In addition to the slow movers, how about those that pick at the food to find the piece they want....arrgghhh!

This is assuming that the kitchen staff themselves maintain good hygiene.

I have had a few interesting experiences with buffets on social occasions in Japan and Korea. As locals are hypersensitive of the picture they present to others, buffets are regarded as potential minefields for losing one's face. Take too much, eat too quickly or in the wrong order and you might be considered a person of poor manners and upbringing who does not "belong".

Of course, overseas countries are considered out-of-bounds recreational areas in these two cultures so buffet behaviour there is a different story alltogether...

I used to like buffets. Not anymore. It reminds me of what's wrong with this country's eating habbits. Quantity over quality.

That's a fixed variable. We all hope the kitchen staff maintains the best hygiene no matter where we go. When you take that and then add the public lining up to help themselves, you worsen the situation.

Not just kitchen staff, ALL staff including those not involved in the preparation of food and just serving it, I hope would have good hygiene standards. Unfortunately one can never be too sure. I was dining at Planet Hollywood at Gatwick Airport (before PH closed down many of their restaurants) and in this particular PH the toilets are not located within the restaurant but just outside around the corner. So when I went to the toilets I noticed one of the PH staff didn't even bother to wash his hands after doing what he had to do. I remember thinking, I hope he doesn't serve me. Back at the bar I ordered a drink and there he was, serving! Needless to say, I didn't order from him.

Absolutely agree!!!

Sanitary reasons aside (which could easily be a separate discussion thread)...

Our sense of a "portion size" is distorted and buffets are a free-for-all where it is easy to lose control. Eating (like most things in life) is all about making choices. To fit into clothes that make me feel sexy and beautiful, I choose to steer clear of buffets.

You bring up a very good point. I'm especially interested in your comments because one of things I enjoy most about Asia are wonderful buffets at posh hotels, such as the breakfast buffet at the Peninsula BKK, the lunch buffets at Oriental BKK, and the tea buffet at the Conrad HKG. So are there any pointers you can give about buffet etiquette?

Agree with that....I went from 277 lbs to the current 186 lbs (started the process on 1/1/2003, reached 190 about 9 months later) by forgetting what the restaurant industry tries to tell us about portion size and by writing down what I eat in excruciating detail. The phrase "not worth the calories" means something to me now.

That said, I still like being able to get in and out fast, as well as having a wider array of choices....and being able to take exactly what I want, rather than having the temptation of picking at way too much food the whole time I'm at the table...

I'm with Analise... I have to be really hungry without other options to consider eating at a buffet.

As we start getting OT here...
I've got to agree with flygirl555 as sanitary chatter can be huge different thread. Yeah, buffets can be pretty gross but so can a lot of restaurants. (Someone start a thread so I can share my stories as a bus boy and my friends' stories working at McDonalds. )

I don't think buffets are necessarily "evil" because I go mainly for the variety now. (That's why I love tapas and communal eating so much - choose your portions & lots of variety.) I don't feel the need to stuff myself to get my money's worth either anymore because the "good" buffets cost just as much as I would spend ordering a la carte.

Kudo's to you, John Galt. 90lbs is awesome. I'm trying to work off 40lbs for my wedding. I've shed 20lbs in 8 weeks through cardio, weights, & diet and am constantly asking myself "Is it worth the calories?" also.

haha! i like this thread, it made me laugh! i dont like buffets much, all the people milling around, too much potential for sneezing hehe ;0

francophile: You might have more experience than I do on the subject, but just my few Yen/Won:

I rarely invite new customers or contacts to buffet style eats, as it might lead to aforementioned unnecessary complications. Once the ice is broken and you are in a one-on-one or small familiar group setting, locals love nothing more than eating at luxury buffets without social pressure. As countries in this region are very family-orientated a Sunday brunch buffet invitation is a very good way of getting closer to people and their families.

What might lead to problems are buffets at company or official ceremonies and festivities as guests can feel inhibited because of peer pressure and enjoy the occasion less than they are supposed to.

Good Lord!
NEVER eat at buffets....... More people catch hep A from buffets than any other route.

I've seen parents let their kids just stick their hands in the food - like everyone else is supposed to be fine with that. We all know how kids like to pick their noses, bums, et c

..if slick willie can have his inauguration brekkie there then it works for me...how can u argue with champers on a sunday morning??? who cares about whats being served on the buffet??