Comments on: Belly up to the buffet

By: Kurt

Kurt — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 05:29:41 +0000

When I moved to Nevada six years ago, I enjoyed going to the buffets here every so often and taking advantage of some of the great special deals at restaurants. Now that I am six years older, I find that my appetite has diminished and that I’m not able to clean the plate when I order those inexpensive specials or fill up at a buffet like I used to. But I still enjoy going to some of the buffets now and then. It’s nice to be able to try all sorts of foods that I’m not going to make myself, though these days I’m usually satisfied adopting a strategy more like the one Neo describes–a bit of this, a bit of that, but not too much of anything lest I leave feeling overstuffed–which I still do sometimes if I take too many desserts.

By: Ymarsakar

Ymarsakar — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 20:05:12 +0000

I do try to stuff myself to max capacity. Got to get the most protein and carbs for the buck, after all. People are starving in other parts of the world, and if I gave them a bad example using one’s own money, what would they do when somebody else started paying for their food?

Let’s not go there.

By: RickZ

RickZ — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 17:16:42 +0000

When I was a kid, Shakey’s Pizza had a lunch buffet. When my friends and I would go, they always lost money on us. Now, I cannot stand any type of buffet. For two reasons: 1) the sanitary aspect mentioned above (all those people and their germs), and 2) I prefer a fresh-cooked meal served in the right portion sizes as opposed to one size (pans) fits all. I also find buffets to be bland due to the one size fits all mentality.

By: Tom

Tom — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 15:11:51 +0000

All of this will be dealt with when pigging out is declared a crime against humanity and enforced by the Obonga/Emanuel anti-obesity police.

By: SAB

SAB — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 14:34:49 +0000

In the mid-atlantic region we have the fabulous K&W cafeterias. Home style food served by friendly folks. Just take your tray down the line and point to what you want. They are much more santitary than the hog trough buffets where everyone serves themself such as Ryan’s or Golden Corral. I am also very partial to our numerous local Chinese buffets, but then again I am always reminded of the scene in “Spirited Away” where the parents eat so much they turn into pigs.

By: I R A Darth Aggie

I R A Darth Aggie — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 14:21:05 +0000

You really can’t beat an all-you-can-eat South American style steakhouse.

By: br549

br549 — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 10:16:55 +0000

By the way, Piccadilly and Morrison’s always kept the food behind glass, where it is served up by employees. It can’t be picked over, touched, sneezed on, etc. That makes a huge difference. Most people would be shocked to realize just how few people in this world actually wash their hands after using the bathroom when they think no one notices. Perhaps I didn’t need to bring that up…………

By: mezzrow

mezzrow — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 10:14:12 +0000

br549 has pretty much summed up the state of the southern cafeteria. The days of the packed out Morrison’s or Piccadilly has passed, I think.

However, I am blessed in my own southern city to find wonderful sources for the food I grew up on. One is run by a local African-American megachurch (known as the “Soul Food Bistro” – wow is it good) and another is a private concern started with a little family money by a former debutante and culinary school grad that hit bottom with the bottle and put her life back together again. She uses her place to help herself and others getting back into life and out of drugs and booze, and it’s the best southern cooking in town. For more details on this place (see “Arden’s”) or anyplace else to eat in Jacksonville, look me up on chow.com under the Florida board. The chow is a personal interest of mine. 🙂

By: br549

br549 — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 09:58:38 +0000

Both aforementioned cafeterias are rare, as compared to days gone by, and the quality is not as consistent as before. One has to find the right one. The best and most consistent ones were at shopping malls. Sadly, what you have been told is, for the most part, true. It does taste like leftovers as opposed to just cooked, if not “held in stasis” properly or turned over fast enough.

Home cooking style food varies a great deal, depending on what part of the country the cook was raised. Does “Boston Market” really reflect home style cooking from the Boston area? My mother’s side of the family didn’t cook that way. I don’t know what side of the tracks is “best” for producing good home cooking in Boston, my mother’s side was from Jamaica Plain, settling there in the 1850’s or 70’s I believe.

By: Melissa

Melissa — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 04:12:35 +0000

If you’re ever in Lancaster County, PA, and you’re feeling up to a buffet, this is the buffet to end all others. http://www.shady-maple.com/smorgasbord.

They’re owned by Amish or Mennonites and aren’t open on Sunday, so plan your trip accordingly.