Buffet Problems
 

Loved all the positive responses about great Vegas buffets, and found bad reviews intriguing. Would anyone care to elaborate on what makes a buffet bad? I would like to know what to avoid and where, such as limited food selection, bad food (please specify!), poorly organized food stations and lines, etc. Thank you!

Bad buffet: <BR>poor to mediocre quality food (think little pools of grease all over everything, bland flavor, etc) <BR>messy serving stations <BR>messy eating areas <BR>loud, bus station ambience <BR>stomach ache within 1 hour of leaving <BR> <BR> <BR>Truly, you get what you pay for. <BR>But for foodies, you'll have a hard time with ANY buffet in LV IMO. <BR>Even the Bellagio's buffet is crowded, cafeteria style serving and eating areas, good but not great quality prepared foods (hard to ruin crab/lobster etc), I was disappointed by the quality of the desserts, too. <BR> <BR>If you want good food in LV go to a decent restaurant. There are dozens upon dozens. <BR>If you want to overeat and pack in as much food per dollar spent as you can, don't expect top quality food. I believe the management people who oversee the buffets know that even relatively picky buffet regulars are after volume first and quality second. <BR>And I believe that's exactly what they provide: volume before quality.

I'll tell you what makes a buffet bad and that's lots of small children running around and squeezing in front of you so they can get what they want. I do not understand why parents let their children go to the buffet lines alone. It is difficult for little ones to manuever a plate and a serving utensil. I witnessed one little girl remove bacon -with her hands- from her sister's plate and return it to the bacon tray informing her sister that she had gotten too much. I agree that Bellagio's buffet could use some improvement, starting with the decor. For such a nice hotel, the buffet's variety is small. The service could use some improvement too. One buffet that I would suggest you try is The Village Buffet located in the Paris hotel. The layout is nice, the food is seasoned, and the service was great. You will see more kids at breakfast than you will at dinner.

don't questions about all you can eat buffets in LV belong in one of the "fat american" threads?

Holly: <BR>You must be one of those stick people whose motto is "I eat to live." So, munch on your trail mix and buzz off. Buffet dining does not necessarily equate to fat people.

The MGM buffet is so disappointing. The food was like an old style cafeteria in a nursing home. Greasy food with no flavor. Powdered mashed potatos and undercooked chicken.

to NotFat: <BR> <BR>Relax - it was a joke. i've never had trail mix. and i love to eat - i just don't "live to eat". :)

Sorry NotFat, but buffets are for gluttons who wouldn't know good food if they tasted it. I live to eat also, but I prefer quality, not quantity and yes this thread does belong in the Fat Americans category! <BR> <BR>Call me crazy but I like to sit down and be served off a menu if I am going out to dinner. IMO all buffets are bad. Who would want to get in line and load up their plates with food left to sit on a warming table that has been picked over by other people?? What a repulsive idea. I guess I just don't get the attraction.

Gluttonluv: <BR>Obviously you have never eaten at the Four Seasons brunch buffet.

Oh say it isn't so! While I have eaten breakfast at the Four Seasons in Nevis and Atlanta, you're right, I've never eaten at their buffet. Which of their properties has a buffet?

Well, LT, let me break it to you gently: the part of the buffet you may wish to avoid, except aboard a very first class ship, is the buffet itself. I know, I know ... this will strike some as elitist ... and yes, I'm certain a case could be made. But buffet to me spells trouble on a lot of fronts, not the least of which is your own. For buffet is bulking up ... except for the very picky eater a veritable training table, mass produced. Buffet in Vegas ... the image gives me an unsettled feeling. How can you be sure how food on this scale is handled? And left out there, open to every ailment that happens to flit or crawl by, airborne or other. If you want to remain buff and feeling A, put it together and avoid it. Menu please ... and seat me facing away, puleeze! Ciao, L

Gluttonsluv: <BR>Oh how true. At home I have a French chef. I insist that the servants bring everything promptly to the table hot and fresh. I would never eat with those awful people. Sometimes they have a buffet at the club, but that's different.

There's a more troubling image than Vegas buffet, and that's buffet at the club, by the pool. Ah, what a life you. Ciao

You're not kidding Leone, I'm with you all the way on this one. If there is one word that I read in connection with a restaurant that will send me running in the opposite direction it's "Buffet".

Let Them, <BR>We don't use the term "servants" anymore. The politically correct term for people employed to assist you in the household would be "help".

I'm with curious and Leone. Got to have that table service with food prepared just for me. If a restaurant says so much as salad bar I'll skip it. Seen too many adults and kids touch the food. Don't know where those hands have been.

