slo’s WEDNESDAY 8/28 poll - Buffets (restaurant)

[slo]

This will be an interesting poll today, because I know that many people feel very strongly about buffets. At one time, it seemed like everyone enjoyed going to a buffet, and then feelings slowly started to change. By the time COVID happened, many disliked buffets and then during & after COVID, many hated buffets. So where do you fit into this…..

How do you feel about buffets?
Do you go to them now, in recent days? (meaning…..after COVID)
(multiple choice)


For Me……I love a good buffet, especially a good casino buffet, which I haven’t been to since before COVID - not because I haven’t wanted to - we haven’t been back to Vegas and the casino by us closed their buffet during COVID and haven’t brought it back. We have been to Easter brunch in the last 2 years, but I’m not a big fan of Easter brunch - both sets of parents enjoy it, so we go for them.

 

[PollyannaMom]

I'm kind of torn. I really do like the variety and ability to try little bits of different things. But I'm also a bit uncomfortable with the germ factor.

 

[Skywalker3]

We still enjoy them, but don't have a lot of options around here. There is a really good one in the town south of us. It's country food like fried chicken, catfish, greens, cornbread, etc.
Many of our favorite Disney restaurants are buffets; Boma, Tusker House, Akershus, etc. but they've gotten too pricey for all of us.
If/when we ever get back to Vegas, we'd very much be looking forward to the buffets. Many years ago, really enjoyed the Wynn, Bellagio, etc.
THere just aren't nearly as many buffets as there used to be. The only other one close to us is a Chinese buffet...and we do to go from them every couple months or so. No more Shoney's, Golden Corral, etc. though

 

[WDWEPCOT]

Like them with the exception of the local casino that I don’t go to often my buffets are at Disney

 

[kdonnel]

I love a good buffet.

I never took advantage of the Buffet of Buffets pass in Las Vegas and have some regret.

I am already tired of the food halls, glorified food courts, that have taken over the Las Vegas buffet spaces.

Everything is cyclic and I figure in 10 or so years buffets will be back.

 

[fla4fun]

I have always found buffets to be questionable germ wise due to how people behave. We were eating in a restaurant that had a salad bar, and a woman was dipping her finger deep into each dressing and tasting it. We told our server about it, but no one changed out the dressings by the time we left. Things like that just gross me out! The only type of buffet I will go to is one where they have people behind the counter to serve you, instead of patrons getting their own food. There aren’t many of those around.

 

[Meriweather]

I haven't been to a local buffet in years.
We do them occasionally at WDW or DLR.

 

[Micca]

I sorta like them, hardly ever go unless it's at WDW. We have a Boma breakfast planned for our next trip.

 

[White Cat]

I might consider if there are servers serving the food but would never go to a self serve buffet . Seeing too many out of control children and adults acting like the place is going to run out of food. And too many people liking their fingers before grabbing a serving utensil.

 

[MIGrandma]

I do like a good buffet, but there aren’t many here. We go to the Chinese buffet occasionally. Love them on cruise ships.

 

[unrequited23]

About half of the buffets in our area have closed. The ones that are still around have increased prices with decreased quality.

My kids are more likely to try new foods at a buffet because they don't have to commit to a whole plate and know if they don't like something there is different food they can have. If you were to ask my youngest why he loves DCL his answer would be Cabanas and Castaway.

 

[leebee]

Boma, Boma, Boma!!

I like buffets and have never worried about germs. I just watch what others are doing and make my choices accordingly.

 

[bobbiwoz]

I don’t like them anymore, but I will go on occasion. For instance, we were on a cruise recently and got back after main dining rooms closed.

For me, it’s not only the germs, with limited mobility, it’s not as easy as it once was. One time on the cruise, the plate kept moving after I stopped the rollator, and the whole dish fell.

 

[Forevermarypoppins]

I like them.
Locally, we rarely ever go to any.
At WDW, I have been to many.
Coincidentally, I was just at a Asian buffet near Six Flags in Gurnee, IL over the weekend. My son and wife took us out for helping with their move. It was a new experience and I enjoyed it alot!

 

[White Cat]

Went to a Sweet Tomatoes and Golden Corral once. Gross. So were the people. Never again. Some people say they get their moneys worth. I never understood how over eating is getting your moneys worth.

 

[HopperFan]

I don't like them. I don't do at Disney or mostly anywhere anymore. We did a cruise this summer and I did go to the buffet a couple times but felt more comfortable because the food turnover is very quick.

FIL was an FDA Inspector and always told us not to eat at buffets. He said they are to constantly check the temperature of the foods and you rarely see anyone doing anything other than loading more food in. He also said the sharing of germs by sharing the utensils is huge. And add that folks move all these utensils around there is always cross contamination. We have no allergies but I still try to avoid at all costs.

 

[kdonnel]

Went to a Sweet Tomatoes and Golden Corral once. Gross. So were the people. Never again. Some people say they get their moneys worth. I never understood how over eating is getting your moneys worth.

Buffets aren't always about overeating. For me they are primarily about variety. Getting to try things I would not be willing to pay for an entire plate full. I would say I never get my money's worth in volume of food, especially at the current Las Vegas buffet prices. But I do feel like I get my money's worth in variety.

As for cleanliness, my father was a food service inspector the majority of his life. He had to actively forget about work to eat at any restaurant. He would make sure to be seated where he could not see into the kitchen or be facing a food prep area. In his words, if you care at all about sanitation, don't ever eat food from someone else's kitchen.

 

[Moliphino]

I love a good buffet and hate a bad, cheap buffet (Golden Corral type). I very rarely go to any, as only the cheap kind are around here.

 

[ronandannette]

I like them fine, it’s not something we do very often. Other than Chinese and a few hotel dining rooms that serve brunch, I’m not aware of there being any buffet places here. We do buffet breakfast or lunch most days on cruises but never for dinner.

 

[jo-jo]

We used to go to a few in the area. Have since closed down.

At Disney, we go to Boma once per trip. DH loves Boma. I fill up on the soups.

Used to go to more buffets, but find don't eat as much and the price has jumped so much. The QS big breakfast , fills me to stuffed.