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"