Isn't "buffet" a euphemism for "Lots of fat people wearing their very best spandex while loading up their plates and trying to stuff as much food into their mouths as possible for the least amount of money"?

Suzie and the rest of them: <BR>you don't think your food isn't touched by the people who prepare them? you think the cook who made your meal wears gloves back there in the kitchen? Get off your high horse and face reality, sister. If youre gonna eat out, buffet or no buffet, youre gonna risk the fact that anyone could be touching your food. Even the white tablecloth restaurant where they serve champagne with a fine linen. In the back, they serve filet mignon with a booger. <BR>Bon Apetit <BR>

Gluttonsluv: <BR>Thank you for the correction. I must confess that I have trouble with this political correctness thing. Why not call them servants. Isn't that what they are? <BR>Gluttonsluv, I can see by your knowledge that you are one of us. May I recommend that when you go to Las Vegas you get one of those nice suites they save for us. You can get one that comes with a butler who will make all of your food arrangements for you. It makes for a much more tolerable experience. The thought of having to eat at a buffet just makes my skin crawl. <BR>

Let Them, I wouldn't go to Las Vegas If Julia Child herself accompanied me. Not our kind of place, you know.

I suppose it's the brown-edged lettuce. Or the manager who appears periodically and moves the food about, possibly just brightening it up. Maybe if he took off his key chain and donned a hair net. I have a theory about the folks for whom buffet resonates ... possibly they never went to camp, or hovered over a steamtable in HS. I know some might be willing to convert ... but first they'd have to do away with the tiny spoons and plastic hoods, all designed to prevent your having the more desireable items. Really, get them off, and I promise I won't overload on those hot green chillie pickels. Well, I suppose I might as well get on the horn and cancel tonight's reservation at Bob's. I'm quite out of the mood now, for sure. Ciao

Me, <BR>I think we all realize the perils of eating food prepared outside of the home. Sue me if I want to sit down and be served with a plate of good food when I dine out rather than waiting on line to pick out my meal from the carbohydrate heavy choices served at most buffets. I don't go out to eat just to fill my stomach. I appreciate good service, conversation, ambience and of course great food. I think those things are a little difficult to achieve at a standard buffet. By all means go to them if you like them, they just aren't for everyone.

Gluttonsluv: <BR>I really think it's best to stick with French food. But stay away from Paul Prudhoume's(?) restaurants. He's so fat he has sit down when cooking. Sadly, Julia doen't cook anymore. She just drinks the wine while she watches others do the cooking. I used to like some American food. But look what happened to James Beard. <BR>I find Las Vegas rather garish and plebian too. You and I have much in common. But, my husband... He just has to do his James Bond gambling thing and insists I go along. I just have to suffer through it and make the best I can. Do you really think Four Seasons is up to par?

Listen up everybody. Please stay away from those Las Vegas buffets. Take this threads sdvise. <BR>Maybe next time I go, there will be no lines and I can guttonously stuff my 140lb male body.

Hey ME, I'm awake but I'm sure not related to you. I'm not silly enough to believe that nobody touches my food, but by ordering from a waiter and having a meal prepared to my liking I sure limit the number of times my food is touched. Can't imagine waiting in line with plate in hand or worse yet a tray to load up on food that's been out. eeuuwww. I understand that there are those who like this manner of obtaining a meal but the question was "buffet problems". Well, food sitting out, mass produced and being touched by others is a buffet problem. It's not necessary for all of us to like buffets. You can still go.

Suzie and company: <BR>I never said I was for or against buffets, it's a matter of opinion and budget, etc. I was commenting on the notion that buffets have more people touching your food than a regular restaurant. I'm on the fence regarding buffets. I've been to some that were great and some that weren't

The original poster was asking about Las Vegas buffets. All of the comments and problems apply to some buffets. Like your local Sizzler. But I have not seen this(old lettuce,germy people putting things back etc.) at decent Las Vegas buffets. Las Vegas is known to have some of the best buffets in the world. It seems a shame not to try a good one and decide for youself.

Gluttensluv: <BR>To answer your much earlier post, the Four Seasons in Chicago has brunch buffet - mmm mmm good!

Let Them, re: The Four seasons; not since they instituted the buffets!!! I just hate serving myself, don't you?

Gluttonsluv: <BR>I'm sorry for the delay. I had to go to my charity tea. Such a nuisance. But the crumpets were good. <BR>Oh, yes I do agree. Can you imagine? <BR>Now I must get dressed for the recital. People just don't realize how much work it is.

