649673 Wed Sep 02 22:25:56 -0700 2009 12 10 Florida 0 5001092 Many Tallahasseeans regularly drive to Thomasville, GA to get their home-cooking/Southern food fix. I'm sure a lot of you are familiar with the Farmer's Market Diner. Perhaps you're also familiar with Seminole Wind, which has existing locations in Thomasville and Cairo. A lot of people think it's the best country buffet up that way. Well the same owner has decided to enter the Tallahassee market, and the buffet opens TODAY at 10:30 a.m. This isn't your reheated, from cans quantity-over-quality chain buffets that are located just down the street (that shall remain nameless). It's locally-owned, homemade, home-grown. It's located at 2226 N. Monroe Street (just a few short ticks south of Tallahassee Mall) in what I think used to be a Roadhouse Grill. The buffet will cost $10.99, and the buffet is so extensive, judging by the Thomasville location, that it even has fresh seafood. Definitely check it out. I will when I'm back in town a few weeks from now. Wed Sep 02 22:25:56 -0700 2009 15293 mikeh 1 5002659 I should add that according to report, the lunch price is $7.50. Also according to reports, included on the buffet are a salad bar with a good variety of lettuces, Seafood items, Fried Chicken, Meatloaf, Beef, Rib Tips, Mac N Cheese, Rice, Mashed Potatoes, Field Peas, Black Eyed Peas, Lima Beans, Collards, Mustards, Turnips, Brussels Sprouts, Beats, Yams, brownies, Red Velvet and Hummingbird Cakes, Apple and Peach Cobblers, Cinnamon Rolls, German Chocolate Cake and ice cream. Thu Sep 03 12:03:48 -0700 2009 5001092 15293 mikeh 1 5021825 It's hard to beleive their food is made from scratch beleive because it doesn't taste like it at all. I would say it's on par to Goodtimes buffet and the old Barnhills. Market Diner is far better in my opinion but to each his own. Fri Sep 11 07:47:29 -0700 2009 5001092 12313 sunsuze 2 5023080 oh boo. I haven't been yet but will be visiting in a couple of weeks. The one thing I can't stand are Southern buffets where they take shortcuts by opening cans or using pre-mixes. Market Diner will be seeing a lot of me again, I suppose. I'm not complaining. Fri Sep 11 14:22:56 -0700 2009 5021825 15293 mikeh 3 5053592 Just in case you didn't know, the same family owns both restaraunts. Wed Sep 23 17:02:29 -0700 2009 5023080 1111528 Market Diner 4 5086257 I was at Market Diner today and spoke to the owner who denies that they own Seminole Wind. However they do own the Buckhead Brewery building on Capotal Circle Northeast and plan to open a Market Street Diner there in the future! Wed Oct 07 13:24:24 -0700 2009 5053592 12313 sunsuze 5 5154619 I never said that Mary Graham owned both restaurants. Merely that both restaurants were owned by the same family. Mary Graham and Betty Bryant are sisters and along with their deceased sister Sue Coleman, they opened and ran The Market Diner for 13 years. Most all of the food is prepared EXACTLY the same. I would know, I'm their nephew and have worked my entire life in both restaurants. The Market Diner uses a little more bacon grease in the seasoning process while The Seminole Wind uses a little more chicken base. All of the food comes from the same vendors, is prepared the same way and is served on the same buffets built by the same person that remodeled both restaurants as well as the new Market Diner on Capitol Circle which has been ongoing since July of 2004. Wed Nov 04 06:54:35 -0800 2009 5086257 1111528 Market Diner 6 5154783 Well whatever the family is doing, keep up the good work. It really takes leaving the area and trying Southern buffets elsewhere to appreciate the freshness (as opposed to from-cans) that Market and Seminole employ. Wed Nov 04 07:52:07 -0800 2009 5154619 15293 mikeh 1 5056310 I thought some of the vegetables were pretty good, but will pass next time on the fried chicken. Instead of the normal 8 pieces, they get 12-15 from a chicken, cut up very awkwardly. What I thought was a thigh was a piece of back with a huge piece of battered crust. Thu Sep 24 16:03:10 -0700 2009 5001092 12296 steakman55 1 5106863 The food is so-so. Some of it is just not good. Some is okay. It's cheap. Pictures of Jesus everywhere, like a frikkin' church. The message is clear: "eat here, our food is synthetic but we could care less, we are right wingers and obnoxious as hell, and we don't care, so drop your money off here." Will I go back? Heck no. I work too hard for my money to get bad value in a nazi-like brainwashing environment. I think I'll go spend at Chez Pierre, Moe's, Osaka, or heck, even Atlanta Bread's grilled croissant sandwiches are unbelievably yummy compared to that. Thu Oct 15 18:51:21 -0700 2009 5001092 1116660 sarita333 2 5107755 nazi-like? seriously? ask yourself this. If you went to any restaurant in a Muslim country, you're bound to find religious symbols everywhere/sketches of Mohammed, etc. Would that bother you? When you go to a Chinese or Thai restaurant and see Buddha statues or photos of the king (of Thailand) everywhere (he's held out almost as human deity), does that get on your nerves? If that hasn't or wouldn't bother you, then at least be equal opportunity about it. Myself, I'm all for freedom of religious expression whether it's in Dubai or Turkey or Vietnam or the US. No one's forcing you to believe in it. If you're strong enough about your own convictions, then merely seeing that stuff should be water off your back. now as for the food, I agree. Market Diner in Thomasville, GA is world's better. But then again - there aren't many places in Tallahassee where you can get "merely ok" rutabagas and mustard greens. Fri Oct 16 08:11:36 -0700 2009 5106863 15293 mikeh 2 5110037 Re: Sarita333 --------------- Wow! Sat Oct 17 07:14:02 -0700 2009 5106863 10783 Mild Bill 1 5108602 Hi, everyone. Just a brief note. Going forward, please hold off on opinions about the presence of religious icons in restaurants. Just talk about the food, please.Thanks very much! Fri Oct 16 12:34:17 -0700 2009 5001092 2 The Chowhound Team