What would you have done?

Question

I visit a chinese restaurant now and then. It takes 45 minutes to get there. I don't eat out often, so it's somewhat of a treat. It's a buffet style restaurant. One of my favorites that they offer is crab legs.
Of course, that's usually the favorite of most of the patrons.
When we went to serve ourselves, the crablegs were empty. They don't replenish the pan very quickly, so you end up waiting about 15 minutes....
in the meantime, I was enjoying my meal.
I just happened to look over at a table with a couple that just entered the restaurant. (They had already hit the buffet). the man, had a pile of crablegs, no exaggerating...a foot and a half high on his plate.
I continued to wait my turn...as he had cleared the pan for himself.
I then saw that they were refilling the pan, so I walked up to get "my turn".
A woman was on the other side of the buffet....grabbing legs out of the pan as fast as she could. She stacked her plate a foot high.
I got 3 legs.
What is buffet etiquette?

Answer 1

Buffet ettiquette is that you take a reasonable portion out of consideration for other diners who might want some of what is being offered. Those people are selfish, gluttonous boors. An "all-you-can-eat" buffet simply means that, when you finish eating what you have, you are welcome to go back and get more. It isn't a competition to see how fast you can clean out the buffet before anyone else has a chance to get any. Speaking to the management won't accomplish anything, other than to let them know that they need to replenish the buffet. Speaking to the classless clod loading up his or her plate could get you punched out, in this day and age. Those people are clueless and instructing them on the finer points of consideration for someone other than themselves wouldn't penetrate their neanderthal brains. I understand your frustration.

Answer 2

I would avoid buffet style food all together. I used to work in the restaurant industry & could tell you lots of stories that would make you puke! Besides that, everyone has their hands in it which isn't too sanitary to begin with. They itch their neck, take some food, itch their neck again & before you know it the whole damn thing has been contaminated. That's if you are lucky! They spit their gum in the food, pick their noses, cough, sneeze & every other thing you can think of. A lot of times you are eating leftovers as well. Buffet type people have a dog eat dog mentality so good luck getting what you want. The last buffet I ate at was in Louisianna @ a restaurant everyone would know if I named it & the staff was so inept the food was cold. I never said a word when I paid my bill & decided never again! I knew better to begin with but was famished at the time so it seemed like the right choice. What a joke! I'll bet the people scarfing down those crab legs barely made it to the rest room, LOL!

Answer 3

Buffet ettiquette is to take what you will eat without taking everything in the pan. There are plenty of opportunities to go back for more, so there is not need to hog all of the good stuff. People like this are the same ones who cut you off when driving, talk on the cell phone at the register, and raise their kids to be screaming deliquents. They have no manners and no concept of anyone besides themselves.

You would have been perfectly within your rights to make a comment to either the woman doing the grabbing or to the waiter.

Answer 4

It seems that nowadays there's no ettiquette period. Buffets are annoying because some people turn into animals over food. I've seen some pretty gross things, too. One guy had his plate piled high with just meat, went to his table, came back and piled a plate full of onions. Another time, when I was living in a small town, a guy who was a little slow upstairs ate so much that he puked, but he still wanted to go back up for more.

More annoying than anything else is those people who bring their Tupperware in and load up. There should be a law.

Answer 5

Certainly not what these uncouth jerks were doing. You should have complained to the management and frankly, I would have said something to the rude couple who did this. The management is also at fault for not filling the pans often enough. Why don't you write them a letter or call them? I would find another restaurant to go to. Many oriental restaurants have buffets. Try another one.

Answer 6

I was in an Atlantic City buffet once and I seen a family of 5 that at first I thought they were bringing out the trays to stock the bar. No,,they all set at a table and started eating,,I mean the one kid could not even see over his pile.
Now I don't like crab legs but I thought then that they were rude.
The more foreigners we get the more our beliefs will change.
sad really

Answer 7

I think etiquette is always treat others as you would like to be treated, so you really don't have much recourse unless you want to act like a pig too, or cause a scene. Maybe you should just go to a restaurant where you order your entree. It might cost more, might not, but at least you'd get what you ordered without having to fight for it...

Answer 8

Your lucky you still had hands.....some people will reach for those too.

As far as I know it's an all you can eat and there are no rules on how much you can put on your plate. Those of us who are civilized will remember that rule we were taught in Kindergarten or first grade and share though.

Next time......slap their hands so yo can get some first! lol

Answer 9

Buffet - everyman (or woman/other animal) for them selves.

I hate them. I find it much better to order your food then at least you know your going to get something!

Answer 10

I agree 100% with the first guy that answered. I would have said something though.