This post may contain affiliate links. Mommies with Cents receives free products for review purposes and may sometimes be compensated for posts but all opinions expressed are 100% my own. See Mommies With Cents disclosure policy for more details.
The Pros and Cons of Eating at a Buffet
Pro #1: Unlimited Food
Buffets are the perfect model for a restaurant: people can fully customize their meals while simultaneously serving themselves, thereby eliminating the need for waiting staff. Why settle for one large meal of single portions when you can have multiple plates of different items so you can try everything the restaurant has to offer? All-you-can-eat buffets are also good for those who have larger appetites and never feel full after an entrée at a regular restaurant.
Con #1: Unlimited Food
On the flip side, all-you-can-eat buffets have some negative consequences, such as encouraging overeating because you want to get your money’s worth rather than pay heed to nutritionists’ advice not to eat too much in one sitting. Having access to unlimited food also means that we’re taking in far more calories than we would during a regular meal and unless it’s just a salad bar, some of that stuff is definitely not good for us. Binge eating typically isn’t a good idea, but as long as you stop before you feel completely full, it shouldn’t be a problem.
Pro #2: More for Your Money
Buffets generally cost between $5-8 per person on the low end to $22-30 per person for higher end buffets (usually those include extras such as pricy meats, customizable omelets, and/or beverages including champagne in some instances). Instead of paying $12+ for a lunch or dinner entrée at a regular sit-down restaurant, you can get a lot more food for the amount you’re paying (though quality may vary).
Con #2: Smaller Appetites Beware
If you tend to fill up fast, then you may not get your money’s worth at a buffet. Kids are also difficult to predict since fussy eaters might not find much of what they like or finish what they have on their plates already (and some places charge extra for “excessive” food waste). To minimize your financial risk before hitting the buffet, check around for coupons in local publications or through SumoCoupon or better yet, find a daily deal for a buffet through Groupon or Living Social.
Pro #3: Fresh Food
Buffets are in a never-ending cycle of baking new goods, refilling the salad bar, whipping up new soups as quantities in the current pots dwindle, and putting out new trays of food. This means you’re usually eating fresh food – the more crowded the place is, the more often new food will come out – and you can decide how much of each item you want.
Con #3: Self-Serve
Let’s face it: you can’t blindly trust the people around you to maintain the same level of personal hygiene that you and your family do. At buffets, you might see people serving themselves without the proper serving utensils (When was the last time they washed their hands? you’ll wonder), small children putting their hands in germy places such as their mouths or noses then reaching over the counter to grab some food when their parents aren’t looking, and of course, there almost always seems to be that one guy or girl who sneezes into their hand then reaches for something you were just about to grab. These people aren’t professional waiters and waitresses; they’re here to eat and while most people are probably clean and courteous, the fact remains that self-serve buffets are likely much more germ-ridden than a regular restaurant where only the staff handle the food.