I have opened a take out all you can eat buffet restaurant. Will the idea be a success?

Question

I have different prices starting with people who come in with half ton pick-ups.

Answer 1

How much do you charge Jimmy Buffet when he shows up?

Answer 2

Most of the buffet restaurants I've eaten in offer take-out as a service. However, when your customers grab a take out box, make sure you charge them by the pound.

One buffet restaurant on Long Island (New York) has their take-out price breakdown like this.

1 to 2 pounds - $3.50
2 to 3 pounds - $4.00
3 to 4 pounds - $4.50

(well, something like that - use your own judgement and make sure you cover your food costs) ;)

Answer 3

It depends on location and the quality of food, but a buffet your going to be giving away a lot of food for cheap, it might be hard at first to make a profit. You should have a buffet between certain hours, like Chinese restaurants have with their lunch special menus. I wish you luck.

Answer 4

It can be a success. Charge by weight! That way people will get all they need, but not too much. Say, 4.99 per first pound, and so much for every ounce or whatever they go over. Just get some scales.

It cuts down of waste, and allows you to get accurate payment. If you don't do it that way, people are going to be paying for one meal, and then take it home to feed twelve.

Answer 5

No, people will steal food saying they can eat 5 plates of food then take it to share or eat for days. All you can eat needs to be only what one person can eat in an hour or two. Watch for thieves they will put fried chicken in a napkin in their purse.
Our local soup salad and pasta bar has take out but it is one clam shell not all you can eat.

Answer 6

I just had a thought-have you thought about prepared meals...instead of lettting your customers take what they want-price out your prepared meals-offer delivery at a min. charge. (in advance). Is your food homemade? Offering homemade prepared meals is the ticket-anyone can go to a buffet and get a meal to go-what people want is food from scratch!

Answer 7

So random. Too many variables to make a judgement of any sort. I guess a big factor though is how many other similar restaurants are nearby, and how large local demand is for that type of eatery.

Answer 8

It will be a success if everyone is hungry, and some of us will have to bring our cars instead of our half-ton trucks! Why don't I just bring a fork and a spoon for awhile and sit? :) Yum!

Answer 9

its scary that your resturant is already open and you are just now thinking if its going to be successful. you should have already asked that question before now. 4 out of 5 new businesses fail within the first year so if you make it past the first year you will be doing good.

Answer 10

You'd better have a pretty good price point on that -- a couple of 300-pounders could eat you out of house and home. I love small business, so I hope for your sake that it works.