How do buffets work?

Question

I've never been to one..
When you enter a restaurant you say 'table for '#' please", but what about buffets?
Are there tables, and waitresses?
Should I tip anybody?
Thanks

Answer 1

What happens in buffets is you usually enter, speak to someone in the front, they might ask how many, and you pay the set price. Once this happens, a waiter or waitress will show you the table, and ask you for drinks. After this, you go up, grab a plate, and fill your plate with food. Another variation might be that they might ask you how many, sit down, and pay for drinks and your meal after you are finished.

Answer 2

It may depend on where you live.

Mostly buffets have a fixed price that will be posted for your meal, but beverages will probably be extra. You can go up to the buffet as many times as you like - and don't have to eat everything on your plate if you don't like it. Just leave your plate on the table and the waiter will take it away. You just go back to the buffet as many times as you want, and get a fresh plate each time. The plates will be available probably at the end of each buffet table.

Where I live, you enter & say 'table for # please'. The hostess will take you to a table. She may give you some information. If not, usually your waitress will come over and ask you what beverages you would like. Once she has that order, you go to the buffet yourselves.

First, I like to check the buffet completely out to see what is offered. There will be different 'stations' - one for cold items like salads of all kinds and perhaps other items; one for hot items with your main course; and one with dessert items.

There may also be a different station with breads and some kinds of cakes/muffins. There may also be other stations for individually prepared items. Each restaurant is a little different.

Once you have chosen your first course, you return to your table and eat it. Then go back for your main course. Then go the 3rd time for dessert. Your waitress, meanwhile, will bring your beverages and will ask if you need a refill if yours is empty.

When you are all finished, the waitress will give you a bill for your dinner which you pay in the usual way.

You need to leave a tip - but not quite as much as for a regular restaurant where the waitress goes back and forth for you.

Answer 3

It depends on the buffet. There are always waiters, they give you drinks and take away plates when you're done.

You grab your plates at the buffet table and put what you like on it. Though some buffets work by letting you order off a menu and they will refill it as much as you like, but hose are more all-you-can-eat and less of a buffet.

As for tip, you tip according to service, as per usual.

Answer 4

Hi there, you go in, grab a plate, and get however much you want. Sometimes buffets will have those coke dispensers at the end of the buffets, and sometimes they will have waitresses bring you your drinks. Depends on how they are set up. Usually they have waitresses bring you your drinks though, and you can tip them a little amount if you feel like it. On my cruise in 2005, I usually ate buffet, though I was signed on at the nice meals, but since I had gastric bypass, I just felt guilty because I knew I wouldn't be able to eat all that food that they served to me, so I usually ate buffet so I could control what I ate. =) Worked out usually in my favor. Have fun!

Answer 5

You've never eaten at a buffet? You poor deprived child! :)

Seriously though, usually buffets work like any ordinary restaurant. You sit down and a waiter takes your drink order. Then you simply go and grab a plate and load it with whatever you want, and you can go back for more as much as you want. Usually the waiters just come by to bring you your drink or refills and ask if everything's ok, and you should tip them like at any other restaurant.

Answer 6

Usually when you go through the door you will get in line and
pick up your utensils and side step through the line till you get to
a person behind the counter who will ask you what you would like to drink. At that point if it is soft drink or tea They will give YOU your first serving, if it is coffee you will get it after you sit down. As you proceed down the line you will come to the cashier who will take your money for your buffet meal. You will then proceed to a area with numerous tables. If they are not packed You can seat Yourself, if they are packed they will locate a seat for you.You will leave your receipt on the table and a hostess will attend to your drink need if you had coffee,also for refills on cold drinks,You will then take your plate and go up to the buffet table and make your choices. Once you finished with what you had on your plate the hostess will give you another plate if you desire to eat more.After you are all done eating ,I would leave the hostess a tip that you feel She or He is worthy of.

Answer 7

If it is a restaurant with buffets only, then no need to tip, unless a hostess gave you your seat. Then you can give a small tip. There's no waiters or waitresses. You can go up and eat as much as you want. If it is a restaurant with both, you can give a small tip. There are still waiters and waitresses there, but they don't serve you because you go up and get it yourself.

Answer 8

I just glanced at some of the other answers and they are good except YOU DO TIP EVEN AT A BUFFET

In most buffets, there is a waiter/ress who brings you napkins,utensils, glasses for your drink if you get it yourself.
They also clean the table thru out the meal. They work just as hard as any other job where the "tip bucket" is out.

You just don't tip them that much...it's usually $1.00 per person

Answer 9

It will vary depending on which type you go to. Some operate just like sit down restaurants, and have a host/hostess and servers, others are cafeteria style where you serve yourself and take a tray. Whether you tip or how much depends on the service. If it is the type where there is a server who brings drinks and clears away plates etc. then you tip. General rule You pay for the food and you tip for the service. If you get your own drink, seat yourself and no one takes away your dishes, then it's self serve and no tip (no service).

Answer 10

usually someone will be ready to show you to your table. then they will ask you what you will be drinking. after that you just go to the food and grab a plate and start getting what you want. if you finish that plate, you may go back for more but get a new clean plate. most of the time there will be waitresses who will refill your drinks. thats who you tip. but if there is a soda fountain that you can get your own drinks, you will not need to tip.-matt