Ryan’s Family Restaurant, Aiken’s only steakhouse buffet, is located at 1953 Whiskey Road on the south side of town. A fairly new building that features local artists’ works mixed in with the framed pictures of exotic fruits and international and domestic breads creating a pretty and a homey atmosphere.
You can call the restaurant at this number for more detailed information: 1-803-648-2460 and ask about which of your favorites are being served that day, how to reserve a table for a large group and to ask about take out which is priced by the pound.
The restaurant is surrounded by southern magnolias with various wildlife cavorting within view of the window seats. We have watched a squirrel and a robin walk along on the window sill and we enjoyed our dinner entertainment.
Hours of operation for lunch are: 10:45am-4:00pm. Lunch prices (excluding Sunday, which costs $8.99 all day, $8.49 for seniors) are $6.59 Monday through Friday and $6.99 on Saturday. Seniors and children recieve varied discounts through the week and young children, three and under, dine at no cost.
The senior discount begins at age 60 but the young cashiers, who think 40 qualifies as senior, may accidentally give you a discount before your time. And yes, if I sound bitter it’s with cause, although my husband appreciated the discount and didn’t mind being thought of as a senior at 48.
Ryan’s dinner prices start at 4:00pm on the dot and the regular price for Monday through Thursday is $8.19 with Friday and Saturday evening priced at $8.49 and Sunday all day is $8.99. Keep in mind discounts for seniors and children and the children’s price includes their beverage.
Ryan’s also serves a breakfast buffet starting at 7:30am on Saturday and Sunday which includes ham, sausage, bacon, a waffle station and an egg and omelet station for having your favorites cooked fresh while you wait. Breakfast price is $7.49.
Ryan’s accepts most forms of payment and just recently stopped accepting personal checks. They also have gift certificates you can purchase for this restaurant that are usable at their sister restaurant, Fire Mountain, in North Augusta, South Carolina which is near the Savannah River and Augusta, Georgia, home of the famous Master’s Golf Tournament.
There are two salad bars with assorted raw vegetables for making your own tossed or caesar salad and there are ready made salads of chicken, tuna, bean, pea and corn. Mix and match as desired. There are plenty of salad dressings to choose from including light or low fat. Also there is the ever present cottage cheese, cole slaw, and assorted fresh fruits such as pineapple and grapes.
The carving station has roast turkey, baked ham, sometimes smoked link sausage and there is a grill for steak, just tell them how you want it cooked. They also grill chicken, pork chops, peppers, onions, and sweet potatoes.
Other meats include pulled pork, fried shrimp, boiled shrimp, clams, chicken and dumplings, meatloaf, taco fixings, baked salmon, fried tilapia and catfish.
There are two bars with cooked vegetables and they include, broccoli, fried okra, green beans, corn, lima beans, sweet potato souffle’ with marshmallows (tastes like dessert), and homemade mashed potatoes to name a few.
Ryan’s also makes the best sourdough rolls in the county and for those of us trying to eat healthier carbs, they make the rolls with wheat sourdough too.
Service here is the best. A lot of the cooks and servers have been with the company for years which is telling of a good management.
The background music is soft and contemporary. Very suitable for us boomers.
Cleanliness is a given. From the parking lot to the restrooms to the dining room, be assured of a pleasant experience.
My family has eaten here for years and I see us still eating here when we really do qualify for the senior citizens discount.
