I like to eat. No, really, I like to EAT, and there isn’t anything that fills the void better than a buffet. The Great Dragon in downtown St Cloud is an example of the American traditional Chinese buffet in almost every way possible. The food served up is just as advertised so let’s get into it.
Food: 6 (Nothing extraordinary but tasty)

Now I am not trying to knock the Great Dragon as I have eaten there many times, but to be honest its like eating at a Perkins or Denny’s…you almost know exactly what you are getting before you sit down. 95% of the objects at the buffet are no different then all the other Chinese buffets you have ever eaten at…General Tsos Chicken, Mai Fun, Jello cubes and fortune cookies…just what you expect to find when you eat at any Chinese buffet. In the food category, you do not see a lot of originality, but maybe that is what you are looking for when you go to a place like that. When you go to McDonald’s you expect to find certain things as well. All in all, there is nothing that is served that I didn’t like or that I hadn’t seen elsewhere. I guess the sameness of it prevents the diner from saying, ‘WOW, that was too ‘original’ for my tastes.”

Service: 6 (Self serve soda after your first glass)

Without specifically speaking to the staff, I would imagine the same family has owned it for some time. The guy who seats you has been there for as long as I can remember. Staff stability ensures consistent service which leaves diners from feeling that something was missed. As you would expect, the tradition of respect to diners is followed according to the culture.

Atmosphere: 5 (ala McDonald’s… it seems so familiar)

This is a smaller restaurant which lends itself to more intimate dining, but the center of the main dining area is still crammed full of tables. Unless, its the height of dinner time, you should expect a more quiet dining experience. We are still talking buffet here where the main goal of any buffet restauranteur is to cram patrons in with a crowbar to make the big dough. Expect the same type of decor you would find elsewhere. The backlit picture of the family boating down the Yangtze River is nice to gaze at during your middle of the day moment of zen.

You get what you pay for and as long as you aren’t expecting anything other than the standard fare of any other Chinese buffet, then the Great Dragon is right up your alley.