Charley's Buffet

This is the third straight year my family and I have made the hour drive to Charley's Buffet for Thanksgiving. Why would we drive this far only to stand in line for three hours outside in the cold, you ask? Simply put, this is the best damn feast you'll ever eat. Charley's serves home cooking better than anyone has ever actually experienced at home anywhere. That's right, it's even better than your grandma's cooking. Seriously. I'm so glad a local tipped us of to this place when we moved to the area. We've yet to go any time other than Thanksgiving, but next year I think that we need to.

Drive as far as you need to give this place a try. You won't regret it.

Only open in Friday and Saturday from 430pm-830lm! Good family atmosphere!! GREAT home cooking. From scratch mashed potatoes, mac & cheese, premium ham, roast, and fried chicken tenders. There is a giant full homemade dessert bar. Lots if veggie sides. Some amazing fried noodles. Full salad bar and a variety of sugar free desserts. From scratch bread and rolls. Homemade butter, honey butter, and brown sugar butter. A great place for the family and the price is great to. With drink and tax included it's cheaper than any other place for us as well!!!

Well, goodness. Where to begin? The food was absolutely unreal. I tried just about a bit of everything, and it was all perfect. From the cheesy green beans to the beef gravy and mashed potatoes. The sauerkraut and fried potatoes (you need to mix the two, trust me). The ham. The roast beef. The dinner rolls that weigh as much as a loaf of bread, add honey butter if you please. And then the dessert bar.

If you clip through the photos, you will see that I tried to capture the dessert bar from as many angles as possible and still couldn't do it justice. Probably 60-75 different homemade desserts. Peanut butter pie. Wonder bars. Sheath cake. Strawberry rhubarb cobbler. Bread pudding. Pecan pie. Cookies and cakes and bars and pink fluff. All incredible, all completely nail the desserts I grew up with here in Missouri.

I made the mistake of eating way too much and was miserable for the rest of the evening, but that was my own fault, and I cannot blame the saints at Charley's for my own shortcomings. If you're on the fence about making the trek (it was 75 minutes for us), just climb that fence, wear some loose-fitting pants and come on down. You'll be happy you did.

Great homemade cooking buffet!! Definitely worth the price you pay....so many desserts to choose from. Loved it!!!!

Amazing home made style buffet. Reminds me of Great Grandma's kitchen. Fresh ingredients cooked to perfection in traditional manner. Be prepared for a line. There will be one. Rest assured it's worth it. I recommend arriving at opening. The staff are top notch as well, not letting an empty cup or plate sit on your table. Dessert? How about 100 feet of pies, cobblers, cakes, and cookies? Yep, you need to try it for yourself.

A phenomenal place to eat some delicious 🍗 food!! There chicken 🐓 is my fav by far!! Lots people, was busy enuf waited in line for an hour but was well worth it!! The waiting line was shortened to A little bit away from the corner of the building when we were done! Had steady line from front door along the front around the side almost to second corner for two hours plus!!

Perhaps the very best buffet I have experienced and I live in South Carolina. This is home prepared food at its best. Save room for the myriad desserts. Go EARLY...the wait is well worth the reward.

This is a favorite place of ours that my husband’s grandpa introduced us to a few years ago. Delicious food, many options, very friendly service. Have gone almost every time we visit the area. It’s worth the wait in the line (sometimes a good couple of hours). I’m sorry to hear it’s closing soon, though. We will miss visiting good old Charley’s! Thanks for the memories and good food.

Great food and dessert selections, just good tasty homemade meals. Only open on Friday and Saturday evenings and gets very crowded but you usually get seated quickly. Well worth the wait though. Unfortunately they're closing up in a month or so due to the economy and we'll really miss them UT certainly try to get there before then, you won't be sorry.

The eating establishment is practically out in the middle of nowhere, but is a pleasant drive. The dining experience was refreshing...from being seated to the buffet of buffets. The staff was very commendable. If you do not walk out stuffed it is your own fault. AND did I mention the deserts offered. It's endless bevy is a slice of heaven.

Today was my 5th time dining there and each time was just as good as the last time. Unfortunately this weekend is the last last time they will be open. After 25 years of serving people from all over the state and this great country they are closing their doors. Thank you Charley's for great food, and great service.

Good food and service. Definitely coming back more than once.

Incredible so sad to hear they are closing Oct 1. Get there before then.

Friendly fun atmosphere. Delicious huge selection of food.

Food is great as always. Service is fantastic!
Empty plates were immediately picked up.
We need to go more frequently so we don't get miserably full from trying to try it all.
The homemade rolls are the BEST!!

Charley's is a MUST visit for anyone coming through the lake area...or worth a trip all on its own! I'm lucky to live near it and can go eat the delicious buffet anytime the mood strikes. It is always clean, very friendly staff, most importantly- delicious food. My top recommendations are the ham, fried noodles, and honey butter on a homemade roll. There is often a line but as quickly as they clean and turn tables, it never takes as long as you think it will.

When we arrived, the line to enter was wrapped around the building! Let me tell you; the food was worth the wait!! Every dish we tried was delicious!
The only thing better than the food was our server, Tomas!! He was attentive, extremely polite & well-mannered.
We WILL be back!

The homemade bread is AMAZING!!!!! All the food is fantastic!!!!! It’s like Grandma used to make. Wonderful food ALL AROUND!!!! Oh and the staff are incredibly helpful, attentive, and KIND!!!!! Not too many places these days have kind staff. The place is packed every time we come and for good reason!!!!!

Good Food and good service
The long line and waiting is worth it

Awesome experience, fantastic service and fabulous food all homemade. Chicken legs were to die for, sauerkraut and fried potatoes delicious, but the warm lemon meringue pie was spectacular. One drawback to Charlie's was my lack of self control.