But the joy of a buffet is that you aren't limited to 1 or 2 items, like you usually are if you order ala carte. You can have little tastes of many different things, whereas if you order ala carte, due to the price, you're going to only want to order one or two items due to price.

At the Hilton LAX, I was trying that, by ordering an omelet for breakfast. The waitress suggested i took the buffet, as I could also order the omelet as a part of the buffet.

So instead of the omelet and my orange juice, I had omelet, orange juice, some fruit and yoghurt - and saved a few bucks :cool:

Selection at a buffet is a draw.. the continental if very few selections which happens rarely, I ordered a la carte..

So at Fairmont Newport I ordered Eggs Benedicts a la carte 3 days in a row.. Can't remember the last time I ordered a la carte.. but there was literraly nothing left on the continental the days I was interested.. eventually brought out more food so I could feed the kids.

true, I had not thought of that

It depends on the type of buffet if we're discussing only breakfasts. If it's a continental breakfast, then usually, I won't opt for that. If it's a brunch buffet with all sorts of choices, I'll opt for the buffet, because I can sample a little of everything.
For example, if you go to brunch and are given the choice of ordering standard fare from a menu, or for $1 or $2 more than your selected menu item, are given the choice of the buffet that includes your selected item and several other options, you can have your selected item, but also sample many other items, without cost limitations. :)

True, but 99 times out of 100 I'd rather have Eggs Benedict than a whole bunch of other stuff. Now if there's Eggs Benny on said buffet (which is sadly quite rare) then I'll gladly follow your logic.

The last breakfast buffet I had, I think the buffet was cheaper than ordering a la carte. I'm not that big of a breakfast eater and the selection was limited so I think I only did three quarters of a plate.
However, it did have eggs benny. While I love eggs benny, it isn't as big of a draw for me in a buffet (ie. when the they have a bunch in a heating tray) because I find the yolk regularly ends up getting overcooked sitting there (I guess unless you time it right :) ).

Anyone interested in this topic and in the UK .... or are lucky enough to be in an airport lounge with a copy ...... might like to look at Alexie Sayle's wonderful article in The Times (UK) on his passion for All You Can Eat Buffets. It's one of the funniest articles I've read. Also online on their subscription site - "How I fell in love with all you can eat bufffets ..."

It's worth the £1 trial subscription alone .....

I never do continentals.. (paid continentals)

Almost paid for one at the Fairmont Newport Beach but at the last second, I ended up ordering A la carte, which I usually never do at a Fairmont neither..

That's about how I feel. I don't do paid continental breakfast buffets. :)

There is a market for continentals I don't understand.. I should ask my wife because she preferred having the continental at Newport Beach..

2 plates of main and a dessert would be the norm - tend to go more for the quality than quantity these days, although the waist line doesn't back this up... :(

Only time I ever eat at buffets is in Vegas (and I don't really like them) or brunch in Asia (every chance I ever get, and I like them very much ^ ^ ).

In my experience, it is correct to avoid Buffets like the plague unless you are going to a high-end Hotel with the proper track record for Brunch/Buffet services and are willing to pay accordingly. I also tend to select a venue where they have free flowing Champagne from a house that I approve of, as these events for me will almost always mean the only meal of the day and at least 2 bottles of the sparkler being consumed.

Singapore is one place where I would go to one of these types of events as they have a history of quality & consistency, etc.

Even then, they are rarely excellent. They can be very good, however.

At least in the US, most / all the seafood (as someone mentioned above as being a reason to go) is usually not much better than average - snow crab legs (pre-frozen and watery), farmed shrimp, etc etc. Otherwise, the buffet would be $100+ pp.

If I go to a few buffets a year, it is a lot. 2 plates, plus dessert of some sort. There used to be a great Chinese buffet close to where I lived years ago - no, don't scream. It was a little restaurant, it was Friday only, and they were constantly bringing out small portions of freshly cooked food, and not 30 things to choose from. Then they expanded, became all buffet all the time, and xxxxxxxx, stopped going.

I was in east Texas working on a lawsuit not long ago and I saw a restaurant offering an all you can eat catfish buffet with free wifi. Blew my mind. (I didn't go).

Today's history lesson: It's a little known fact that the 23rd amendment to the constitution of the US requires all Indian restaurants to have a lunch buffet.

Any opposition to the all you care to eat style, where they serve you food at request..

Just came back from Disneyland, and we ate at Big Thunder Ranch twice in Frontier Land.. not a buffet, but the food kept coming and coming and coming..

Or does most everyone here prefer Goofy's Kitchen?

I don't mind an Indian buffet as long as it is packed (preferably with Indians!) I've been taken to a few dives (you know, in dubious strip malls, sandwiched between a phone unlocking place and an adult video store) that I would never have stopped at on my own. They have been excellent, constant stream of food coming out (and being hoovered up!), tons of fresh naan straight from the oven - fantastic! Then I've been to what I consider good Indian restaurants, that happen to do buffet rather than a la carte at lunch - and I have never been back to those places for lunch (the supper menu OTOH is great!)

I was among the small minority, probably less than 10%, of the US public who simply assumed that the 23rd amendment gave Washington, D.C. electoral votes in presidential elections, but then I thought about it -- I truly have never been to an Indian restaurant that lacks a buffet -- so it must be true!

Ate at an Indian buffet for lunch today..

No indians to be seen.. but for very good reason.. Ramadan is happening as we speak..

I really watch my diet and exercise.

I still go to "All you can eat" buffets since I can be choosy about what I get, and get it quickly.

I eat one plate of salad. One plate of hot food. Not heaping.
And I watch the carbs. Maybe 1 spoonful of desert just for a treat.

