Lunch drive up is fabulous Sit down service is always busy But worth it Just a nice experience read more

This location is one of only 16 Ponderosa Steakhouse restaurants left open in the United States... This is the only one remotely close to Missouri... Yet it's still a 6 hour, 45 minute drive from Blue Springs, Missouri. But I'l tell you; it was certainly worth the long drive to get there. The salad bar and buffet were both incredibly fresh. Everything on the buffet tables were well made and kept hot and fresh. I was very impressed!!! Our steaks were cooked until they reached a juicy and tender state of perfection. I really wish Kansas City still had a Ponderosa Steakhouse location. Sadly, we don't anymore. We will definitely be driving back to Illinois again sometime soon, just to enjoy another delightful meal! Thank you Ponderosa! Our trip to eat here, sure didn't disappoint. We're already craving another one of your wonderful Ponderosa steaks! read more

Ponderosa Steak House - Steakhouses Near Me - Vandalia, Illinois

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The service here is really good. I was here 4 years ago and remember the service and the food, which is also good. We got the steak with fries and the buffet. read more

Ponderosa Steak House - 2 yummy steaks - Steakhouses Near Me - Vandalia, Illinois

ALL! FOOD. SERVICE. AMBIANCE! LOVE ME SOME PONDEROSA! AT LEAST THIS ONE IN VANDALIA! THERES NOT TOO MANY PLACES IN THIS TOWN THAT I CAN SAY THAT ABOUT ... OR RECOMMEND! But the food here is delish! They even have a DRIVE-UP window that at lunchtime (i'm not for sure about dinner time) but at lunchtime, you can roll thru the drive-up window, throw them a $10 bill and tell them which meat you prefer ... (usually meatloaf, turkey, fish on fridays and then there are other choices but i'm drawing a mind blank right now) and they give you a pretty large styrofoam container FULL OF FOOD! usually on the side it's mashed potatoes, corn or green beans, and ALWAYS A ROLL! and man it is better than a home cooked meal! I LOVE IT! and I haven't ran into a rude employee yet! They are ALL so nice in there! I love the food and i love all the employees there too! THEY ROCK!! ((next time i go there, ill take a picture of the awesome food they give ya for that ten dollar bill!)) ~ THANK YOU PONDEROSA!!! read more

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I am always happy to visit one of the few remaining Ponderous locations. Occasionally I travel to St. Louis for work and I try to time my travel so I can enjoy lunch or dinner at this Ponderosa. The buffet offers a large selection of delicious options. The salad bar is full of fresh lettuce and salad ingredients. The hot bar features several main dishes including chicken, meatloaf. I always enjoy the home style vegetables and sides. The mashed potatoes are excellent! I seldom have room for dessert but I have occasional sampled them and can report that they are delicious. There are always fresh baked cookies and I usually do grab a cookie. Service is always very friendly. The servers are helpful and check frequently to make sure you are finding everything you need. They keep our glasses refilled as well. The dining room is pure nostalgia. Childhood memories! Highly recommend skipping the fast food lunch and enjoying a real meal here at Ponderosa. read more

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Good service. Nice people. Good food. Senior discount. What's not to like. Not the fanciest, but worth the money.

We knew it would be bad but we were hungry and didn't want fast food. We were hoping for a bit of different things that were at least edible. Let's start with the good. The place was clean. There were a few people tending the bars. Keeping them filled and clean. The server we had was excellent. Poor guy would thrive at a place that would pull better tips. Did you know that canned corn can be tough? Yeah. Clam chowder was tasteless. Added pepper and it was okay. Mashed potatoes couldn't be saved even with pepper gravy. The fried fish chunks weren't too bad. They weren't soggy and not over cooked. The cucumbers on the salad bar were weird. Like they lacked water. We just laughed at our plates and ate what we could wishing it was the same ponderosa as it was when we were kids. I cannot recommend this place but if you don't mind and aren't picky, you'll get good service. read more

The Ponderosa Steak House has a very tasty buffet and it's incredibly reasonable. I absolutely loved their fried chicken and I had a yummy salad. Our server was very attentive and checked on us regularly. There was ample seating and while it was busy you could easily carry on a conversation without trouble. There was a sweets section and their soft serve ice cream seemed very popular however I was full and did not try it. My husband liked his apple pie and cookie. read more

Great food, great price, and while traveling, my wife and I always stop here. It is absolutely wonderful.

