To think that at a buffet you can take as much as you want

[Edenviolet]

Went out today with dsis. We were starving by lunchtime and there was a huge buffet where we went (hotel), it was included in the price so we took loads as were hungry.
Noticed a couple of women really staring as we loaded our plates up and also when we took lots of the mini desserts and as we walked past one loudly said " I can't believe they are actually going to eat all that"
They kept staring at us and giving us funny looks.

Made me wonder if we really did take too much, surely as we had paid and were hungry it was ok ? I felt a bit judged as they clearly thought we were greedy

I could easily eat that and I'm 8.5 stone. I've always been able to eat lots too.

YABU.
At a buffet you can eat what you want, but you take a plateful and then go back. The plates are small to minimize waste. Clearly you have an enormous appetite but you should have gone back for seconds for main and then done a dessert run.

I would only judge people taking that much food at a buffet, if they then just poked at it and left loads on their plates uneaten. If you ate it all, with gusto, then I would have been bloody jealous at your confidence!

really fancy going to the all you can eat Chinese buffet now

Our weight is irrelevant

I would judge if they were overweight tbh
wouldn't most people?!!

Had a cup of tea, banana Greek yogurt and nuts for breakfast

Lasagne and salad for dinner

OP, if this is genuine, it is fine to see an eat all you like buffet as a chance to eat lots.
However, it is the heaping it up on several plates which is against the spirit of the restaurant. You don't need to heap the good up as you can return as often as you like. You say you ate everything....well, even if you did, other people waste food by doing this, which is why it is discouraged. Even at an eat all you can buffet, wasting food is a bad thing.
The thing with these buffets is that people want to get their money's worth and so often do really pig out. It is fine is they eat all they take, but not if they don't. Waste is waste and not good regardless of if you have paid for a bottomless put of food.

At the Chinese 'buffet' near us,you order what you like, rather than going up to a table. The rule is that you can keep ordering more dishes, as long as you have eaten what you previously ordered. Sounds reasonable. They are happy to provide as much as someone can eat, but not for loads to be wasted.

OP I think your approach (if genuine and not a wind up) WAS rude and poor etiquette,even for a buffet, where greed almost seems to be encouraged. Fine to keep eating and going back for more, but the idea that you cannot even allow time off from stuffing your face,to return to the table and queue, us what makes your approach sound greedy.

Christ I can't believe anyone takes any notice of other people at buffets. Whatever happened to just minding your own business?!

Blimey.

Fine, if it matters, I weigh 9 stone 6lbs and dsis 9 stone 10lbs

I'm amazed at the 4 creme brulees myself. 4??? I'm not surprised you got a few stares.

I'd have been annoyed if I wanted a creme brulee and there weren't any left because you'd eaten four.

Please reassure me that there were plenty of creme brulees left for other guests.

Yes I agree that weight is irrelevant

It's greedy either way imo, so I can understand why they thought the same

They were very, very rude to comment out loud about it though

Hedgehog, are you on the 5:2 diet and making the most of your non fast day?

Yes, the people who commented on your several loaded but small plates were rude and probably didn't know they'd be overheard.

Still a lot of food to eat though.

No, not on 5:2 , still bf ds2 so wouldn't diet.

There were lots of creme brûlées left !

It really is a huge amount of food.

Yes, it's the idea that you were in such a rush to start troughing and did not want to interfere with stuffing your face to return to the table, that made people look twice.
Am sure no one would have looked or cared if you had eaten your big long list, but collected it in several visits. I wouldn't care....expect people to be eating a lot in places like these. However, still expect to see some manners and appreciation of how the restaurant wants the procedure carried out (small plates = big clue!)

Out of interest, what happens if you don't like a dish chocolate? Will they still let you have another without clearing your plate?

Was prepared to say, it's a buffet eat what you want. And then I saw that you ate the entire buffet by the look of your list and now just think that's bloody greedy.

I don't know why you asked

you clearly think you were reasonable despite most people saying you could have gone up in stages

I would never stare or make comments because that's rude but I would definitely be astounded to see someone take that amount of food.

It's not hunger. I bet you could have taken one plate and been satisfied. It's greed and like it or not, lots of people think that isn't a pleasant thing to see.

I particularly hate this 'getting your money's worth' attitude. Just because you've paid a set price doesn't mean you should stuff your face far more than you would if you were paying individually.

Same applies for people ordering champagne cocktails or 5 pints each at a free bar.

Do you have diabetes, or am I mixing you up with other family members? It just seems ridiculously excessive and can't be good for you.

That does seem very greedy, I think I might have looked a bit judgey if you'd walked past me with all that.

One plate per person would be good manners, I'd say. Then back for more.

Bloody hell op, that's a heck of a lot of food!

I thought I could eat, but I don't think I'd be able to move if I ate all that.

What's with all the puddings, that's so much sugar

I detest buffets, but I honestly think my jaw would drop a but if I saw someone take all that food.....