“ Every time we come I can't believe how dead it is. The service is fun. They're always upbeat and fun. The music is good. The floor is a little sticky. Seems they need to mop. But the food is always delicious. I don't know if it's because it's right in front of cracker barrel or what. But I wish they would get more business. I'm worried they'll close. ”

“ Felt so bad for staff that was there. They were packed and only had four staff members working, came to find out that they don't even have management at that restaurant. The food on the buffet was fresh. They were working their butts off. ”

“ Our waitress and her trainee were great. the buffet was hot and fresh. What more could you ask for? ”

“ We had the dinner buffet on a Sunday evening and it was absolutely wonderful! The server was so sweet and it was just a great experience! ”

“ Just plain a good experience all around. Was pleasantly surprised by the supper buffet. Staff was all super friendly. Thanks folks!! ”

“ We stopped at Shoney’s in Elizabethtown, KY for a late breakfast while traveling and were truly blown away by the service and leadership. Maria, our waitress, went above and beyond—welcoming us with genuine warmth, anticipating our needs, and treating us like longtime regulars. Amanda came out during the breakfast-to-lunch buffet transition and thoughtfully evaluated which items were working and which ones needed improvement—not just for that day, but with a clear long-term mindset. She discussed rotating certain dishes through future ordering to better reflect what the local community enjoys. Her attention to quality, guest satisfaction, and overall improvement is something most guests would miss—but we happened to witness it firsthand. That kind of care and initiative is rare in chain restaurants like this. Amanda should absolutely be in management—or at the very least, strongly considered for a raise based on the dedication she displays. Just before leaving, we noticed a special wall dedicated to supporting the military. It honored Mr. Dennon, an Army Veteran and long-time loyal customer who had recently passed. His usual table was surrounded by military memorabilia, creating a heartfelt tribute that says so much about the kind of community Shoney’s serves—and how they serve it. I tend to leave very high or very low reviews—because excellence deserves to be celebrated and avoidable issues need to be called out so improvements can happen. In this case, Shoney’s exceeded expectations in every way. We left full, happy, and genuinely moved. The rest of the restaurants on our trip have some big shoes (and bellies!) to fill! ”

“ Such a pleasant, relaxing, and welcoming atmosphere with a delicious meal and kindly service at a decent price. For a Sunday brunch visit, it was like a Cracker Barrel without as long a wait. The breakfast buffet looked delicious and was continuously stocked throughout my visit, but I opted for the blackened salmon which was just a touch overdone but was so tasty that I didn't mind the slightest. ”

“ I am huge fan of Shoneys since they left my area. Any opportunity I have while traveling I stop playing one. While passing through Kentucky I was excited to see this one. When I stopped I immediately was impressed with the outside of the restaurant. I seemed like it was recently updated on the outside. The interior was clean and well organized with tables and booths along with a separate party room or overflow seating. The buffet was good. The food was hot and didn't seem to be sitting out to long. My wife commented that the eggs appeared to be made from real eggs and not a powder used in other places which, given the price of eggs, was very nice. Our server, Victoria, was amazing! Very kind and helpful with our children while making sure the drinks were always full. She went out of her way to make our experience as pleasant as possible. All together, it was a great restaurant experience as well as one of my favorite Shoneys to eat at. ”