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

[tvguy]

Many buffet restaurants here went belly up during the pandemic. We did eat at Golden Corral in March while on vacation in St. Louis, mainly because my wife's cousin was on a special diet that was hard to stay on at a regular restaurant, so this allowed him to just get the foods he could eat. But we carry and use hand sanitizer religiously. Not sure if this counts, but we have spent two weeks in hotels this year, all that offered some sort of mini breakfast buffet.

 

[hertamaniac]

I did an extended cruise last month and did the buffet a few nights at dinner for the variety of choices versus the MDR. I did the buffet at breakfast almost every morning as they had exactly what I wanted.

The buffet saved me the typical 1-hour sit down service in the MDR and/or specialty restaurants. It was a huge time savings convenience when trying to see shows, etc.

I'm on another cruise (same ship) in a few weeks and plan to do the buffet again.

 

[AustinTink]

I used to love our local Chinese buffets, but they all went away with Covid and never returned. I had not been to a buffet until our trip last week. One of the restaurants at our all-inclusive resort was a breakfast buffet. My husband loved it, so we went a few mornings. Personally I preferred the free room service that comes with an all-inclusive over the buffet.

 

[mjkacmom]

If I’m going out to eat, I want to be served. We really don’t have buffet’s where I live, just a ton of regular restaurants, mostly non chains.

 

[tony67]

I like them , but they are few in far between since Covid.

What I really miss are the Indian Buffets, IMO that is the best way to eat Indian Food.
You can try everything and not break the bank. The ones near me had a great selection that was really good quality.
I worked with several Indians and they were always impressed with them.

I'd say the same for Chinese, but the food was not always as good as ordering from them.

The most important thing is they enforce rules. Even when they do enforce the rules I try to get there at opening otherwise it can be iffy. I've seen some things.

 

[NYCgrrl]

One of the last buffet I went to was as a guest of Filipino friends who loved lobster and Chinese food. They talked of the place from early in the morning (day trip to Long Island) until we arrived in the mid afternoon. Interestingly, we ordered from the menu thus bypassing walking with plates, boardinghouse grab and the like.

Same summer, different locale: a Brazilian steakhouse in Philly where the meal beginning was a salad, soup, and side dish buffet. This time the guest behavoir seemed less hurried at the buffet area.
Finally, we ate CG brunch every opportunity we could; enjoyed Narccossee’s as well but it was shutdown in 2016 or ‘17. Again, a studied but leisurely walk through the appetizer setup to music there. Then you had the madhouse at Peco Bill’s .
Thought provoking observations/implications and I wondered what it meant from an industry POV but COVID and the health risks ended any further interests for me.

 

[loves to dive]

I don't enjoy it but do go to one every once in a while. We actually went to a local buffet last week just to check it out. We live out in the country in north Georgia, only 20 miles from Athens but it's a pain to go into "town". This buffet is closer to the little local town in the other direction. It was sort of southern food but certainly didn't taste like Mama's or Granny's. I don't enjoy them because I don't eat a lot of food at one time so they are a waste of money for me. Also, I don't care how well the staff tries to maintain the actual buffet, they are always a little messy where people have spilled things or not put the right spoon back, etc.

 

[BrianL]

They can vary greatly in quality, but generally I always find them a bit lacking compared to a freshly prepared meal. There are definitely some standouts at WDW of course, where the quality tends to be pretty high. Still, I prefer the sit-down all-you-care-to-eat type meals, like Garden Grill with the hot skillets.

Locally, my parents really like a couple of the catch-all Chinese buffets. They are okay I guess - not the worst thing in the world - I definitely favor one over the other. There is also this "down home" buffet place that has a carving station with prime rib, but I can only handle so much of that kind of food - heavy! That place does have some surprisingly good deserts though!

 

[kimmar067]

...the only buffet I like is Jimmy....

 

[Disneylover99]

We’ve been to all the Disney World buffets. I’m not skeeved out by them and they’ve all been pretty good.

The only buffet around me is The Mandarin. It’s huge, packed on the weekends, but very clean, and the food is always hot and fresh. I’ve never noticed any unhygienic behaviour from guests.

It seems to be the place to go to celebrate birthdays in my extended family. We probably go there 3 or 4 times a year.

 

[RUDisney]

We refer to them as Spit Bars.

I only go when friends insist that we go to them. I don't like so many people handling the food that I'm going to eat.

 

[Disneylover99]

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.

I do think buffets bring out that mindset in some people. And yeah, I’ve seen groups take it to the extreme. That is gross.

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.

Yes. That’s the way I look at it. And that’s what I remind my husband of when he grumbles at the price. lol.

 

[jimmymc]

I generally like them. I like being able to try a bunch of different things and get seconds of the dishes I love. The germ factor doesn't really bother me, but if it's too dirty then I'll avoid them. I don't usually go to Golden Corral or other big chains, but I'll go if a nicer restaurant offers some kind of buffet.

 

[RedAngie]

We occasionally go to a local Asian buffet. It closed during covid but reopened in 2022.

The Golden Corral went out of business. I don’t think any casinos reopened their buffets, but we haven’t been to a casino to eat for a few years.

 

[1420Elexismc]

I love them on vacations(especially Disney) there aren't many around us now so it's usually just when we are away somewhere.

 

[disney212]

I'm immunocomprised so I tend to avoid them. My husband loves Boma so we go once every few years. I try to hang out and wait until I see fresh food being set out then grab something.

 

[TiggerTrigger]

I love the concept, but I always leave a bit (or a lot) disappointed. In general, I feel that buffets tend to be overpriced because of the amount of food that is wasted, but I also feel the quality is usually inferior to many restaurants with a traditional menu. If I'm at Disney and find myself over at AKL, Sanaa and Jiko will always come before Boma. The same is true in Vegas. Back in 2000, a bunch of friends raved about Bally's buffet. My husband loved the crab, but the rest was just meh. I actually thought the MGM's buffet that trip was better and the various 24-hour cafes on every Vegas trip we've had have always been leaps and bounds ahead of the buffets. For a while, Aladdin (pre-Planet Hollywood) was one of the best rated buffets, but again...thought it was average at best. We took the kids for the first time over Christmas break in 2018 and finally tried the Bellagio's highly rated buffet. It was good, but I still got a better meal at their cafe style restaurant, Sadelle's.

 

[fly girl]

I am not a buffet fan. Wasn't a fan even before covid.

First, I am not a big person. I have been to high end buffets (Vegas) and I can't eat my moneys worth.

Second, germs germs germs. I can't help and wonder did that dude just go use the restroom and not wash his hands. How about that snot nosed kid whose parents just let him touch food without using the tongs. Gross gross gross.

Every once in a while I will do a buffet, especially on a cruise. And I do like that they are big on making you wash your hands now before you enter. False sense of security for me, I know. But it helps ... a little.

 

[soccerdad72]

Never been a big fan, but will go to one occasionally. I feel like no matter how hard I try, I end up over eating when I go to one.

 

[BrianL]

I am not a buffet fan. Wasn't a fan even before covid.

First, I am not a big person. I have been to high end buffets (Vegas) and I can't eat my moneys worth.

Second, germs germs germs. I can't help and wonder did that dude just go use the restroom and not wash his hands. How about that snot nosed kid whose parents just let him touch food without using the tongs. Gross gross gross.

Every once in a while I will do a buffet, especially on a cruise. And I do like that they are big on making you wash your hands now before you enter. False sense of security for me, I know. But it helps ... a little.