L.T. The buffet breakfast at the Paris was lovely. The atmosphere was actually quiet, if you can believe that. As for being served, coffee, tea, and juice are all delivered to the table. Nothing seemed to be just 'sitting out being handled'. Every station had a server behind it keeping an eye on things, and the food turned over so fast, it was barely in the serving dish more than a few minutes. If it still bothers you, they prepared omelettes and crepes to order, and you could stand and watch them make it for you. Not overloaded on carbs, there were plenty of egg dishes, as well as smoked fishes, seafood salads, fruit, yogurt & cheese. I would go back in a minute. We like the buffet for breakfast since we usually go on the late side, and then skip lunch. Dinner is another matter, we prefer to be waited on. There are many 'right' choices you can make on the buffets, no need to feel too guilty afterward.

LOVE this thread (ignoring the ridiculous commentary by the society wannabes). <BR>I'm so thrilled to see a few people rail against Las Vegas buffets. <BR>YUUUCCCHHH!!! <BR> <BR>Please tell me why any human with less than 50 pounds of muscle needs to eat a 3000 calorie meal? Just DISGUSTS me! <BR> <BR>USA is inhabited by some of the FATTEST, most slovenly human bodies on this Earth. <BR>Seeing people slobbering up to those buffets reminds me of the rat lab experiments.....rats pressing the bar for food over and over and over. <BR>Fat, unhealthy people lining up for more cream sauce, dressing, gravy, followed by 5 kinds of dessert. <BR>Bleechh! <BR> <BR>(Why doesn't some ingenious infomercial marketer hang out outside and sell diet herbs and abdominizers and such?) <BR> <BR>

Wow! I never knew there were so many sanctimonious snobs out there! And since when does buffet dining equate gluttony? I happen to enjoy the convenience and variety of buffet restaurants, and at 6'1" 159 lbs. I'd hardly consider myself the fat slob some of you have described as the typical buffet diner. Like most people, I like to sample a little of everything without gorging myself till I have to be rolled out. Really, we buffet fans are not the uncouth barbarians you characterize us to be. And even if we were, I say live and let live. Enjoy!

I have to laugh at all of you! I agree that buffets can attract boogery, undersupervised children, but to classify everyone who has eaten at a buffet as a glutton is a bit harsh. You pseudo-European folks need to take a look in the back of the kitchen once in a while. I have been all over the world and seen some beautiful, seemingly clean restaurants, only to nearly toss my dinner when I saw the back of the kitchen. Unless you can guarantee that all the kitchen *help* carries a sanitation certificate, you are taking your life in your own hands everytime you eat out. Cross contamination is the #1 cause of food borne illness ALL OVER THE WORLD. <BR> <BR>As for buffets with children, I will not allow my children to return for food unless an adult accompanies them. I do this for their safety and yours. <BR> <BR>OK, enough with the name calling ladies and gentleman. You pseudo-Europeans may eat quiche and we buffet trollers will wallow in our greasy potatoes and cold, rubbery roast beef all night long. I'll see you all at the drugstore buying Immodium!

As someone who has worked in a restaurant, let me tell you that being served is just as nasty as a buffet. <BR> <BR>Even in the best restaurants, the chef prepares the food and then places it at the "pickup" station. Your dinner sits there until your waitperson has time to pick it up and serve it. Obviously other waitpeople have to lean over your dinner to reach theirs. I've also worked in restaurants where it was encouraged to let the food cool off a little because the owner didn't want a lawsuit if anyone burned their mouth. I won't even get into some of the nasty things I've seen waitpeople do while polishing the utensils.

Oh, for crying out loud! The FatBashers never miss an opportunity. It seems to be an almighty obsession with these people to the point of sickness. Knock it off and go away. We got your point long ago, move on to something else. <BR> <BR>About buffets: There are all kinds of aesthetic problems with them, in that very few foods benefit from sitting out for long periods, and the only foods appropriate for that aren't all that wonderful to begin with. Fresh things get tired (sure sign of a terrible buffet is droopy salad greens). Hot things get soupy or mushy or dried out. Bread gets stale, desserts deteriorate, etc. <BR> <BR>However, buffets are just about the best possible breeding situation for all kinds of really yucky bugs. Anything unsavory in the food itself can multiply very quickly over a steam table or out at room temperature. Anything on servers' or guests' hands can spread from serving tongs to serving spoons to the food itself if someone uses their hands. The "sneeze guard" may itself develop an invisible film of godknowswhat. <BR> <BR>What I might trust on a buffet: anything cooked or sliced to order by a live server -- like pancakes or a ham. <BR> <BR>What I will particularly avoid: anything with a cream or mayonnaise-type sauce, esp. chicken or seafood salads. <BR> <BR>Breakfast buffets are little less dicey than dinner buffets, but in general the cheaper the buffet, the more you have to worry about. And the more expensive the buffet, the more you are grossly overpaying for the food.