Mama Lou's Restaurant (Buffet) - Local Hot Spot, but disappointing for us
- Robert Henley
- Jan 30
- 4 min read
Mama Lou's Restaurant (Buffet) - Local Hot Spot, but disappointing for us
Location: Robertsdale, AL
Date: 01-20-25
Overall Rating (1-10): 5
Provided by My Out n About - Robert and Sheila Henley
My Out n About provides valuable information to help others experience the fun things in life. We include, Restaurants, Bars, RV Parks and Adventures. This review and related comments are based on our personal experience at the business discussed and are not endorsed or solicited by the individual business. Your experience may differ.
Description: We had been hearing good things about this place from several locals so we finally made our way there on MLK Day. As we arrived we were happy to see that they were not as slammed as they were when we drove by previously. Upon entering the place was about 1/3 full. The building is a very large single room with a buffet in a separate back room.
It was a little confusing when we entered. There was no hostess stand or signs, so we sat ourselves. We later learned that you are supposed to go to the back of the restaurant where the buffet is and pay before you eat.
We were very promptly greeted and ordered our drinks. As we were waiting on the drinks a manager was walking around offering in-house chocolate chip cookies. I thought this was a nice touch, especially for a buffet.
That is when things went a bit array. Going to the buffet, I was disappointed to see that several items were very low stocked or just not there. I wanted mashed potatoes with my lunch and the tray was empty. I asked someone if they could get some and was told they were being made. They offered to bring them to me and I said I would just wait and get my other items. About 10 minutes later I looked through the kitchen serving window and watched the guy that said they were being made dump a bowl of them into a buffet pan. He then took 5 minutes smoothing them out so they looked good in the pan I guess. (or he was just showing me) Anyway he could have plastered a wall by time he got them out.
While I was waiting my wife had taken her food back to the table and was eating. I'm not going to go into all the selections, but other than the Picasso painted potatoes, everything was cold and with very little seasonings.
Eventually, we decided to try the deserts only to be disappointed again with a very anemic selection of deserts offered. (Now I understand the cookie)
Bottom Line: Buffets are usually a hit or miss deal. I would call this one on this day a far miss. Maybe because it was MLK Day or something. Based on this experience, I do NOT recommend Mama Lou's Restaurant
R&S Rating Scale (1-10)
Atmosphere: 5
Comfort: 5
Food Price: $15 per person
Food Quality: No Food
Liquor: No
Beer: No
Wine: No
Cleanliness: 5
Fun: 5
Staff: 5
Purse Hangers: NA
Non Smoking: Yes
Restrooms: 5
Parking: 4 (Gravel Parking)
Camper/RV Parking: Yes
Location: Robertsdale, AL
Date: 01-20-25
Overall Rating (1-10): 5
Provided by My Out n About - Robert and Sheila Henley
My Out n About provides valuable information to help others experience the fun things in life. We include, Restaurants, Bars, RV Parks and Adventures. This review and related comments are based on our personal experience at the business discussed and are not endorsed or solicited by the individual business. Your experience may differ.
Description: We had been hearing good things about this place from several locals so we finally made our way there on MLK Day. As we arrived we were happy to see that they were not as slammed as they were when we drove by previously. Upon entering the place was about 1/3 full. The building is a very large single room with a buffet in a separate back room.
It was a little confusing when we entered. There was no hostess stand or signs, so we sat ourselves. We later learned that you are supposed to go to the back of the restaurant where the buffet is and pay before you eat.
We were very promptly greeted and ordered our drinks. As we were waiting on the drinks a manager was walking around offering in-house chocolate chip cookies. I thought this was a nice touch, especially for a buffet.
That is when things went a bit array. Going to the buffet, I was disappointed to see that several items were very low stocked or just not there. I wanted mashed potatoes with my lunch and the tray was empty. I asked someone if they could get some and was told they were being made. They offered to bring them to me and I said I would just wait and get my other items. About 10 minutes later I looked through the kitchen serving window and watched the guy that said they were being made dump a bowl of them into a buffet pan. He then took 5 minutes smoothing them out so they looked good in the pan I guess. (or he was just showing me) Anyway he could have plastered a wall by time he got them out.
While I was waiting my wife had taken her food back to the table and was eating. I'm not going to go into all the selections, but other than the Picasso painted potatoes, everything was cold and with very little seasonings.
Eventually, we decided to try the deserts only to be disappointed again with a very anemic selection of deserts offered. (Now I understand the cookie)
Bottom Line: Buffets are usually a hit or miss deal. I would call this one on this day a far miss. Maybe because it was MLK Day or something. Based on this experience, I do NOT recommend Mama Lou's Restaurant
R&S Rating Scale (1-10)
Atmosphere: 5
Comfort: 5
Food Price: $15 per person
Food Quality: No Food
Liquor: No
Beer: No
Wine: No
Cleanliness: 5
Fun: 5
Staff: 5
Purse Hangers: NA
Non Smoking: Yes
Restrooms: 5
Parking: 4 (Gravel Parking)
Camper/RV Parking: Yes
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