For me, it's a quick meal with convenience. Not a reason to eat like a pig.

Aren't the majority of Indian people Hindu?

Probably. Mr. Maestro has an affinity for the occasional non sequitor :cool:

I'm about as inept telling culture as I am speaking their language..:eek:

That's what the waitress told me, why the restaurant at lunch was unusually empty.. everyone is fasting.. and likely because of Ramadan, they'll show up for supper after their modified Ramadan..

Calgary has longer days.. that is why the modified Ramadan..

You only overpay for a buffet if the price is higher than you would pay for what you eat a la carte. I've often found buffet breakfasts to be a good bet outside of North America, where coffee / juice refills are not standard - a couple of glasses of grapefruit juice (at a couple of pounds each), a couple of coffees (at a couple of pounds each), maybe a croissant with jam (4 pounds perhaps) and a bowl of fresh fruit (5 pounds perhaps), or scrambled eggs with toast and a couple of grilled tomatoes (12 pounds on the bill in my wallet), soon means that if there is an 'all in' buffet price of, say, 15 pounds, it can work out good value.

Generally, I find Fairmont hotels to price the a la carte higher, so that their buffets look like a reasonable deal..

I don't mind paying more for a buffet than what is normal consumption, simply for better selection.. but I would agree, there are some buffets where offerings are little value for the price charged..

I've had to learn to stop before I'm totally full at buffets..

I grew up thinking that to get my money's worth, is to stuff yourself until you drop..

It worked in my younger years, but now that I'm 36, its not a great idea to overeat.. or finish everything that's on my plate..

I can't stop eating when I'm in a Buffet.. Back home, Shangri-La, Sheraton, and other hotels do these kinds of sunday brunch buffets, and their seafood selections are off the charts!

I love European hotel breakfast buffets because I can eat what I was hoping to be able to eat whilst in Europe :D Plus, depending on my jetlag, sometimes I really do want pickled-stuffed-herring at 6am :p These buffets are generally of a high quality and I can eat as much as I'm hungry which varies according to my jetlag.

Asian afternoon tea buffets or Sunday brunch buffets with a carving station, egg station and seafood station are also at the top of my list as the food is always fresh and there is a good selection of both sweet and savory dishes. Again, I like the high quality and the mix of sweet and savory because I'm usually jetlagged to some point. At these higher-end buffets, the staff keep on eye on the food and will remove something if people are sticking their fingers in and getting gross about it.

I find regular run-of-the-mill buffets gross due to the double dipping factor. Plus the lower quality of food and incorrect holding temperatures just beg for a severe case of food poisoning. :td:

& while I'm on my rant, the grossest thing on a buffet table is the chocolate fountain. The very nature of the fountain has people sticking their sticky fingers into the chocolate. Ew!

Lunch and Dinner - rarely to never. And the rarely is only when someone else has selected and is paying, or am at a wedding or other social event.

Breakfast - often at hotels because that is what is most included with rate.

Brunch - not as often as I would like. I love to research great brunch buffets and enjoy with friends.

Does anyone have recommendations? :D

Park 75 at Four Seasons Atlanta. Lovely setting, get an early seating on holidays.

Unless it's a breakfast buffet at a hotel away from home, I don't eat at buffets. Even at the expensive ones, steam table food is steam-table food. Overcooked, and either soggy or dried out.

Thank you. We are in ATL frequently and this is good to know....

Just came back from Saturday Brunch (and we'll do the Sunday Brunch) at Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel..

Superb offerings at the Bow Valley Grill.. $43 per adult.. highly recommended.^

Honestly, about 4 plates which usually have pasta, shrimp, Alaskan king crab legs, prime rib, etc. Usually no salads, soups, fruits or anything healthy. Then about 2 or more plates of dessert, always getting the crêpes and several dishes of crème brûlée as well.

Whenever I'm visiting friends in CA, we usually eat at Choices, The Buffet at Pala Casino and we see who can eat the most. :D

Sure my friends and I feel horrible afterwards, but to us, that's the whole point of eating at a buffet.

I've been to quite a few do's and other FF events and everyone has always been considerate during meal time. I'd say if uk1 doesn't like buffets, not to participate.

I love dim sum buffets in Asia. I had one in Jakarta last month. $7 for great shrimp, scallops and cuttlefish items, plus roasted duck and a lot of other good stuff.

Many generic US buffets are garbage. Home Town buffet is hideous. I used to go to Furr's cafeteria, but they closed most of them down. The Wynn in Vegas is quite nice. Also had an excellent one in New Orleans, one of big hotels, for Sunday brunch, and I still remember the food 15 years later.

One of my favorite continental breakfast buffets was at the EZE PH. Top quality on everything, and then as a Hyatt diamond getting a hot dish too.

[QUOTE=Jaimito Cartero;17466699]..
I love dim sum buffets in Asia. I had one in Jakarta last month. $7 for great shrimp, scallops and cuttlefish items, plus roasted duck and a lot of other good stuff.
..QUOTE]

There is a nice dim sum buffet in a restaurant at the Calgary Chinese Cultural Centre..

Weekdays are a great price.. parking is super expensive though..

Buffets are totally wasted on me.
One plate and dessert.

Back in my waitressing days, we ran a friday lunch "buffet." Basically roast beef, mashed potatoes and gravy, rolls and various salads. Very popular with the run and eat crowd since you can be in and out 40 mins max.

I'll still go have a quick lunch with my hubby there once in a while.

People who let their kids really waste food pi---s me off. They are "All you can eat" buffets - not "All you can waste"