of Outback...

5 Marras 202545min

Hometown Buffet: Absolute Trash

🥴🍽️🚫 Hometown Buffet: The Absolute Bottom of the Tchotchke of Mediocrity 🚫🍽️🥴 This week, we revisit a meal that has haunted me since 2014: Hometown Buffet, the worst restaurant experience of my ...

29 Loka 20251h 19min

The BEST Restaurant I've Ever Experienced: chi SPACCA

🥩🔥🍎 chi SPACCA: The Perfect 10 on the Tchotchke of Mediocrity 🍎🔥🥩 This week, I finally crown my very first perfect restaurant: chi SPACCA, the Italian butcher by Nancy Silverton and the best din...

22 Loka 202551min

McDonald's Monopoly: History, Scandal, and Astronomically Bad Odds

🎩🍟💰 McDonald's Monopoly: History, Scandal, and Astronomically Bad Odds💰🍟🎩 This week, we peel back the golden arches on one of the biggest promotions in fast-food history: McDonald's Monopoly. Fr...

15 Loka 202525min

Septemburger Semi-Finals & Finals

It's here! The finale of the 2025 Septemburger tournament pits Wendy's against Dairy Queen and Carl's Jr. against A&W. Who will make it to the finals, and more importantly: who will take home the abil...

8 Loka 202536min

Wendy's: Savage Roasts, French Fry Glow-Up, and Are the Nuggets Perfect?

🍟🤖🍔 Wendy's: Savage Roasts, French Fry Glow-Up, and Are the Nuggets Perfect? 🍔🤖🍟 This week, Ali Gordon joins me to put Wendy's through the Chili's Test. Between Frostys, spicy nuggets, and a fir...

24 Syys 20251h 39min

Jack in the Box: See-Through Tacos, Clown Mascot, and Legendary Curly Fries

🌮🤡 Jack in the Box: See-Through Tacos, Clown Mascot, and Legendary Curly Fries 🤡🌮 This week, we went to Jack in the Box to try some burgers, and got so much more than we bargained for. I'm joined ...

17 Syys 20251h 29min

SONIC Drive-In: Full History and Honest Review

🍒 Sonic Drive-In: Full History and Honest Review 🛻 This week, SONIC Drive-In gets the full treatment: history and review, all in one. From the retrofuturistic drive-in vibes and "Two Guys" commercia...

10 Syys 20251h 35min