Buffet Survival Strategy...

There are some great roadfood buffets scatered around the country that have been mentioned on this site. This is not about those. Well, there are some tricks to making the most of those also. This thread is more about the other buffets, the ones you would not consider roadfood. But hey, if you know of a great roadfood buffet, why not tell us about it.

When you find yourself at a not so great buffet, try using the tricks below.

Survival stratagy, all you can eat baby;

1. Wash your hands, with soap and hot water, when you get there. Lots of germs, mostly flu and cold, were on the front door handle. Since you will probably be eating something with your hands. It's a good idea after entering any restarant.

2. If you like salad and soup stuff you can start at the salad bar. Get only a bite sized portion of all the chicken salad looking things. One of them might be good? Try the soup, but once again, only a tiny portions. Get more of the soups you liked, if any. You can save your plate, or bowl, of things you liked. Next it's off for the greenary. Same thing, small amounts. If there was something you liked, get some more.

3. Use the "tiny portion" strategy for the rest of the buffet. Hey, it's good exercise! Be adventurious, try some stuff you may have never had before. You might like it? If not, just leave it on the plate. It was just a small taster portion, get rid of it! Find something you liked? Go back for more.

4. You saved room for desert, didn't you? There could be something good there?

5. Tip your server if they did good. Maybe even something even if they didn't, but that is on a different thread.

6. Wash your hands again before you leave.

7. Take a long walk before your nap!

I can find something I like, using the above methods, at any buffet I have ever tried. Good luck and happy eating!

Oh, did I forget anything???
Joe

You forgot no.8 !

Move in line from left to right !

Phil, isn't that tha soup guys rule? On, no, his rule is move to the left after you order. I just pop in and out everywhere at the buffets. I try to go during the off times if I can. Then that's not problem.

I was hoping to get some coments from the buffet bashers. Maybe yall are thinking about trying out my tricks first?

Also, comments about buffets that can be considered roadfood. I know there are some in Texas.
Joe

Buffet basher here, sir!

The eating was HOT & heavy at the local Golden Corral this past weekend!

FLASH! See below for typical customer eating patterns:



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m78Wf1B0NII&search=

Adj, I was hoping to hear from you on this thread. Did you know that pigs would be more popular as pets than dogs, except for one reason? The taste sooo good! Maybe I'll start a thread about that? Yep, that kinda looks like me at a good buffet!
Joe

I carry alcohol wipes in the glove box for sanatizing my hands, not like Im phobic but it is a smart practice. Other than that I pretty much agree with your tips, even though I havn't been to a buffett in awhile

LOL - My friends used to tell me not to waste my time on salads- salads were just unnecessary filler.

Salsa, did those same friends say not to eat chips and salsa when you go for Mexican food?
Joe

quote:

Originally posted by salsailsa

LOL - My friends used to tell me not to waste my time on salads- salads were just unnecessary filler.

Normally I agree with that, except at my favorite Mexican Sunday brunch spot.. they have 2 salads, one is a Mexican Caesar with cilantro dressing, the other is a Southwestern salad with an avocado dressing.. the things I try not to fill up on here are rice and beans, (which are good but plain.), and the desserts, which are strangely sub par considering that almost everything else is outstanding..

Jenn, sounds like you use trick of just trying small amounts of everything, till you find whats good. Both those salids sound great! You might as well give that place a plug.

Sometimes there are some real good salid things at buffets.
Joe

I agree, I love the salads on buffets- usually they're better than a lot of the hot dishes.

I dunno about their views on chips and salsa but I recall that was the only good part about dinner at Chi Chi's back in it's day.

Yep Salsa, a great salsa makes my Mexican food day! Lots of copycat recipes for Ci Ci's cause lotsa folks loved it. And yep, at many buffets the salad stuff is the best of what they have.
Joe

Despite my sobriquet, I'm not really a fan of the typical buffet, either. I call it bad food and plenty of it. And I can't remember the last time I found a Chinese buffet I was happy with. But then I think of a truly great place like The Blue Willow Inn in Social Circle, Ga. and that phrase all-you-can-eat buffet becomes magical again!

http://www.bluewillowinn.com/

Thanks Buster, neat roadfood buffet! I could eat there everyday! I bet that's a neat cookbook they sell. I wish there were more places like that around the country!

