I don’t know what it is about buffets that change people into packs of raging beasts but I have observed greedy behaviours a few times the last few weeks…
On holiday all inclusive I witnessed:
A woman pushing through the queue to get to the food first and literally elbowing and shoving people out of the way.
Every day they made fresh pizza and when they ran out most people would politely wait until the next pizzas came out of the oven. I didn’t want to stand in a queue like Oliver Twist so I sat at my nearby table till they served it then went to get a slice. I didn’t get a chance as a woman went over and put the whole thing on her plate as soon as it was put out.
Every day following I noticed her waiting for pizza till in the end the chefs refused to put it out until she wasn’t lurking. It was 3 days into my holiday until I managed to get a slice!
Men piling plates high when things like steak and meat off the BBQ was brought out. They didn’t care about anyone waiting behind them.
People letting their kids take all the cakes at once when they were brought out in the afternoon at the pool snack bar.
Last week in China town in London at an all you can eat Chinese buffet place:
A man took all the duck in one go, when they brought out more he went back for it, he was told he couldn’t have any more 😂.
The woman sat next to me who seemed to think “all you can eat” was a challenge not an offer and had about 8 plates of food piled high. In the end she was told they were cutting her off.
I’m not judging anyone for having a big appetite, I can be a gannet myself but this was really extraordinary and I had to tell DP to stop staring. Every plate was so full it was like a mound of food and she was licking and practically gnawing the bones of the spare ribs and wings.
People standing eating from the trays of food rather than putting it on a plate and taking to the table.
It was my first time at one of those buffets and it’ll be the last, it was like being in a zoo.
They made us pay upfront, told people who were taking a lot of food they had a time limit and the table manners were disgusting.
The staff were literally policing tables to stop it descending into chaos with people wrestling each other for the last spring roll.
There were a lot of Chinese people there and I know they have a different etiquette and seem more relaxed about table manners but there were people taking their shoes off, slurping noodles, eating with hands. I’m shuddering just thinking about it!
When it comes to dips at buffets the worst offence is when they put out those packs of 4 you get that have sour cream & chive, cheese & chive, onion & garlic and thousand island dressing.
You can guarantee people will swarm like vultures except for the thousand island. I don’t know why they include it because it takes up unnecessary space where they could have extra of the others.
It’s like the Mars chocolates that are always left over from celebrations at Christmas - just add more Malteasers!