srbmod From United States of America, joined Mar 2001, 16888 posts, RR: 51 Reply 1, posted (1 year 4 weeks 13 hours ago) and read 1951 times:
It's every man for themselves. Buffets are not designed to be formal, so when you get done with a plate, it's acceptable to go get another plate of food.
AirframeAS From United States of America, joined Feb 2004, 14150 posts, RR: 26 Reply 2, posted (1 year 4 weeks 12 hours ago) and read 1911 times:
Don't sneeze in the food in the buffet line! I have seen old folks do that a lot! I have stopped going to buffet places because of this. The glass protectors don't do diddly squat!
Quoting srbmod (Reply 1): Buffets are not designed to be formal, so when you get done with a plate, it's acceptable to go get another plate of food.
Agreed 1 million percent!
A Safe Flight Begins With Quality Maintenance On The Ground.
CitationJet From United States of America, joined Mar 2003, 2230 posts, RR: 3 Reply 4, posted (1 year 4 weeks 11 hours ago) and read 1897 times:
Buffets are notorous for spreading germs. On cruise ships, that is usually how the norovirus is spread. I was on a cruise ship years ago when the norovirus out break occured. The first thing they did is not let the passengers serve themselves from the buffet line. The cruise staff dished up the food for the passengers, while wearing plastic gloves.
Also some people don't realize that you are supposed to get a clean plate each time you go thru the buffet line. Otherwise you are spreading the germs when the serving spoon touches your dirty plate, and then is put back into the food.
SmittyOne From United States of America, joined Feb 2012, 898 posts, RR: 2 Reply 5, posted (1 year 4 weeks 8 hours ago) and read 1739 times:
Quoting zrs70 (Thread starter):
Can someone go for the next course when most others are in the middle of a previous course?
If you're talking about buffet restaurants in the US (like Golden Corral or anything with the word 'China' in it), most of the patrons go multiple plates per course so how the hell could anyone keep track? Take your hat off and chew with your mouth closed and you'll be in the top 1% there.
If it is a more formal buffet (e.g. a wedding), if you excuse yourself politely and leave your napkin on your chair you'll be good to go.
AirframeAS From United States of America, joined Feb 2004, 14150 posts, RR: 26 Reply 6, posted (1 year 4 weeks 8 hours ago) and read 1735 times:
Quoting CitationJet (Reply 4): Buffets are notorous for spreading germs.
Not trying to he a "germophobic", but this is the main reason as to why I rarely ever go to any buffet places.
Quoting zrs70 (Thread starter): Can someone go for the next course when most others are in the middle of a previous course?
I don't think anyone would care about that. Buffets are not a formal restaurant where "courses" are being brought to your table. If you are hungry, you are hungry. Nuff said.
A Safe Flight Begins With Quality Maintenance On The Ground.
starbuk7 From United States of America, joined Apr 2008, 590 posts, RR: 5 Reply 8, posted (1 year 4 weeks 6 hours ago) and read 1675 times:
Every time I go to a buffet I usually get two plates full to start, this way I do not have to get up for a while.
Also, I have never gotten sick from a buffet, and really never though about all the germ stuff that was mentioned above. That being said, it will not deter me from going to buffets in the future, they are great.
stasisLAX From United States of America, joined Jul 2007, 3266 posts, RR: 6 Reply 10, posted (1 year 4 weeks 5 hours ago) and read 1632 times:
Quoting Dreadnought (Reply 7): Nobody I know calls it a buffet, or cafeteria. It's called "going to the trough"
Same here, Dread. Actually, etiquette at a "buffet" is an oxymoron - at least here in Phoenix. Don't finger all of the food, don't cut off the guests in line to snag the last piece of roast beef, don't dunk your weave in the soup, and don't pull your dining room chair up right up to the sushi table.
"Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety!" B.Franklin
type-rated From United States of America, joined Sep 1999, 4345 posts, RR: 20 Reply 12, posted (1 year 3 weeks 6 days 16 hours ago) and read 1428 times:
Personally, I think buffet dining encourages over eating. Heaven knows Americans are already fat enough!
Fly North Central Airlines..The route of the Northliners!
AirframeAS From United States of America, joined Feb 2004, 14150 posts, RR: 26 Reply 13, posted (1 year 3 weeks 6 days 11 hours ago) and read 1337 times:
Quoting type-rated (Reply 12): Personally, I think buffet dining encourages over eating.
