Does anyone still go to buffets?

Question

That is a photo of one at my school. Umm, no thanks. Clean enough, but it doesn't look appetizing. There are a few around town as well, but most people avoid them.

How about you? Do you like/go to buffets to eat?

OneViewpoint · Accepted Answer

Do buffet's still exist outside of college cafeterias? I always associated them with low end chain restaurants in shithole Red States. And from what I can remember some of the food looked like it had been breeding bacteria in those open containers for hours. Almost gag inducing.

I remember once upon a time I was visiting a GE Plastics facility in Parkersburg, West Virginia and grabbed breakfast at some chain place next door to the chain hotel I stayed in that had a breakfast buffet. The image that has stayed in my brain to this day is some 5'4" woman in her late 30's who weighed probably 300lbs walking away from the buffet with a dinner plate of bacon piled probably 6 inches deep. That was it. Bacon. Nothing else. The rest on offer was a tub of scrambled eggs that looked uh... questionable. Precooked waffles that had been out there for who knows how long. Etc. There was no way I was packing "all I could eat" of that mess into my stomach before I spent 10 hours climbing all over a client's industrial site.

Friendlybro79 · Accepted Answer

Not since The Great Digestive Disaster of 2002. I was on a work lunch and a colleague was driving. Took us to the Chinese buffet near our office. I had one plate of food, something seemed off half way through it, so I stopped eating, and the rest is, well you can figure it out.

SueShe · Accepted Answer

The only time I would go to buffets is if I am on holidays somewhere on a beach resort and that the buffet is about the only option there is to choose food, mainly for breakfast.

I did once a cruise in the Mediterranean Sea and upon seeing all those tourists just piling up the food on their dishes, simply because it was free (or included in the price of the cruise) made me realize that people are not very selective when it comes to eating, as long as it is plenty, as if it was a competition about who could pile the most on the dish.

Sad thing is that a great number of those people left half of it on their dishes.

I much rather be more selective and chose foods that I want to eat and not just because it is on display. I noticed that very often, the food in those buffets tend to be overcooked and have probably lost all their vitamins.

What does the weatherman give you as a forecast on the TV in the background?

FreyaRed · Accepted Answer

I avoid cold buffets and catering, especially if everyone can put their unwashed fingers on food

James The Foodie · Accepted Answer

I still go to buffets sometimes, but I’m picky about which ones 😅

I like buffets that focus on freshness and smaller batches, like Japanese buffets where they make sushi or tempura to order, or Italian spots with live pasta stations. When I was in Tokyo, I tried a hotel breakfast buffet with miso soup, grilled fish, and tiny pastries. That felt like exploring many mini meals on one plate, not just piling food for quantity.

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SabinaV · Answer

Mostly during occasions like someone’s birthday or while traveling, a breakfast buffet.

abc3643 · Answer

Sometimes, but usually not now because we are changing our diet for health reasons. We went to a Chinese buffet last week that we used to go to rather frequenty since it opened several years ago, but it was lame last week and just not worth it anymore and my wife felt like shit (and so did I a bit) because our diet is changing.

The time we went to an American buffet before that, just before Christmas, I ended up having a cardiac event not 30 minutes after we left the place. I don't blame them, but that buffet was even lamer than the Chinese buffet.

So, yeah, I think buffets are going to be out for us for a good long while. Restaurants - even fast food - are becoming prohibitively expensive...

... This is all part of the Affordability Crisis and the rich fucking over regular folks.

Tarifa · Answer

I'm not sure if you can call it buffet, as it's not self-service. Lots of Japanese restaurants now offer a 'buffet' type meal, all included for a modest price. You can order as many dishes as you like within a 2 hour period, ordered through an app on a tablet and brought to your table by a waiter/waitress.

Maybe there's another word for this, but it certainly has replaced most buffets. The only ones still in use like the one in the picture are found in large hotels.

Rangers · Answer

Eating was never a social activity for me, so eating with others is actually extremely rare for me to do.

To me, eating and talking is a silly combination, add my introverted nature which makes a group of people feel like having a brain tumor and you get me not eating out and when I do, I never dine in.

Buffets are just a bit to irregular for me and most won't serve people unless they dine in. I haven't gone to a buffet in 9 years and that was with my 2 friends at the time, and I did enjoy it.

Aside from that, literally 999 out of 1,000 meals I have, I'm alone. I've had people offer before, but when I knew my dad was going, I said no.

I'd literally rather eat every meal for my whole life alone than sit at a table with him 1 time, he's just that negative and rude to me.

I have not broken bread with him in 16 years, only going to family dinners and even then, he always ruins it

Massageman · Answer

Are there as many buffets to even GO to as a few decades ago? No. Many were mismanaged, entry level workers basically just do not view "work" as a requirement to get a paycheck, cost of food up, etc. many other problems.

But, we DID visit one in TN that had the option of hitting the buffet OR ordering conventional meals, and that was a very nice experience, except for our "waiter" who noticeably scowled at the thought of having to write down an actual meal on the order tab rather than FB or SB (full buffet and salad buffet, respectively), and then expecting 20-25% tip for doing next to nothing. The food WAS very good, especially the small bbq steak I had.