Anyone else know of some great roadfood buffets?
Joe

In Souix City Iowa there is one called Coyote Canyon that is pretty good. They have a different theme every night and the food is decent but the desserts are great. Most buffets I have been too have meediocre to outright nasty desserts but these are almost as good as mine.

They also have a Sunday breakfast buffet with a person working a grill so you can get eggs made to order and things like that.

I have been there like 3 times and would definitely go back.

PapaJoe8-
Your welcome! Even though it isn't quite in the same league as Blue Willow Inn, Welliver's in Indiana is quite good, too.

http://www.wellivers.com/

Was just doing a little research for an upcoming Indiana trip and I read that Welliver's in Hagerstown closed.  Even though they were a buffet, the food was well above average and you could finish your meal in true Hoosier style, with a scoop of peppermint ice cream.  Even though it isn't reviewed here on the site, it was in the last three Roadfood books.  What a shame! 

I like the Paula Deens buffet at The Horseshoe casino in Southern Indiana.

The Blue Willow is also having financial problems
 
http://www.ajc.com/business/blue-willow-inn-open-833983.html
 
 

I am with Uncle Groucho.. Since the Paula Deen organization took over the Buffet service at the "Horseshoe" Casino we have been there three times. Weekday and Weekend dinners. They were excellent. Not cheap compared to the middle-grade restaurants in the Louisville area, but great choices of good food for a fair price.
The Beef was fork-cutting tender and the Oysters were great also !
 

I have pretty much sworn off buffets. For starters the temptation is too great to eat too much. The food is generally blander than what you can get off the main sit down menu if both are offered. The food sits too long and generally is only fairly good when a fresh supply is delivered to the line. 
 
The buffet is hard to avoid on a cruise ship mainly for the convenience and choices but I never enjoyed them. I stopped at the Northern Lights Restaurant in Beaver Bay, MN last month and succumbed to their Sunday brunch buffet instead of ordering off their more interesting menu much to my regret after. Wanderingjew knows about that place.
 
I'll survive I hope in the future just swearing off buffets. That's now my strategy.

I am with Davydd on this.  I do not do buffet's.  It is not because of the crowds or the food.  It is just that I tend to overeat and afterwards, I feel totally miserable.  We have a few around Knoxville and the food was very good when I was there.  I just left miserable.  We have a very good Chinese one and a very good American one.  I just do not do that anymore.
 
Paul E. Smith
Knoxville, TN

mayor al


I am with Uncle Groucho.. Since the Paula Deen organization took over the Buffet service at the "Horseshoe" Casino we have been there three times. Weekday and Weekend dinners. They were excellent. Not cheap compared to the middle-grade restaurants in the Louisville area, but great choices of good food for a fair price.
The Beef was fork-cutting tender and the Oysters were great also !

Al, thats incredible looking!

mayor al


I am with Uncle Groucho.. Since the Paula Deen organization took over the Buffet service at the "Horseshoe" Casino we have been there three times. Weekday and Weekend dinners. They were excellent. Not cheap compared to the middle-grade restaurants in the Louisville area, but great choices of good food for a fair price.
The Beef was fork-cutting tender and the Oysters were great also !

Al, is that your table or the buffet line.........

Davydd


I have pretty much sworn off buffets. For starters the temptation is too great to eat too much. The food is generally blander than what you can get off the main sit down menu if both are offered. The food sits too long and generally is only fairly good when a fresh supply is delivered to the line. 

This sums it up - buffets are for the most part - bad.

My buffet survival strategy...? Avoid buffets at all cost...

I  agree.  I actually detest even the thought of having to go to a buffet.  I much prefer a small quality plate of food.