So does anyone else avoid, no matter what type of food is served there, buffet style resturants?

Question

When I used to work in a mom-n-pop pizzeria, the other employee's and the owners would tell me that buffet style resturants are the worst offenders in terms of keeping there kitchens / back rooms clean.

Now, base on that, and the fact that anybody can touch, spittle, or sneeze on your food at a buffet line, would you really go to a buffet no matter how hungry you were or how nice it seemed on the outside?

I haven't been to any type of buffet since the year 1998 because of what I have been told and what I've come to realize about them.

Anyone else dislike or have major apprehension about buffets? Any horror stories about them?

Answer 1

nope, aeroma the resteraunt for instance, is a great way to fill up the kids!

Answer 2

At the chinese buffet where we go, there are workers watching the food at all times and I would trust them to do something if somebody was gross.  Just as much as I trust anyone who works in a restaurant kitchen!  I've worked in some kitchens and I've seen some gross things.  Nothing like spit, just general dirtiness.

I also know that they switch out the food based on how long it sits out, regardless of how much is left.

Answer 3

I don't like buffet restaurants.  If I'm going out to eat I want to be served and taken care of.  Not pay to get my own food and drinks.  The only buffet I like is Phillips in Ocean City, MD.

Answer 4

Yes, I totally avoid buffet restaurants.  I was a waitress for years and now I am a Registered Dietitian.  I have to take food safety courses all the time and I learn all about this stuff.  It totally grosses me out.  So many germs are on people's hands, which get on the serving utensils, which drop into the food half of the time.  Not to mention the sneezing, coughing, and even when people talk, spit flies out of their mouths onto the food.  Nasty!!!!

Did you see the thing on youtube about the germs on lemons BTW?  That's even worse!  DON'T GET LEMONS IN YOUR BEVERAGES PEOPLE!!

Answer 5

i was fine with buffets until i read this.  yuk!!!

Answer 6

I don't like buffets because the food sits under a light for an extended period of time and gets congealed/hard/crusty/turns color, or is not the temperature it should be. I would rather my food be cooked and prepared to my liking.