Ponderosa

We chose the buffet at Ponderosa since it is an all you can eat restaurant. We had great service even though the place was packed! The food was hot and yummy. They had a delicious spinach and strawberry salad that had a tasty vinaigrette on it. The meatloaf was pretty good too! It was nice to see the Ponderosa open again for business. We hadn’t eaten there in years.

Super awesome this place use to be in my city years ago I finally found one in Illinois

Ordered the buffet. Everything was hot and fresh. Staff was attentive and helpful.

Traveling through and it was a good stop. Pretty pricey but the food was delicious and our server Sean was wonderful!

Very nice place. My first Ponderosa visit. The atmosphere was very quiet, and it wasn't hard to hold a conversation while eating. Clean restaurant and the food was great. We enjoyed the buffet and didn't even have to ask for our Senior discount. The price was reasonable as well.

Very impressed. Very clean and staff was wonderful. The food was delicious. Shout out to Curtis, he made sure we had drink refills and kept our table cleaned off. I highly recommend dining here.

There is always something for everyone on the buffet. Good selection of stuff on the salad bar, and all the fix'ns for nachos or a loaded baked potato. Soups are hot and always good. Lots of treats for dessert and the no-bake cookies are the best. I wish they still had the breakfast buffet on the weekends. I miss that when I've come home to visit. But service is always friendly and amazing.

Had to stop and reminisce of the ole days when I enjoyed eating at Ponderosa back home in New York. Sadly only 3 left but truly enjoyed the buffet. Food was delicious and well prepared. Only missed the original chicken wings but oh well. Hopefully Ponderosa will make a strong come back and appreciate the efforts of management trying to keep these last true gems alive 👍

This was my childhood favorite restaurant and the one in my town closed years ago. I thought about Ponderosa a couple nights ago and decided to drive over to Vandalia to enjoy their food again. What I got was exceptional service and food that tasted EXACTLY the same as I remembered it! Seriously, everything from the dinner rolls to the chicken to the steak were beyond amazing and if this place ever shuts down, I'll perish

Thanks to all of the amazing staff and the owners for keeping Ponderosa alive bc this is, hands down, still one of the best restaurants in existence! ❤

Great food with a large selection. You can't beat the price.

Staff is very friendly and polite, always very clean for a buffet. I mean people are always wiping down the buffet which is something I like seeing. They do so well and I hope they stay around I frequent here often! Service and food is 10/10 experience everytime!! Keep being awesome we love it here!

Not many of these left! The food is like going to a family potluck. Service is great, and the place is clean.

Words can not give this restaurant the credit it deserves ! I have posted a pic of a Empty Plate and that should speak words of its own ! Every last Bite was Delicious ! The waitress was TOP Shelf and never let my drink go dry ! And absolutely wonderful ! I as a trucker get to travel all over the USA coast to coast. I eat everywhere literally ! And let me tell you, This Ponderosa stands out far above the crowd of chain restaurants. This is a small restaurant, not big and fancy. In a small town about a hour east of St Louis. Down home country folk. BUT, the Steaks will leave a mark in your mind you will NOT soon forget ! Tender, well seasoned, Char grilled, mouth watering, and literally melt in your mouth like Candy. Again, words can't describe what you'll find ! One of the Best Steaks in America ! My only wish is that the steaks were bigger ! I very Highly recommend Ponderosa in Vandalia, IL ! You will Thank me after you eat here !

Stop here on way to St.Loiis when I en coming down here from Chicago for winter months last 10 uears.Food buffet so much variety to enjoy and really like how clean staff keep tables cleaned and the floors.Buffet so great here everything taste fresh too.When I use to go to North Carolina visit other brother thier was another Ponderosa in southern Indiana also was very good tasty foods Dan Blue Island.Ollonois Highland.Indiana.

Food was excellent ! If your on the interstate heading towards Vandalia Illinois stop at Pondarosa, you won't be sorry. Everything hot and excellent, service great. Even my cheapskate dining partner gave a big tip..lol !!!!

Everything about this place is great, from the service to the food. It was very clean and well organized. The food was actually very good. Definitely going to return some time.

Good food. Nice family atmosphere, the young lady that waited on us did a wonderful job.

Waited for like five minutes before server came to asked what I wanted to drink and to bring silverware, they weren't busy she was just chatting up employees. But when I say the food was absolutely to die for, it was. Meatloaf was great and butter beans with hamhock... Oh my reminded me of my mom's cooking. Will definitely come again. It's menu style and you can add buffet for six dollars. Totally worth it. I'm super full and can't really complain. They have truck parking as well... I tipped my server too cus the food was amazing 🤩 I ordered steak with loaded baked 🥔, everything was on point and cooked to perfection.

The food and service are very good here. We travel here frequently with our family. We are always very satisfied with the food and services.

We haven't been to a Ponderosa in years. This place is very clean, the staff were polite and attentive, food was hot and fresh!! Will definitely stop there again on our road trips.