Some restaurants cater to couples with intimate lighting and tables for two.

Other restaurants are all about the family and have a stack of high chairs with cups of crayons.

Then you have the buffet-style restaurant — a unique establishment that seems to cater best to large groups. That means you and your 24 first cousins could easily eat and be seated at one table at Orem’s Golden Corral.

What may be lost in quality (Have you noticed the soups always have a film-like layer on top?) is made up for in ease and convenience when it comes to feeding a pack of picky children, or a large party of varying tastes at the Corral. Thanks to the walled-off mini-dining rooms, the restaurant can also host half of Provo without all of the noise problems you’d expect at an eatery this size.

Based on the one-price-fits-all concept, a night at the buffet will cost $9.49 for adults, which isn’t too bad considering your meal comes with endless dessert options and any main dish you’d like from steak and fish to pizza.

Golden Corral does manage to set itself apart in the world of buffets by offering a spread of choices for breakfast as well as lunch and dinner. It also features grill stations with cooks preparing items such as steaks, chicken and fish in front of you — thankfully leaving out the guesswork about how long your slab of meat has sat under the heat lamp.

When it comes to menu options, Golden Corral seemed on par with other buffets we’ve tried in the area, though it did break the mold with a basket of fresh rolls and sweet butter, which was brought to the table. The busy buffet also seemed to have more choices of quality meats and seafood than other local competitors.

The waiters worked with quick efficiency — regularly clearing plates and offering refills despite difficulty in navigating through the close-quartered tables and chairs. It seemed ironic to us that diners would be packed in so tight — considering buffets are all about getting in and out of your seat for more food.

Guests choose from a variety of food stations, including the Fresh Carved Meats, Picnic Salads and Chocolate Fixation Station. Main dish offerings vary nightly with choices like baked salmon, steak, pizza, tacos and chicken breast, which were all popular the evening we visited. The salad station was a little low on options, serving primarily greens with toppings rather than a full spread of fruit, and noodle- and potato-style salads.

Note that some dishes just don’t do well at buffets — primarily soups, mashed potatoes or macaroni and cheese — basically anything that would do better with periodic stirring. Also, you’re going to expect some mess at the dessert station. When little hands try to reach to the back for a scoop of chocolate chips and gummy bears, spills are bound to follow.

Overall, we were pleased with our experience. Not only were we seated quickly and enjoyed the efficient service from the busy waiters, but we also thought the salmon was absolutely delicious, just like any made-to-order restaurant.