Old Country Buffet, Springfield, PA

We woke up on Saturday, July 12, and realized there were no eggs in the refrigerator and we were running short on milk. My 2 year-old wanted pancakes and I was hungry for French toast. There was only one solution: head to Old Country buffet for breakfast, where we could sample everything...

Mind you, OCB is one of my least favorite places. I don't typically like buffets and hate having to reach over the crowds just to get some syrup or a napkin.

But, my husband and I packed the baby and toddler into the car and set off about 9:00 a.m. to try to fill our void bellies. Here's what we found:

Wait time: Very brief...only 3 couples/families in front of us. It only took about 3 minutes to pay at the register and get a ticket for the table. The buffet lines were not that crowded and we didn't have any crashes with other diners.

Service: Very good...From the cashier who told my daughter that "we've got lots and lots of pancakes for you, baby!" to the table waitress, who took each dish as we completed it...we enjoyed the service.

Food: Plentiful and tasty. Everything seemed fresh and was replenished often. The salad bar was fully functioning at 9 a.m., a feature that I particularly like, since I can get veggies and fruits into my family for breakfast, too. There were plenty of healthier options, too. My daughter enjoyed the offering of yogurt and granola, as well as the fruit for her pancakes. The downside is the greasy fare, which can be quite tempting for everyone. My husband had fried chicken with his eggs for breakfast. So, there truly is a little something for everyone.

Facilities: The dining room appeared clean, considering how busy this restaurant gets. In the midst of breakfast, our potty-in-training toddler decided it was time to try out the toilet and our Elmo potty seat fit nicely on the toilets. The bathrooms seemed relatively clean, except for the water all over the sink. I tried wiping it off so I could put her up there to wash hands, but there was soap, too and I ended up making more of a bubbly, slimy mess on the counter. The good news is that on our second potty-training mission, we used the larger, handicap restroom stall, which had a baby changing table and its own individual sink with paper towels. This made it easier to wash little hands.

Overall Nibbles: I give this restaurant 4 nibbles for breakfast...hungry families get fed fast and there are a variety of healthier options.