An economist once told me that buffets are brilliant in the marketplace. They drive in a lot of revenue compared to the price you pay at McDonalds.... I don't remember the formula he showed me but they do drive in a LOT of revenue because you only go back for seconds once.... or something like that.
A Safe Flight Begins With Quality Maintenance On The Ground.
AirframeAS From United States of America, joined Feb 2004, 14150 posts, RR: 26 Reply 15, posted (1 year 3 weeks 6 days 10 hours ago) and read 1318 times:
Quoting N1120A (Reply 14): By the very nature of the word "second", you can only go back once.
Second"s", plural. Not singular. You knew what I meant.
A Safe Flight Begins With Quality Maintenance On The Ground.
us330 From United States of America, joined Aug 2000, 3742 posts, RR: 14 Reply 16, posted (1 year 3 weeks 6 days 9 hours ago) and read 1279 times:
Quoting zrs70 (Thread starter): What is proper buffet etiquette? Can someone go for the next course when most others are in the middle of a previous course?
Yes. You only have a limited amount of time before your stomach catches up to your eyes, so eat as much as possible, as quickly as possible, before the feeling of fullness starts setting in. That way you can get the most bang for your buck.
Quoting srbmod (Reply 1): It's every man for themselves
AirframeAS From United States of America, joined Feb 2004, 14150 posts, RR: 26 Reply 17, posted (1 year 3 weeks 6 days 9 hours ago) and read 1278 times:
Quoting us330 (Reply 16): You only have a limited amount of time before your stomach catches up to your eyes, so eat as much as possible, as quickly as possible, before the feeling of fullness starts setting in. That way you can get the most bang for your buck.
I've tried that. It gets me full very fast. Eating fast is not generally a very good idea.
A Safe Flight Begins With Quality Maintenance On The Ground.
aloges From Germany, joined Jan 2006, 8357 posts, RR: 47 Reply 18, posted (1 year 3 weeks 6 days 9 hours ago) and read 1270 times:
Quoting type-rated (Reply 12): Personally, I think buffet dining encourages over eating. Heaven knows Americans are already fat enough!
Quoting us330 (Reply 16): Yes. You only have a limited amount of time before your stomach catches up to your eyes, so eat as much as possible, as quickly as possible, before the feeling of fullness starts setting in. That way you can get the most bang for your buck.
BMI727 From United States of America, joined Feb 2009, 14323 posts, RR: 26 Reply 19, posted (1 year 3 weeks 6 days 8 hours ago) and read 1252 times:
Quoting SmittyOne (Reply 5): If you're talking about buffet restaurants in the US (like Golden Corral or anything with the word 'China' in it), most of the patrons go multiple plates per course so how the hell could anyone keep track? Take your hat off and chew with your mouth closed and you'll be in the top 1% there.
The food generally sucks and if you say something about "etiquette" most people would probably tell you to take that communist crap outside.
Quoting starbuk7 (Reply 8): Every time I go to a buffet I usually get two plates full to start, this way I do not have to get up for a while
My grandpa did that because his mind was starting to fail him. He got a plate, went back for a drink, and came back with another plate.
Why do Aerospace Engineering students have to turn things in on time?
Quoting Dreadnought (Reply 7):
Nobody I know calls it a buffet, or cafeteria. It's called "going to the trough"
Looks like a family reunion. A buffet is a chow hound's Nirvana. When they see me coming, the restaurant knows they are going to lose money. One thing that is verboten at least at buffets in the States: you get the evil eye when you attempt to take some of the goodies home. I'll admit I've been there done that! At one Chinese buffet, some of the help were bleating I'd guess not too flattering words toward me when I attempted to help myself to their goodies by stuffing them into barf bags, clean unused barfed bags for clarity.
airportugal310 From United States of America, joined Apr 2004, 3063 posts, RR: 2 Reply 21, posted (1 year 3 weeks 6 days 8 hours ago) and read 1231 times:
AirframeAS From United States of America, joined Feb 2004, 14150 posts, RR: 26 Reply 22, posted (1 year 3 weeks 6 days 4 hours ago) and read 1182 times:
Quoting zippyjet (Reply 20): One thing that is verboten at least at buffets in the States: you get the evil eye when you attempt to take some of the goodies home.