I am never a Fan when we visit here. Always the same crusty dry tasteless items! I wanted a salad the other night and I wish I would've just went shopping! read more

Haven't been to a Ponderosa in decades. I remember getting in line grabbing a tray, your silverware and your drink then ordering your steak. It has changed a bit. Food choices seem less. It was interesting they were only doing prime rib and no other steak options for Easter Sunday. Neither of us like prime rib so we stuck with just the buffet. Buffet options were ok. It was interesting they had deviled eggs. They weren't bad but had little taste. Adding yellow mustard to the egg yolk or just a dab of vinegar would help. Salad choices and toppings were good. Hot choices weren't bad just all seemed to lack flavor. Dessert choices were lots of cookies and cake bar type things. As well as IceCream. They even had nobaked cookies. They were too soft ( too much peanut butter in the mix ) but tasted ok. It was a pit stop on the way home from St Louis. read more

This place was clean, the Buffett was well stocked, food choices were always warm and they tasted great! I will definitely return.

Very nice staff, combined with outstanding food. It takes alot to make buffet food taste good!

Great value, lots of options. This new version is similar to the Ponderosa I grew up to going but in a nicer environment. Steaks were tasty and cooked correctly. Salad bar and Buffet options were fresh and many to choose from. read more

Great meal. Someone's grandma was back there making all that food for the Buffett!! Delicious!!

Well every time I have been here I had great service and the food was delicious and had a variety of food and the employees greeted you with a smile and glad to see you. I admit they had some employees that worked there and really didn't care and wanted a paycheck. And if you work there and you don't like it then leave don't destroy a good job and place to eat. But they have weeded them out. So I got the chopped steak and baked potato and the buffet so I can enjoy a variety of everything. And I am going back there to eat today. And the weekends they get packed . I saw Katie and Emma and a new face last night and a guy was my server I didn't get his name but he did great and kept everybody up on their drinks and any orders that needed served he didn't waste any time. So if I am here come in and join me and let's eat. If it lets me I will add pictures when I go eat today. read more

Food is decent but the choices are a little limited. If you order a meal with the buffet it will put you over $20 which is too expensive for what you get. read more

Poor service. Forgot things. Food was rather meh. It was a novelty bc it's a childhood thing and there are so few.

The waitstaff were very honorable. I've been to many Ponderosas in the Midwest and The South. My only complaint is I wished there were more of these restaurants around! Quality food, service and love that huge American Flag. Reminded me where I am. read more

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This is the best Ponderosa I've ever been to. They have lower portions out but keep them stocked constantly. Hot, fresh food equals delicious food. Well worth your time to stop. We stop every time we pass by. read more

This place is a classic and always a good memory. The place remains to look the same as it did in my youth but I'm not mad about it. It still is presents very clean. The food is what I remembered it to be. Not bad and still all my favorite items. The service is always pleasant as peaceful. They are you're in a happy mood and willing to help read more

Has a good buffet selections Plus the regular menu Friendly workers they make sure they keep up with their refills and have a good variety for dessert selections read more

The food and service is always good. Food always hot with a good selection of food. Very clean restrooms and dining area. Prices are good compared to other locals. read more

Although the waitress was fantastic the food was far from good. We had the buffet Very bland, and dry. We had a late lunch so it may be better right at noon. read more

Read a article a few weeks ago titled The most Redneck Towns in Illinois. Vandalia was #1. I can see why. The only thing fit to eat was the catfish and they quickly ran out and changed to fish squares. Meatloaf was cold, ham had some kind of a sickly sweet glaze on it. Corn was tough. Chicken had little meat and heavy on the grease. Be prepared to get your weekly or monthly sodium intake in one meal. Wish we'd have just went to the Taco Bell next door. read more

This restaurant is clean, with great service, the food is very good and always fresh and stocked to the brim because they are so busy. If your family can't decide where to go choose Ponderosa. They have senior pricing. And the staff is welcoming. You will love this Pinderosa! Oh! And the salad bar is heavenly! Also an old fashioned desert bar. read more

