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Red Lobster – Daytona Beach

It had been four to five years since we last visited Red Lobster, mostly because we found a better option nearby, which I’ll review in a few days. Yesterday, we decided to try the Daytona Red Lobster because they were offering all-you-can-eat shrimp. Unfortunately, we were very disappointed. FOOD : I ordered the all-you-can-eat shrimp with coconut shrimp, shrimp linguine, breaded garlic shrimp, and a baked potato. The coconut shrimp and shrimp linguine were not good, but they ended up being the best part of the meal. The breaded garlic shrimp had far too much garlic for my taste, the Walt’s shrimp was bland, the baked potato was lukewarm, and the tartar sauce was so watered down that it would not stick to the shrimp. My friend ordered the Admiral’s Feast, which used to be our go-to meal at Red Lobster, and he was also very disappointed. Everything had a bitter taste except the bay scallops, which he said were not bad. His baked potato was room temperature, to the point the butter wou...
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Huey McGoo's

Huey McGoo’s is another chicken tender restaurant that is not yet available in Palm Coast. The nearest locations are in St. Augustine and Ormond Beach. We have visited both, and while the food has been consistent, the service has not. FOOD : Huey McGoo’s is very similar to Raising Cane’s, offering essentially the same menu items. The chicken tenders are nearly as moist as Raising Cane’s, and the fries are usually served hot, though they have occasionally been lukewarm. For food, Huey McGoo’s earns an 8 out of 10 for reasons like Raising Cane’s: inconsistent fries and the inclusion of Texas toast. SERVICE : Service is where Huey McGoo’s differs most from Raising Cane’s. The St. Augustine location provided excellent service: the order was accurate, quick, and professional. The Ormond Beach location was very different. That restaurant adds a service fee of about 10–15%, which appears to cover a property maintenance charge from the property owner. Rather than including that cost in the...
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Raising Canes - Dayona Beach

There is no Raising Cane’s in Palm Coast; the closest location is in Daytona on International Speedway Boulevard/US 92. We first tried Raising Cane’s about three months ago and found it noticeably better than most competitors. Many online reviews rank Raising Cane’s as the top chicken tender restaurant in the market, and we would not disagree. FOOD : The chicken tenders are consistently hot, tender, and moist—some of the best we have had. The fries are usually served hot, though they are occasionally lukewarm. The only other standard side is Texas toast, which feels unnecessary. It lacks much flavor and would be better left off an otherwise delicious meal. Overall, we would rate Raising Cane’s 8 out of 10 for food. It would be a 10 if not for the Texas toast and the inconsistent fries. SERVICE : Service has always been excellent—quick, accurate, and professional. We have never had an issue. For service, we would give Raising Cane’s a 10 out of 10. Overall, Raising Cane’s earns a ...
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KFC - Palm Coast

Kentucky Fried Chicken—now simply known as KFC—has been my favorite chicken restaurant for years. Its signature blend of herbs and spices has long set it apart from the competition. Palm Coast has only one KFC, located at 3 Old Kings Road. Unfortunately, this location has struggled for years with inconsistent food and mediocre service, which does not reflect the experience I have had at many other KFC restaurants. FOOD : One issue that seems increasingly common at many KFC restaurants, including the Palm Coast location, is that the original flavor no longer tastes quite the same. The herbs and spices are not what they used to be. At this location, food preparation is inconsistent; on any given day, the chicken may be anywhere from room temperature to hot, so you never know what to expect. This is especially noticeable with the chicken sandwich. When served hot, it is easily the best chicken sandwich among fried chicken restaurants. Unfortunately, that rarely happens at the Palm Coast...
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Denny’s – Ormond Beach

  So, it has been a while since we have been to Denny’s since they closed ours down here in Palm Coast. We decided today to try the Denny’s on Williamson Blvd in Ormond Beach and we were disappointed. I got a Philly Cheese Omelets and while my friend got a Veggie Omelets. FOOD : In my case the Philly Cheese Omelet was nothing that I expected. I expected it to taste with some semblance of a Philly Cheese sandwich. It wasn’t. Maybe it was the fired roasted vegetables, but the taste was off; The hash browns were barely done – not crunchy like they use to be; and the wheat toast reminded me of thinly sliced peta bread and was hard like it was several days old. Friend’s Veggie Omelet was way too greasy as if they didn’t drain the Veggie before putting them in the omelet; the grits were unsalted and overly dry like they has been sitting on the warming stove or lamp for several hours; and the toast was inconsistent with one slice being cold like it had been brought right out of the re...
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Golden Chopsticks

Golden Chopsticks, located at 225 Cypress Edge Dr. in Palm Coast, FL, opened in August 2024 in the former Golden Corral building, which had closed a few years earlier. It is a typical Chinese buffet offering a wide variety of buffet-style dishes. Lunch is $13.99, or $18.99 all day on holidays, and dinner is $18.99 on both weekdays and weekends. Since it opened, we have visited several times. On most days, it is average for a buffet. However, the restaurant was closed for two days by the health department in May 2025 due to rodents and flies. It has also received several serious food preparation violations, including using an unapproved food supplier that had not been inspected or approved by the FDA or USDA. Earlier this year, we decided to give the restaurant another chance. That visit was our last, and we will likely never return. Much of the food was at room temperature and seemed unsafe. After leaving, we contacted the health department to report what we found. An inspector returne...
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Panda Express

We decided to give the Panda Express at 5234 FL-100 #110 in Palm Coast, FL, another try for the first time since our visit more than four or five years ago. Back then, we were unimpressed because the food was served at room temperature and the meat was dry. This time, the food had improved, but the service was still subpar. To start, Panda Express offers a variety of Asian-inspired dishes in three meal options: a bowl with one side and one entrée, a plate with one side and two entrées, or a larger plate, priced at $8.50, $10.50, and $12.50, respectively. SERVICE : The service was just okay. My order was incorrect: I asked for green bean and chicken but received only string beans. They had also run out of green bean and chicken and broccoli and beef, so I had to wait about eight minutes. I would rate the service 5 out of 10. FOOD : The food was okay—moister than during our previous visit and somewhat better overall, though still a bit bland. The fried rice was above average. I wou...
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