12 Ohio Buffets Where The ’80s Flavor Never Left
Across the Buckeye State, there’s a special kind of dining experience that feels like stepping into a time machine.
These beloved buffet restaurants haven’t just preserved their original recipes – they’ve maintained the whole vibe of the Reagan era.
Wood paneling, brass railings, and those unforgettable salad bars with sneeze guards transport hungry Ohioans back to simpler times when all-you-can-eat was the ultimate dining luxury.
1. Boyd & Wurthmann Restaurant
Amish country’s time capsule serves up comfort food exactly as your grandma would’ve enjoyed in 1985. The dessert section alone deserves its own zip code!
With wood-paneled walls and vinyl booths that have witnessed decades of hungry tourists, this Berlin staple maintains its no-frills charm while dishing up hearty portions that would make any child of the ’80s nostalgic.
2. Mrs. Yoder’s Kitchen
Stepping through the doors feels like walking into 1983. The checkered tablecloths and country decor haven’t changed, and neither have the recipes for their famous fried chicken.
Farm-fresh ingredients meet traditional Amish cooking techniques at this Mt. Hope institution. Hungry visitors load their plates with buttery mashed potatoes and homemade noodles while seated beneath ceiling fans that have been spinning since the Cabbage Patch Kids were all the rage.
3. Der Dutchman
Remember those family dinners where everyone fought over the last dinner roll? Der Dutchman keeps that tradition alive with their bottomless baskets of warm, buttery bread.
Hearty portions of meat loaf, roast beef, and those incredible homemade noodles continue to draw crowds who appreciate the restaurant’s steadfast refusal to update its decor or menu to modern trends.
4. Variety’s Restaurant
Tucked away in a strip mall, Variety’s neon sign has been flickering for decades. The interior feels like a preserved slice of 1987.
Regulars swear by the Friday fish fry that’s been prepared the same way for decades. The chrome-edged tables and burgundy vinyl booths have witnessed countless family celebrations and first dates.
5. Fuji Buffet & Grill
Remember when hibachi grills and all-you-can-eat sushi felt exotic and futuristic? Fuji hasn’t redecorated since that era, and loyal customers wouldn’t have it any other way.
The faux-bamboo dividers and dragon-themed light fixtures create an atmosphere straight out of a 1985 mall food court.
6. Seven Chefs Buffet
Located inside Jack Casino, this buffet maintains the glitzy excess of the ’80s with brass fixtures and smoked glass dividers that would make Donald Trump’s early casinos jealous.
The carving station has been serving prime rib under the same heat lamps since people were dancing to Thriller.
7. MGM Buffet
Walking in feels like stepping onto the set of Miami Vice. The pink neon accent lighting and tropical-patterned carpet still decorate this place.
The dessert cart still features those impossibly perfect triangles of cheesecake under rotating display lights.
Regular patrons can set their watches by when the prime rib station opens, following the same schedule for over three decades.
8. Layla’s Kitchen
The faux-Tiffany lamps haven’t changed since Duran Duran topped the charts. Neither has the house specialty: a Mediterranean buffet with the same hummus recipe they’ve used since 1984.
Columbus diners have been loading their plates with stuffed grape leaves and tabouli salad for generations.
9. Golden Corral
The Dayton location of this chain feels frozen in 1989. The chocolate fountain has been flowing for ages.
Families still gather around those same wood-grained tables that have hosted countless birthday celebrations and after-church Sunday lunches.
10. Hometown Buffet
Youngstown’s favorite all-you-can-eat spot still rocks the hunter green and mauve color scheme. Even the uniforms look straight out of 1987!
Regulars know exactly which day to come for fried chicken (Thursday) and pot roast (Sunday), a schedule that hasn’t changed in over three decades. The salad bar’s three-bean salad remains a time-honored tradition.
11. China Garden Buffet
Just minutes from Cedar Point, this time-warp restaurant still features the same paper lanterns and zodiac placemats that delighted families back in the day.
Generations of roller coaster enthusiasts have refueled on the General Tso’s chicken recipe that hasn’t changed in years.
12. Perkins Family Restaurant
While technically not a traditional buffet, the Sunday brunch spread at Lima’s Perkins location has maintained its ’80s glory with those stainless steel warming trays and glass juice dispensers.
The pancake station features the same recipe that made them famous when people were watching Family Ties. Waitresses still wear those iconic aprons with multiple pockets for storing extra napkins and straws.
