6 North Carolina Buffets That Lack Southern Flavor and 6 That Nail It Perfectly
Buffets can be a feast for the senses, but in North Carolina, not every all-you-can-eat spot captures that true Southern soul.
Some places leave you wondering where the flavor went, while others serve up dishes bursting with down-home charm and spice.
Whether you’re craving crispy fried chicken or savory sides, this mix of misses and hits reveals which buffets bring the authentic Southern taste and which fall flat on the plate.
1. Casey’s Buffet, Wilmington: Southern Comfort Done Right
Stepping into Casey’s feels like walking into a family reunion where the aunt who can actually cook is in charge.
The collard greens sing with porky goodness while the fried chicken shatters with that perfect crackly crust.
Locals pack this joint for the banana pudding alone – a custardy dream that would make your grandma jealous. What sets Casey’s apart isn’t fancy decor but authentic recipes passed down through generations.
2. Carolina Buffet, West Columbia: Missing the Mark
Bless their hearts! Carolina Buffet tries so hard but falls flatter than yesterday’s biscuits.
The mac and cheese lacks that crucial sharp cheddar bite, while the green beans might as well have come from a can opened sometime last Tuesday.
Despite the name promising Carolina flavor, everything tastes suspiciously like it was ordered from a food service catalog. Even the sweet tea lacks that syrupy punch that makes Southern hearts flutter.
3. Fuller’s Buffet, Fayetteville: Where Flavor Goes to Perish
Honey, save your money! Fuller’s manages to commit the cardinal sin of Southern cooking – everything tastes like nothing at all.
Their fried chicken has all the seasoning of printer paper, and their mashed potatoes could double as spackling paste.
The place itself resembles a 1980s cafeteria that time forgot. Most puzzling is how they’ve stripped every bit of soul from dishes that should sing with flavor.
Even salt and pepper appear to be rationed like wartime commodities.
4. Sandpiper Buffet, Fayetteville: A Coastal Letdown
Word to the wise: just because “seafood buffet” is on the sign doesn’t mean the fish is fresh.
Sandpiper’s crab legs require the jaw strength of a crocodile, while the fried shrimp could easily double as rubber fishing lures.
The decor screams “we once visited a beach” rather than authentic coastal charm. A strange musty smell permeates everything, including, somehow, the desserts.
The one saving grace? Surprisingly decent hushpuppies – though they’re hardly worth the price of admission.
5. Chason’s Buffet, Hope Mills: Country Cooking Heaven
Lord have mercy on my waistline! Chason’s doesn’t just serve food – they serve memories. Their country-fried steak practically swims in pepper gravy so good you’ll want to bottle it and take it home.
Family-owned since the 70s, this place hasn’t changed their recipes because perfection needs no improvement.
The real showstopper? Their sweet potato casserole topped with a pecan crust that’ll make you slap your momma (though I wouldn’t recommend actually doing that).
6. Braise Contemporary Southern, Raleigh: All Style, No Soul
Fancy meets flavorless at this upscale Raleigh disappointment. Braise Contemporary Southern should be renamed “Vague Memory of Southern” for their deconstructed takes that miss the heart of the cuisine.
Their grits arrive suspiciously white and pristine – a sure sign someone forgot the butter and cheese.
The $32 Sunday brunch buffet features chicken so dry it could qualify as jerky. While the minimalist decor impresses Instagram influencers, your taste buds will file a formal complaint.
7. Chason’s Holiday Feast: A Christmas Miracle
Christmas at Chason’s isn’t just a meal – it’s a North Carolina tradition that families book months in advance.
Their holiday buffet transforms into a wonderland of country ham, turkey with cornbread dressing, and at least seven varieties of casseroles that define Southern celebration food.
The dessert table stretches longer than Santa’s nice list, featuring heirloom recipes like chocolate bourbon pecan pie.
Three generations of the Chason family work the floor, greeting regulars by name. Even the grinchiest heart grows three sizes after their sweet potato biscuits.
8. Braise’s Farm-to-Table Flop: When Pretension Ruins Perfectly Good Vegetables
Charging $45 for a buffet requires confidence – something Braise has in abundance, unlike flavor.
Their locally-sourced vegetables arrive mysteriously devoid of seasoning, as if salt were outlawed in Raleigh county.
The chef insists on calling dishes by French names that even French people wouldn’t recognize. “Deconstructed shrimp and grits” translates to cold grits and three lonely shrimp arranged artistically on an oversized plate.
The servers explain each dish with rehearsed monologues longer than the actual eating experience.
9. Nana Morrison’s Soul Food, Charlotte: The Real Deal
Hallelujah and pass the hot sauce! Nana Morrison’s doesn’t just serve soul food – they serve food with actual soul.
Their buffet line moves slowly because each pan gets replenished fresh from the kitchen every fifteen minutes.
The oxtails fall off the bone with just a stern glance, while the mac and cheese has that perfect crispy top layer.
Miss Nana herself still supervises the kitchen at 82 years young, occasionally emerging to make sure you’ve gotten seconds.
No fancy frills here – just three generations of recipes that respect tradition while keeping flavors bold.
10. Golden Corral’s Favorites Concept: Chain Restaurant Redemption
Hold onto your judgments, folks! This ain’t your average Golden Corral.
Their North Carolina-exclusive “Favorites” concept stores have surprisingly returned to scratch cooking, with regional executive chefs bringing actual Southern techniques back to the chain.
The fried chicken rivals local joints, while the pot roast actually tastes like grandma’s Sunday best. Weekend breakfast buffets feature made-to-order omelets and surprisingly fluffy biscuits.
Gone are the heat-lamp dried hockey pucks of protein – replaced with respectable, properly seasoned Southern classics that won’t break the bank.
11. Jive Turkey Hut, Charlotte: Where Poultry Gets Funky
Tucked away in Charlotte’s artsy NoDa district, Jive Turkey Hut combines 70s disco aesthetics with turkey-focused cuisine—a concept that sounds groovy but falls flat on flavor.
The restaurant’s technicolor interior with spinning disco balls can’t distract from the dried-out turkey legs and bland mac and cheese.
Owner Franklin “Funky” Thompson, a former dance instructor, opened the spot in 2019 after winning a turkey cook-off that locals still dispute.
His signature “Disco Gravy” lacks the depth and richness of traditional Southern gravy, tasting more like watered-down mushroom soup with glitter (yes, edible glitter).
12. Saltbox Seafood Joint, Durham: Ocean-Fresh Carolina Magic
Chef Ricky Moore’s celebrated spot isn’t technically a buffet, but their daily catch board offers such variety it might as well be an all-you-can-eat seafood paradise.
The restaurant transforms humble North Carolina coastal classics into culinary masterpieces. Forget fancy frills – Saltbox serves up honest-to-goodness seaside flavor in brown paper bags.
Their hush puppies crackle with perfect crispness while maintaining that pillowy interior that marks authentic Southern cooking.
What truly sets Saltbox apart is Moore’s commitment to highlighting North Carolina’s maritime bounty through traditional cooking methods.