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AIBU?

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Original poster

To not want to go to an all you can eat buffet?

111 replies

wizarddry · 01/06/2024 16:30

I've only ever been to once once about 10 years ago. Have they got better? There's just something about the piles of food on people's places and the thought that if they do that many types of food then none of them can be done well. Are my preconceptions wrong? What is your strategy for tackling them? If I say I'll go is it acceptable for me to just have one plate of food or will my hosts be annoyed at me?

OP posts:
DancingNotDrowning · 01/06/2024 16:47

Depends where.

Zuma do a fabulous all you can eat brunch/lunch, but I’m sure there are other places that are not great.

Maddy70 · 01/06/2024 16:45

I hate an all you can eat buffet. Piled high plates of things not " going together " gross

itsgoingtobeabumpyride · 01/06/2024 16:44

I'm not a great lover of them but there's one near me that does dishes from around the world, Chinese, Indian, sushi, Thai, English roast etc.
It's fabulous, I go by myself at lunch time when I'm in town and have a pick at what I fancy, basically a bit of everything but I don't overload my plate because it would put me off, I go up a couple of times and choose a little, I'm a great lover of mushrooms so one plate will just be mushrooms.
The deserts are to die for.
Try it, you may like it

Original poster
wizarddry · 01/06/2024 16:43

NeverEnoughPants · 01/06/2024 16:35

If you think that they are all bad, try this place: https://www.thegrove.co.uk/dining/the-glasshouse/

Eat how much you want. They usually have starters and mains and desserts, so if you don't want to only go up once, maybe try a small amount of starters or desserts and a small amount of mains.

I'm my experience they tend to have plates that are smaller than a normal dinner plate, so it's easy to not eat too much.

That looks like nice food bur I don't understand why it has to be all you can eat buffet style. They could just order a roast and noodles if that's what they really wanted

OP posts:
Original poster
wizarddry · 01/06/2024 16:42

Katemax82 · 01/06/2024 16:40

I uses to love our local Chinese buffet, it was £6.99 for lunch back in 2008. Fast forward to now and it's £17.99 for lunch and there are notices all over the place about how "food waste is not permitted, if you do you will be charged £5 per plate"
So obviously some greedy wasteful arseholes have ruined it for everyone.

Ahh yeah that sounds the sort of thing I went too. It did make me feel a little queasy at the piles of food some people had been piling up and then going back for more.

OP posts:
Katemax82 · 01/06/2024 16:40

I uses to love our local Chinese buffet, it was £6.99 for lunch back in 2008. Fast forward to now and it's £17.99 for lunch and there are notices all over the place about how "food waste is not permitted, if you do you will be charged £5 per plate"
So obviously some greedy wasteful arseholes have ruined it for everyone.

Girloutdoors · 01/06/2024 16:39

Some of them are ok. I haven't been to one for a couple of years. You don't have to stuff yourself silly. I find they are a good way to try different things and good if you're with kids or fussy adults.

I'd usually get a plate of starters with salad, then a plate of mains but just have a bit of what I wanted, then dessert.

The plates are usually small and you can just have e a bit of everything.

Original poster
wizarddry · 01/06/2024 16:38

Nomorecoconutboosts · 01/06/2024 16:35

I’m not a fan however if invited and I wanted to spend time with the people I would go
I feel bloated if I overeat so I’d take my time and be last up to the buffet
I’d get a few things including vegetables and space them out a bit. I’d likely do this 2-3 times to be polite to my hosts

That's a good idea thank you! So I'd just go and get a small salad first say then a few nibbly bits throughout the evening. Thanks.

OP posts:
NorthernSpirit · 01/06/2024 16:37

Did it once, never again.

Cheap food that’s been kept hot for hours on end over loaded onto plates for people to be gluttons.

I watched a program on it once were the owner of a large ‘all you can eat’ restaurant said they bank on people filling up on carbs (chips, garlic bread etc).

We have a Chinese were I live - £15.99 (mid week for ‘all you can eat’).

Personally- I would much rather have a decent al a carte main meal with portion control.

NeverEnoughPants · 01/06/2024 16:35

If you think that they are all bad, try this place: https://www.thegrove.co.uk/dining/the-glasshouse/

Eat how much you want. They usually have starters and mains and desserts, so if you don't want to only go up once, maybe try a small amount of starters or desserts and a small amount of mains.

I'm my experience they tend to have plates that are smaller than a normal dinner plate, so it's easy to not eat too much.

The Glasshouse Restaurant | Luxury Watford Buffet | The Grove

The Glasshouse Restaurant, located at The Grove in Hertfordshire, is a luxury all you can eat buffet full of various international food stations. Book a table now.

https://www.thegrove.co.uk/dining/the-glasshouse

Nomorecoconutboosts · 01/06/2024 16:35

I’m not a fan however if invited and I wanted to spend time with the people I would go
I feel bloated if I overeat so I’d take my time and be last up to the buffet
I’d get a few things including vegetables and space them out a bit. I’d likely do this 2-3 times to be polite to my hosts

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