Buffet Etiquette

[Daxx]

Some background ... we went to the Pizza Hut buffet for dinner today. As we were dining, I noticed one table (8 people at the table) kept going back to the buffet w/their used/dirty dishes. I thought that you were supposed to leave the dirty dishes behind and get a clean plate each time you went back to the buffet. Am I wrong?!

Watching those people go back w/their germy dishes just nauseated me!!

So, what's proper buffet etiquette!? Am I crazy for feeling queeved out by people reusing their dirty dish?!

 

[ilovejack02]

take a clean plate please, I cant believe there wasnt a sign up.

 

[Fairy Dust]

Am I crazy for feeling queeved out by people reusing their dirty dish?!

Yes, you are crazy! Why on earth does it bother you?

The only time I would use a clean plate is if I dont want to mix any leftover food with a previous choice, sweet or sour, etc.

 

[ilovejack02]

Yes, you are crazy! Why on earth does it bother you?

The only time I would use a clean plate is if I dont to mix any leftover food with a previous choice, sweet or sour, etc.

LOL its a Health Dept rule here in Louisiana, I worked at Pizza Hut in high school.
No she is not crazy, guess things are a tad different in the U.K.

 

[Cantw8]

that's just one of the many reasons I hate buffets I also can't stand seeing wayward food floating in places it doesn't belong I seriously get nauseated watching people heep mounds of food on their plates like it's their last meal

 

[agnes!]

In most localities it is a Health Department Regulation that clean plates must be used every time a diner returns to a buffet.
I think if I had been in your shoes I would probably have mentioned it to the restaurant manager.

agnes!

 

[Daxx]

Yes, you are crazy! Why on earth does it bother you?

The only time I would use a clean plate is if I dont want to mix any leftover food with a previous choice, sweet or sour, etc.

You eat off the plate and there are germs on it. Then you scoop more food from the buffet onto it and the utensil that you're putting into the buffet food touches the germy plate. Why don't you just sneeze into the salad -- what's the difference!? And, cross contamination anyone!?

 

[Honu]

Clean plate!!! Add me to the I hate buffets list.

 

[SwedishMeatball]

You eat off the plate and there are germs on it. Then you scoop more food from the buffet onto it and the utensil that you're putting into the buffet food touches the germy plate. Why don't you just sneeze into the salad -- what's the difference!? And, cross contamination anyone!?

Exactly. I don't like buffets because I would just prefer my plate of food prepared fresh and served to me.

 

[Corwin12]

that's just one of the many reasons I hate buffets I also can't stand seeing wayward food floating in places it doesn't belong I seriously get nauseated watching people heep mounds of food on their plates like it's their last meal

Same here ... I hate buffets and I hate the "All you can eat" expression ... there is a difference between all I can eat and all I should eat.

 

[Daxx]

Clean plate!!! Add me to the I hate buffets list.

The Pizza Hut buffet is the only one we really go to (outside of WDW). I am not really crazy about buffets myself for exactly the reason I started this thread. However, tonight was the first time I saw someone reuse their plate! Now, don't get me wrong ... I am sure people do it all the time ... but it's different when you witness it. I guess what I don't see doesn't hurt me, you know?! Anyway, DS10 loves the Pizza Hut buffet and we have the Book-It coupons, so it's a monthly treat!

 

[rt2dz]

In most localities it is a Health Department Regulation that clean plates must be used every time a diner returns to a buffet.
I think if I had been in your shoes I would probably have mentioned it to the restaurant manager.

agnes!

Health departments say clean plate. Restuarant could get into some serious trouble over that. And even if they didn't, I would.

ETA--Clarify: even if the health department didn't say to, I would still use a clean plate. Whatever touches one plate goes to the serving dish and all the food and then to everyone else.

 

[SandraVB79]

I usually use a clean plate, however, sometimes I reuse the one I alreday used.

 

[Pooh67_68]

Clean plate please.

Have to agree to see someone using a plate over and over.

 

[Claire L]

I always get a clean plate even at Pizza Hut here in the UK.

Claire

 

[cinmell]

Clean plate!

 

[grinningghost]

I love buffets - and yes, clean plate every time!

 

[Chattyaholic]

I'm a waitress in a restaurant that has a daily buffet (plus menu) and if we see someone going back up to the buffet with their dirty plate we intervene and say "oh, please let me take that for you, go ahead and get a clean one."

I used to love eating at buffets but from things I've seen where I work I am getting more leary of them now. I've seen people loading their dirty plates up again, and tapping the serving spoon on their plate, ugh! And occasionally a child will lick off a serving spoon and then stick it back into the bowl! Just the other day a family of 5 were eating and their little boy went up to the buffet and was eating bacon bits off the salad bar, right off the spoon, and sticking it back into the bowl!! I went over and told him not to do that, and threw the bacon bits away...but how often does something like that happen that we DON'T SEE?!

And the other day DH and I were eating at Ponderosa and I happened to see a little boy having trouble with the spaghetti serving spoon, so he put the spoon down and just grabbed the spaghetti WITH HIS BARE HAND!

And why do parents allow their small children to go up to the buffet by themselves? They should help them, not let them go up alone.

I just don't care so much for buffets anymore.

 

[Chattyaholic]

take a clean plate please, I cant believe there wasnt a sign up.

It doesn't matter if there is a sign up or not, people don't READ signs.
We have a sign at our buffet that says "employees only behind the buffet" yet time and time again someone will go back there to load their plate. If I see them I tell them they need to stay on the other side.

We also have signs that say "take all you want but please, eat all you take" and I just shake my head at the waste I take away from some tables. And we have a sign that says "we regret we cannot always provide your favorite pieces of chicken, as we buy whole chickens", yet we have people asking all the time "when are you going to bring out more legs, or breasts, etc." The chicken pan can be full, but the legs have been picked out and people ask for more even though the sign is right there.

 

[U2_rocks!]

If they want me to take a clean plate I will (though I almost never go back for seconds anyway), but I honestly am not bothered by the thought of dirty plates going up to the buffet. Honestly, until these kinds of things are brought up on the DIS I really never think about them! I am not generally all that germ conscious, and I'm pretty healthy I would have to say.

And yes, I'm a sitter in public bathrooms, I do not purell anything, and I have no problem touching a toilet handle! How on eath do I survive!!