Ponderosa Steakhouse ~ Effingham, Illinois

We stopped at Ponderosa Steakhouse in Effingham, Illinois on our way through. It was about 4:00 pm on a Tuesday, so we weren't sure what to expect. Cold food? A waitress in between shifts?

What we found was actually very nice. We both just got the buffet, with no entree, so waiting on us was pretty easy. I have to say that the salad part of the buffet was great. The selection was above average ~ even had some side salads. I didn't see, however, any lite or low fat or fat free dressings ~ I got regular ranch, just not much of it. The dinner part of the buffet was okay. The food was a good temperature and looked appealing ~ on the other hand, it was just 'buffet' food: fried chicken, meatloaf, breaded fish, mac n cheese, green beans, etc. They did have a pork loin roast for a lower fat fare. They also had new potatoes, which you don't find everywhere. The dessert buffet was also nice, with a variety of choices. Ponderosa does offer sugar free choices, like spice cake and peanut butter cookies, so that was a nice added touch.

The service was where this Ponderosa really stood out. We chose to sit in the glassed in area, so we could keep an eye on the truck and trailer. It was starting to get somewhat dusky, and the cashier noticed and came over and turned the lights on for us. A little while later, the manager came out and asked us if were chilly, and turned the heat up for us. A lot of places would have asked us to move into the main dining area, so they wouldn't have to open that area up; but, this Ponderosa not only didn't bug us about moving, they came out and made sure we were comfortable for our meal ~ you don't get that kind of service everywhere anymore. Our waitress, Marissa, was very kind and came over to our table almost as soon as we sat down and then returned about 4 times to check on us and bring coffee. Normally, I only tip 10% on a buffet waitress, because they don't have to take our order, bring it out to us, etc., but I gave Marissa 20% because of her personality and attentiveness. Of course, there weren't many other people in there at 4:00 on a Tuesday evening, so things may be different if they're really busy ~ in which case, maybe you should visit on Tuesdays around 4:00??