We stumbled across this sweet little gem on our way home from Calgary to Edmonton. Situated in picturesque Ponoka, in the downtown area that admittedly needs some sprucing up, we found the staff to be welcoming, helpful and engaging as soon as we walked in the door. Obviously, this place is a favourite in Ponoka, as most tables in our section were full. The atmosphere is family friendly, with large tables and booths, good for family celebrations. The place was spotless, but the decor wasn't much to write home about in our section. We were seated in the buffet area. I liked the atmosphere on the other side of the restaurant better. A bit quieter and away from the hustle of the buffet, etc. Don't expect a fancy restaurant experience, this is definitely a mom and pop place, run well! They have a daily buffet, full of what most North Americans call Chinese food, deep-fried, battered chicken, ribs, beef, stir fries in sauces, etc. The families with kids frequented the buffet, and everyone looked happy with their choices. Pop is served in cans, but it is not overly priced. We ordered from the menu. It amused us that the menus were delivery menus. We had 'dry' garlic ribs, they came coated in a very light batter, almost tempura like. Seasoned perfectly, even I, who usually doesn't 'do' gluten, enjoyed them. Beef and Broccoli. - The chef perfectly grilled thin slices of beef, then gently tossed the beef with broccoli that was not overly cooked. No cloying sauces, just garlic, salt and a few other subtle spices. It was superb. Chicken with Mixed Veggies. Again, the meat was perfectly prepared, the veggies were crisp and bright. If you can shake off any snooty expectation of a 'high-class' dining experience and enjoy the cafe for what it is, a well run, family friendly, family owned business, catering to small town folk, you will enjoy its charm. Our server was very helpful! The main part of the restaurant is wheelchair friendly although I am not sure the washrooms are. I am disabled with balance issues, I do walk and managed just fine.