Feeding Trough Folly
I try to avoid buffets (or that type of atmosphere, anyway) at all cost. I have some mental issue the "feeding trough" type of dining, where essentially you hover around vats of food and strategize how to beat the fat hairy guy out of the last slice of pepperoni or optimize your timing with the waitstaff bringing out the freshest. But my husband is a big fan of food (he eats breakfast thinking about his lunch opportunities) and loves buffets which he feels are a value, at the "all-you-can-eat" positioning. Quality isn't so much his thing as quantity is, apparantly. So last weekend we visited a new restaurant in our home town called The Lazy Susan which positions itself as a homestyle buffet. Unfortunately, the restaurant did little (read: nothing) to dispel my preconceptions about all-you-can-eat restaurant concepts.
The location was a unit in a brand-new strip mall and the interior was quite edgy. The decor used eggplant and mustard colors, curved heavily textured walls, concrete flor, and stainless steel lazy susan on each table.
That's where anything remotely positive about the place ended (well, we did receive the food quickly after ordering, to be fair). Evidently they hadn't considered acoustics, because it was so loud I couldn't hear my children (I have three) yell. The menu consisted of four main dishes: grilled chicken breast, roast beef, grilled pork chop, or meatloaf. There was then a list of sides to choose from, including corn on the cob, broccoli cheese rice, macaroni and cheese, fried apples, greens, etc. I was disappointed at the limited protein options and despite the respectable number of sides, had trouble identifying any that appealed to me (they all felt too "heavy").
After the food arrived, my disappointment only grew. So much for a Friday night out (hey, those of us with kids have to find pleasures in the little things). First, the table and lazy susan was too small to acommodate the individual plates of food. So on top of feeling squished, there was certainly the "spill" factor with the little ones. On to the fare itself - on the low spectrum of the foodservice quality rainbow. Cookie-cutter shaped chicken breast, thin slice of roast beef, mushy macaroni and cheese, over-boiled corn on the cob. My husband requested a bowl of gravy (which was on the menu) and it didn't arrive, and after two more requests and 25 minutes, we simply gave up. The waitress said she couldn't go back of house and ladle up a dish.
A manager failed to walk by to inquire about our visit. The waitress was only capable of saying "I'm sorry," and made no effort to take it further. With cranky kids, I was in no mood to pursue the issue so we just paid the bill and left. But in a town with few sit-down options, my hopes of finding a new place to eat were definitely dashed. I guess we're heading back to Applebees.
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Comments
On Dec 5 at 09:45 AM said:
My opinion on this subject is,do you people really have nothing better to do than to observe what others do and or consume,my god be greatfull for every person that eats have you ever gone without? perhaps your blessing is on the way,you are very ignorant to answer as you do,if you dont like what you see remove yourself from the situation. my suggestion is too see through the eyes of a greatfull person have a meal at your nearest salvation army,then perhaps you will see what you are really missing thankyou (you are given eyes but you do not see)
On Dec 5 at 09:45 AM said:
YOU SHOULD REALLY STOP EATING BUFFETS ARE REALLY NASTY WHEN YOU EAT ALOT!!!!
On Dec 5 at 09:45 AM said:
I'm a hunter and food provider and could not agree more. Having to kill my prey first hand has given me appreciation for meat, That buffet goers on a whole just don't have. I do not like to kill the beasts.
If people were made to kill 1 of the 100 chickens or cows that they eat i wonder if they would eat so much. Not long ago man had to stay fit to catch game in the first place . I beleive the tradeing of meats for the nuts and vegatables added to the harmony of life. Exersice is the key component of health.
Do not push in front of the food provider offer him or her due respect especially if he has killed for YOU.
On Aug 21 at 08:58 AM Julat said:
wow, that sounds like a horrible time. I usually avoid american buffets. The other day I went to a chinese buffet, but it just felt icky to be there. Seriously, you don't go up to that place more than once which in itself is a waste of money.
There is one buffet that I can always count on being clean and the food great tasting. it is a carribean buffet, and the food is great. it's clean, and the people that come to dine are decent.
On Dec 22 at 10:05 AM a. WILSON said:
We eat buffet sometimes at casinos of which there are two great ones in Iowa. They have a variety of really, good fresh everything, inlcuding veggies and salads. The desserts are yummy and the only complaint I have is that a person is likely to eat too much. On the other hand, we have a really awful Chinese buffet here in Nebraska, yuck!
On Apr 6 at 09:10 AM Mel said:
First, I do not work at a buffet restaurant. Second, I see nothing wrong with buffets. They serve middle of the road food to satisfy the average taste. You don't need to go to a buffet to get the same type of food (can anyone same Denny's). The biggest problem with buffets are the patrons and it isn't even how much that take (which is usually too much). A lot of patrons are slobs. Did you ever have someone in front of you toss the whole serving utensil in the food, handle and all. I see that all the time (drives me crazy). I asked one person not to do that and he said, 'My hands are clean'. By the way, women do this also. I said, 'I don't know that and besides are you saying that everyone that touched it before you has clean hands?' He looked surprised and then ignored me. Next time you go to a buffet, PLEASE do not put the handle in the food, your not the only one in the place.
On Nov 9 at 10:04 AM Glen McCall said:
I have managed 3 very large Buffets.
A buffet is just like any other restaurant. It all depends on the manager. When one goes to a restaurant (non-buffet), you have no idea what is happening behind the WALL. The assumption is that every thing is clean and great behind the WALL. A Buffet is your opportunity to see an extention of the kitchen. I now remodel restaurant kitchens. The buffet kitchens are much cleaner than others on a whole. Why? Because
they are in a practice of the customer seeing what is going on. Once you are in that mind-set, it carries all the way to the dish washer.
My wife and I travel all over the U.S. and we eat a lot of places. Last night we ate at Paula Deans
in Savannah. We had the choice of menu or the Buffet. Kay and I both had the buffet and it was GREAT. We have found many great buffets and some that are not so good, but the same can be said of any type of retaurant. Maybe a column shoul be developed to direct others to the good buffets, Such a list would have to enclude the great casino buffets, Paula Dean's, and Amigos in Longview, Texas, and the India buffets all over.
There are many 5 star buffets - shop around.
Serving spoons were changed every 5 min. or sooner in our buffets. I see that happen in many other buffets.
On Dec 5 at 09:44 AM said:
I work for a buffet resturant and I wont say the name or were it is because they are a very big chain.
But I do agree with u.!!! Sometimes the people that come into the resturant are very gross and there very dressed up and just don't care how there eating or use the restrooms. I don't know how many times I've seen people eat soooo much that they throw up!!!!!! then go back to eating again! YUCK. So when I eat at the resturant I wait for the fresh food to come out or I'll go in the back and ask for certain foods and get it before it comes out.Other than that I won't eat it.So yes as you see I DO AGREE with YOU.