ArrowheadSW · Answer

I have been on several cruises in the last couple of years, and in addition to eating in the main dining rooms, I like to go to the buffets also. On most ships, they have a hand wash station at the entrance to the buffet and they encourage you to wash your hands before entering. Most people do. On most ships that I've been on, the buffet food is pretty good. The main dining rooms do have the better menu though, usually.

WindAtMyBack · Answer

There are a few buffets near me that are very popular. One is a buffet with a pretty normal variety of food. One is a sushi buffet - $35 for unlimited sushi. One is kind of a sandwich and salad buffet. One is a Chinese food buffet. Those are all within 2-5 miles of me. There are also some Sunday brunch buffets that are popular. I think there might also still be an Indian food buffet nearby.

Finchie40 · Answer

I haven’t in a long time but it’s funny you posted this because I was just talking about buffets to my friends’ and said how we need to find one and go experience one again. I head there is a Chinese buffet not to far from me that got great reviews , it’s a little pricey but not the worst , so I plan on going sometime soon, even though I can’t eat like I use to , I just want to experience one again 😊

Purpleronnie · Answer

I’m really not a fan of them and haven’t paid to use a buffet in 15 years plus for a number of reasons ( food quality , hygiene , mentality of typical customers etc )

The exceptions would be going to events through work or extended family. For those I tend to pick carefully and NEVER go back.

Static_In_The_Attic · Answer

As for buffets I’m sure a lot of people still go to them & as for me I can’t remember the last time I went to one.

Tiptoetamm · Answer

when I was living in Ohio I would go with my roommates. decent food at a decent price I guess. you just have to make sure your going to a good one with at least decent food lol

7Phoenix7 · Answer

Naa..  Lol

ElenaSeluna · Answer

I just went last week, I like open buffet restaurants, but I do go to specific ones.. the photo looks tasty 😋😄 you don’t go? Do you like the idea?

theskyrider · Answer

I still go for buffets. There’s a different charm to them that regular dining doesn’t quite have. I enjoy the variety, the freedom to explore different tastes, and the experience of turning a meal into something more enjoyable than just eating.
What about you Abby?

Agape93 · Answer

No. The food sucks and its often contaminated by gross af people

ponderingpaul · Answer

Yes, some are better than others. Some are disgusting, like Golden Corral.

Golden Corral is full of two-chair needing super fat animals who eat too much and throw up all over the restroom floor. It’s not conducive to a pleasant dining experience. And to seal the deal are the children who put their hands in the chocolate fountain.

lightbulb27 · Answer

yes we go to a local indian buffet. that's about it. sometimes a hotpot

I don't like most and you want to be the first one there so the kids haven't licked the spoons used to serve. I caught a kid doing that once.

Bricealan · Answer

@abbycado No, always thought they looked like a feeding trough.

WhitneySnow · Answer

I’m not a big buffet fan. I agree with you basically.

bananathunder · Answer

I don't... why have a bunch of mediocre food when you can pay the same for a meal cooked just for you

Desserter4 · Answer

I would if they were still around, both by me shut down years ago, just not popular anymore ig. There is one in a ghetto area but I don't wanna go in the ghetto.

LC75LC71 · Answer

Nah. Not since this guy was serving my meat.. Please don't watch the entire video.

Shrimpenjoyer · Answer

Don't you always have buffets in schools in US?

In_Trance · Answer

There's something really unappealing about community food

Kabluie · Answer

I do, we last went to one at The Palms in Vegas last Fall. It's about $45 but totally worth it.

Nikki1989 · Answer

Nah. Those places always remind me of pigs at the trough.

NoDecision · Answer

Most went out of business with Covid. Some reopened, but my favorites did not survive.

ProbablyClueless · Answer

Sometimes! If I’m in the mood for sushi, there’s a really good buffet in Lancaster called Dragon that makes some solid sushi.

queenofcardio · Answer

I went to one a few months ago. I'll go once in a while

purplepoppy · Answer

I went to one at Christmas but it's not something I do regularly.

Xawyx-2 · Answer

Ugh... not since high school... well, there was one time when I was in college, but it was ok.

Fireguy17 · Answer

Not often. Once in a while on a cruise ship for an early breakfast.

douride2 · Answer

I haven't seen a buffet table around here in years now. Not since before covid for sure.

jamesgoldman · Answer

Only hotel breakfast but last one of those was 18 months ago

loveslongnails · Answer

No thanks, I don't to eat food from petri dishes.

LiamJHayden · Answer

Pretty much never. No way to know who has handled the food.

AgentG111 · Answer

If I'm out and there is one that I care for sure.

888theGreat · Answer

I don't if we have any of those here anymore

WilliamStormsReturn · Answer

Yes I do sometimes prob golden corral or assian

RavVid · Answer

Is it a cheap all you can eat deal?

drummerdude25 · Answer

Love me a good buffet…

Paige90 · Answer

If there is a spit guard I don't eat there.

Sammy098 · Answer

If it's wedding then yes

lilBigPotato · Answer

Only going to Japanese ones.

Jennz6 · Answer

Sometimes I do

dougeats · Answer

They actually disgust me lol

Anonymous · Answer

None around :( sad 😢😭

BigD210 · Answer

Yes, love them

Hawaiikai · Answer

Yess!!!

Zionne · Answer

i go sometimes

CubaPirate · Answer

Not me thanks

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