Etiquette: free food at a party.......If the food is self-serve, does that imply buffett-style?

Question

Does there have to be a sign saying "limit take one" or something in order to indicate it's not a buffett style serving? How can you tell whether a self-serve is a buffett or not?

(what I mean by buffett is unlimited supply....you can go back in line and take more)

Answer 1

Sorry, I think it's ruder to limit people's food intake than to take too much. If you can't afford enough food, you should pare down your guest list. If you want to limit people's food intake, you're going to have to serve it to them. At a buffet, you'll have some people that will take more than their share and some people that will take less than their share. It usually will sortof even out.  So, you can let everyone have what they want and not have to pay servers, or you'll have to pay people to serve your guests.

Answer 2

this means its a buffet & u can't put any sign, u have to increase the quantity as in buffet ppl take more than they need & others might not have the chance to take any, so either increase the quantity or make it seated bring someone to serve  

Answer 3

once they put out the food start letting table by table go up to serve themselves- then once all the tables have helped themselves there is usually a little left over that people will then go back for more- just make sure everyone has been up there first. you could always make up little menu type flyer's for each table telling what will be served and you can put something on there like

Each guest will receive one each of the following menu selections:

garden salad

Chicken Kiev

Mashed potatoes

Steamed veggies

and your choice of dessert

or something like that.

Answer 4

I once witnessed an old lady at a buffet, taking more than her fair share of food. She filled her handbag with sliced ham, at least five pounds of the lunch meat.

When the old lady died,word leaked out, several handbags were found in her kitchen freezer, all full of cold cuts, salami, roast beef, ham and swiss cheese.

I hope you're not going to be like that old lady.

No, a buffet does not mean unlimited supply. You're not supposed to take ALL the ham, or ten pounds of cheese. Think in terms of a normal human appetite. Other people have to eat too.