Food was good as always. Server was awesome. Great place to go for a group of people who like different things. Everyone gets what they want. Wife and I both like the Monterrey chicken. My oldest son always likes the sirloin, etc. Love the soft serve machine. Unlike at McDonald's, the soft serve machine is always working. I like the hot fudge cake when they have it. I tried the BBQ on the food bar this time and was not disappointed. The best part is definitely the service. Awesome people. Even when they are busy, they are super friendly. I drive 40 minutes one way to go there and see others I know when I get there. My wife and I like to get our picture taken by the fireplace when it is running because I don't have one at home. read more

It's been a minute but the last time we were here it took me right back to when we were lucky enough to have Ponderosa's all over St. Louis. Boy do I miss this place. I've always liked their buffet but their chicken wings are the best!!! read more

I haven't been to a Ponderosa since I was a kid. We were just passing through the area and decided to stop. The Service was very friendly and quick. The establishment itself was very nice and clean. The bathroom was very clean also. The food was great. read more

Food was awful and cost us 50 dollars for two. Steak looked and tasted like it came from my elementary cafeteria. Servers were nice and attentive. Overall place was clean but the buffet was worse than Golden Corral. read more

Great food , service was fast and courteous wait staff! Highly recommended and we will definitely be returning! read more

Ponderosa Steak House - Delicious side salad before the tasty main course! - Steakhouses Near Me - Vandalia, Illinois

very delicious best food i ever had best business ever very exquisite and qintin is gay read more

Ponderosa Steak House - food - Steakhouses Near Me - Vandalia, Illinois

I love the ribeye steak and their buffet is very good the service has been excellent each time that I have been there

Vandalia's Ponderosa has been one of my favorite places for lunch or dinner since 1990 when I was working at the nearby Owens-Brockway blowmolding factory. There waitstaff is always friendly and salad bar fresh and wholesome. Highly Recommend read more

We went here and my grandpa had to wait 20 minutes to get chicken off the buffet but all the food was really goodwe just had to wait along time read more

I've lived in this area just about my whole life and Ponderosa has always been my go to until i moved to Georgia about 2 years ago. I finally came back for a visit and had to grab a bite while i was around. this place hasn't changed one bit! definitely tastes like home to me! 10/10 hightly recommend!! read more

I just had lunch here and it was very delicious. I would highly recommend this place. The ribeye steak was perfect ! The server did a very good job too ! I'm pleased ! read more

Ponderosa Steak House - Steakhouses Near Me - Vandalia, Illinois

Yesterday I had a flashback to my 10 year old self. A time in which my family and grandparents would head to the Ponderosa in Bedford Park for special occasions. That may have been about the last time or plus or minus 5 years that I've been to a Ponderosa. Driving to Lake Dufresne this weekend, Mo and I saw this beautiful Ponderosa sign from the highway and I was intrigued to visit on the way back from Chicago the following day. Wish granted and that wish turned out to be a greater wish and originally anticipated! Having lunch yesterday, I went in for a Strip Steak for a 1pm lunch along with the buffet. I figured go big or go home! The steak was ordered Medium Rare and was seasoned well and was very juicy!! Along with the strip, I tried their Fried Chicken, Fried Okra, MAC and Chesse, Meat Loaf and some grape salad. The order of the items divulged was my favorite to least. The people watching is amazing and the staff is very friendly and attentive so don't forget to tip your waiter/waitress folks!!! My only beef is the lack of fries on the Steak offered. Look at the picture i posted and you may count 5-6 fries. Other than that, Ponderosas are few and far between so when you see them, take advantage of them and re-live your past!! read more

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I haven't Seen a Ponderosa in many years. We were passing through town and saw the signs so we thought we would hit it up. I can honestly say for a Buffet the food was very tasty and the selection was wide. I would definitely recommend! read more

Awful! Overpriced and nasty food. What has happened here? I ordered a double order of steak tips and fries. I got 6 small bites of overcooked steak and 9 fries!! It was $20!! I showed the manager and they brought me 5 more small bites of overcooked rawhide out. It was ordered medium rare. They didn't seem to care. The waitress was ok, but she knew I was unhappy so stayed away. I'm glad because it wasn't her fault. The manager should take notice that there aren't many ponderosas left. This is exactly why. read more