We try to make it to Cook’s every time we’re in Deland! Best restaurant anywhere!!! Top rate service!!!
Let's get to the important part the food was excellent, the people were incredibly polite, I would call it modern Southern manners. I enjoyed the parmesan encrusted fish she was pleased with the lamb everything was perfectly cooked you do get your own sides plenty to choose from and a large salad bar. I can't get over how thoroughly enjoyable our lunch was we had paid to get dessert with it. We were full so they made us dessert to go definitely a positive experience that you will enjoy ?
For about $18 (not including tax and tip) you get a decent meal, drink, and dessert (lots of great desserts to choose from). It's a limited buffet in that you can eat all the salad and vegetables/sides you want, but you only get one serving of meat and dessert - but it's a decent portion. My favorite is the turkey. Throughout the day and evening they'll have different choices so there is some variation in the offerings. Far superior to places like Golden Coral.
The exterior is nice walking in. You get the "Old Florida" restaurant feel complete with beautiful flowers. They have great salad bar, meat selections and veggies. The offerings do change. They are cooking all day and are serving fresh food. We were told most is from scratch and the cakes and desserts are made by the owner. They bring bread and beverages to the table, you visit the buffet. You choose one meat and get unlimited salad and veggies. The meat serving is a large portion and served by a carver. There is a $5 upcharge for additional meat servings. There is an extra charge for soups and desserts. We always get plenty to eat with the basic buffet. The basic (1 meat) buffet and a drink costs about $15 per person plus tip. There various ways to configure your buffet experience to suit your desires. The only reason I give 4 and not 5 stars is the manager and some of the people working there are not the friendliest, most helpful sort but I am there for a great meal not to make friends so I can overlook this aspect. If they are a little too extra I have the option to go elsewhere. All in all it is a great meal and a good experience.
The food is homemade and delicious, the desserts are amazing. However, the first impression contact for the restaurant is the rudest, meanest and nastiest attitude for a greeter and cashier I have ever seen. I watched her talk down to a customer using the credit card machine like she was stupid….This first impression for your restaurant is horrible. You have a lot of older crowd that comes to your business but once that generation is gone your business will probably fail. You would do better if you had a more personable receptionist/greeter/ cashier if you are to survive. Oh this doesn’t apply to the waitresses they are amazing!!
We drive done from Jacksonville every 3 months to visit My. Dora, then drive over to DeLand to treat ourselves to Cooks. It is our favorite place ever!!! The food is beyond delicious, the service is fantastic and our waitress remembers us every time.You have got to treat yourself!!!!
Food had great quality and tasted amazing. However for the price and only being offered one meat with the buffet and if you want a second meat it costs extra. The portion size for the meat didn't seem worth the price. I feel if they charge 25 for their buffet with all you can eat meat they would see an increase in sales. However if you're okay with eating more sides than meat, this is your place to go. Salad bar was also the freshest salad bar I've ever seen. The desserts tasted awesome.
The waitress Kim was excellent, It was all home cooked food. The food was excellent the reason I didn't give it a 5 star they didn't use real butter and on their salad bar they didn't have chopped celery and hard boiled eggs. Whatever kind of butter that used, Didn't work well with mashed potatoes And vegetables. I'm used to land O' lakes butter. Please who's ever reading this make sure you use real butter. I don't mind paying extra for good butter.
"Comfy" place. A buffet kinda place...yes, it's got the line...yes, it's got a nice variety of salads, soup, FABULOUS lamb (and ham and roast beef), and your typical "buffet" vegetables...and desserts you can only dream about! (There was a cake...at least 12 inches high!) The basket of piping hot bread - and not just slices of bread or re-warmed rolls - a buttery/garlicky light bread that you HAD to eat! It was THAT good!Plusses? The LAMB and the carver who serves all the meats. The "garlic mashed potatoes". The bread...served by the wait staff. The genuine warmth of the wait staff! And the desserts (also served by wait staff). And if you get there at a busy time, waiting in the outside gardens is also a plus!Next time you travel through DeLand, stop at Cooks.
Today was truly special. We (family) was able to dine with our mother who currently resides at a skilled nursing facility. My loves this place. Food was excellent! It had been awhile since I was here but this was her choice. Very good decision. Always damn crowded, always!!