Just a quick update to my review below:
My friend tells me that the first and only other Golden Corral restaurant that I went to and have fond memories of (Corpus Christi, TX) was relocated awhile back and that the menu has changed with the new move.
He doesn't like the food at all at the new Corpus Christi location and no longer brings people there.
His experience with the NEW location matches the one I had here at the Las Vegas location, so it appears that this isn't an isolated incident and the operation has probably changed nationwide.