Oh, yeah. That is true. I asked a waitress the reasoning behind this. She told me that they don't want food as take-out. But then I asked what they plan to do with my left over food that I cannot eat since I am full. Their response: "We throw it away." I responded that I planned on eating that later and if they throw out the food, that is a waste of money....
Think about the children in Africa.... But they don't get it....
A Safe Flight Begins With Quality Maintenance On The Ground.
zippyjet From United States of America, joined Sep 2001, 4722 posts, RR: 13 Reply 23, posted (1 year 3 weeks 5 days 9 hours ago) and read 1090 times:
Quoting AirframeAS (Reply 22):
Oh, yeah. That is true. I asked a waitress the reasoning behind this. She told me that they don't want food as take-out. But then I asked what they plan to do with my left over food that I cannot eat since I am full. Their response: "We throw it away." I responded that I planned on eating that later and if they throw out the food, that is a waste of money....
Think about the children in Africa.... But they don't get it....
You can thank those @#$% lawyers for this. Due to the sue me lawyer induced culture, food service institutions have to chuck the leftovers instead of give them to those who need it. I'm old enough to remember (my Bar Mitzvah) the catering company gave my parents tons of left over hour d'overs even wrapped and some main courses plus plenty of sweet treats. No more! At least in much of the USA. Try getting left overs from catered affairs these days even if you paid the freight. Another reason to have a Haterade for the legal profession.
PanHAM From Germany, joined May 2005, 7768 posts, RR: 26 Reply 24, posted (1 year 3 weeks 1 day 15 hours ago) and read 884 times:
Quoting starbuk7 (Reply 8): Every time I go to a buffet I usually get two plates full to start, this way I do not have to get up for a while.
That's exactly how it should not be done. Since the question is about "Etiquette" I suggest you start with the soup, go back to get the salad and the appetizers, then go back to the main courses. if American or Russian go back again to a second helping of the main course and if you still have room left you may eat the dessert.
NEVER EVER TAKE ALL COURSES TO YOUR TABLE AT ONCE
behave, don't tocuh anything you don't take to your table, don't talk while loading the plates because you may leave body fluids over what other people want to eat.
As a general rule for people with good manners, check out the audience, how they are dressed, how they talk and which language and if you don't feel comfortable with what you see and hear, make a U-turn.
Quoting AirframeAS (Reply 22): Think about the children in Africa.... But they don't get it....
There are laws and the restaurant is responsible for their food. They are 100% right about refusing to let you take home left overs. It is called product liability.
BTW - I love the Chinese restaurant sign, they are so right.
RussianJet From Kazakhstan, joined Jul 2007, 6276 posts, RR: 23 Reply 25, posted (1 year 3 weeks 1 day 15 hours ago) and read 925 times:
Ignore the rice, bread, or whatever else is crap and fills you up too quickly. Pig out on the prawns, roasted meats, and all the other good stuff that's utterly delicious and totally bad for you.
Revelation From United States of America, joined Feb 2005, 10452 posts, RR: 20 Reply 26, posted (1 year 3 weeks 1 day 14 hours ago) and read 910 times:
Quoting AirframeAS (Reply 13): I don't remember the formula he showed me but they do drive in a LOT of revenue because you only go back for seconds once....
They lose money on me. I can eat like a horse. I've never taken stuff home, but I have gotten dirty looks as I go up for my fourth round, but now when I go, they expect it.
Not that it's good for me. I never go more than once a week, but even that is more than I should.
Quoting PanHAM (Reply 24): That's exactly how it should not be done. Since the question is about "Etiquette" I suggest you start with the soup, go back to get the salad and the appetizers, then go back to the main courses. if American or Russian go back again to a second helping of the main course and if you still have room left you may eat the dessert.
I agree. The food gets cold that way. Besides, what's the hurry?
Around here, the only buffets are Chinese, and I'm good for four rounds. First round is sushi (note: most Americans don't know or care that Sushi is Japanese, not Chinese, almost all Chinese restaurants now offer sushi), soups and salads, main course, dessert.
Quoting PanHAM (Reply 24): BTW - I love the Chinese restaurant sign, they are so right.
I don't see a lot of all-day feeding around here. I saw a lot more of it when I used to visit my late grandmother in Florida at the 'cafeteria' style restaurants. The retired folks would stay for hours! Most of that food came right out of cans, so not much was appetizing to me, so I really avoided going to those places if I could. At least at the Chinese buffet here in town I can see the ladies in the corner cutting up the veggies etc.
sccutler From United States of America, joined Jan 2000, 5091 posts, RR: 28 Reply 29, posted (1 year 3 weeks 1 day 4 hours ago) and read 761 times:
Quoting Dreadnought (Reply 7): Nobody I know calls it a buffet, or cafeteria. It's called "going to the trough"
Used to be, when I was young and had the metabolism to support (endure?) it, I could eat a great deal, and with a limited budget, really appreciated "all you can eat" places... but...
Quoting type-rated (Reply 12): Personally, I think buffet dining encourages over eating. Heaven knows Americans are already fat enough!
...and so it does. Now, the thought of eating such quantities is mildly repugnant. I eat much less than ever I did, and yet cannot seem to keep weight soundly under control.
...three miles from BRONS, clear for the ILS one five approach...
zippyjet From United States of America, joined Sep 2001, 4722 posts, RR: 13 Reply 31, posted (1 year 3 weeks 1 day ago) and read 709 times:
Quoting RussianJet (Reply 25):
Ignore the rice, bread, or whatever else is crap and fills you up too quickly. Pig out on the prawns, roasted meats, and all the other good stuff that's utterly delicious and totally bad for you.
That is all.
I've noticed at a lot of the buffets the appetizers (dumplings, shrimp toast) is positioned front and center at the buffet tables. These tend to be the most filling. Of course generally these items get consumed and there's higher turnover and therefore usually the freshest and tastiest of the goodies. I've noticed at most buffets (Chinese) the soups are excessively salty. For whatever reason in a regular sit down or carryout the won ton soup is much better. Another thing I've noticed, the egg rolls are not nearly as tasty as in your non buffet eateries. Another thing I've noticed is we Chow hounds actually get smiles because we are enjoying their food. They seem to give those dirty looks to people who take and waste their food.
Revelation From United States of America, joined Feb 2005, 10452 posts, RR: 20 Reply 32, posted (1 year 3 weeks 21 hours ago) and read 688 times:
Quoting zippyjet (Reply 31): For whatever reason in a regular sit down or carryout the won ton soup is much better.
Interesting.
I tend to judge Chinese restaurants by their hot and sour soup. If the hot and sour is good, chances are I will like the rest.
To me, bad Chinese places tend to have either watery or burnt-tasting hot and sour soup.
In my town, the Chinese buffet is relatively new and is right across the street from the best "waiters in tuxes" Chinese place in town, which is quite good.
The "waiters in tuxes" place still has a few dishes I really enjoy, but I must say the buffet is getting more of my business, because I love their hot and sour soup, and the rest of the stuff is pretty decent too, not all as good as the other place, but still pretty decent. The buffet's hot and sour is the best in town, and there's got to be at least a dozen Chinese places I've tried in town.
The WIT place has never really had a thriving business, presumably getting by on their higher prices, the buffet place at times is mobbed, and seems to draw people from out of town.
The WIT place gets my business when I'm in the mood for certain dishes or when I want to impress friends or dates, because it is damn good, but the buffet is getting more and more of my routine business. I would not be surprised if the WIT place went under due to the competition.
HAWK21M From India, joined Jan 2001, 31201 posts, RR: 58 Reply 34, posted (1 year 3 weeks 18 hours ago) and read 651 times:
Out here the Chinese food is good but then it has a lot of Indian flavouring to it.
Once at a restraunt,I found the taste of the clear soup to sour....so I stirred it some more & there was a small plastic container used to hold the Chilli-vinigar soup in it.....
So i decided to call the chef rather than the manager,the chef was obviously embarrased as the container had probably dropped in the bowl by mistake.I thought so as by friends who ordered the same type soup had no problem.
Guess what ....everytime visit that restraunt I find the quanity of food provided to me a bit more than what the other guests are served.....No complains
garpd From UK - Scotland, joined Aug 2005, 2305 posts, RR: 4 Reply 35, posted (1 year 3 weeks 17 hours ago) and read 639 times:
Don't let the vegetarians in front if you have to queue. By the time they've finished sifting through what they can and can't eat, the hot food is cold.
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From United States of America, joined Dec 2000, 2872 posts, 
Agreed 1 million percent!
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From Germany, joined Jan 2006, 8357 posts, 
I responded that I planned on eating that later and if they throw out the food, that is a waste of money....
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