Just like at a normal restaurant where you order your food and don’t have to get up, buffet restaurants have proper etiquette too. Most people choose not to follow these unspoken rules, or don’t care, but here are eight things that buffet employees are tired of hearing and seeing.
1. “I take care of myself, why should I tip?”
True, at some buffets you may take care of yourself, but not all. Check into that before you say something because at other buffets the servers get your beverages, condiments, take your dirty plates, and make sure the plates and silverware is stocked at the bars for you. It’s a lot to handle, especially when they’re busy. Not to mention they are earning servers wage of $4.10 an hour just like any other restaurant. You know how you rely on your paychecks to pay for everything in life? Servers rely on their tips.
2. Don’t let your kids travel to the food bars alone.
This is usually how messes happen. Kids tend to spill their plates, not make the food to the plate but rather the floor, and get foods mixed in with other foods. They are also more likely to not use tongs or spoons, but rather their hands; more likely to sneeze or cough, and more likely to lick their fingers before touching. Don’t get me wrong though, some adults do this too. A lot of buffets have signs up saying things like “children 10 and under should be accompanied to all bars”, follow these rules.
3. Don’t snap, whistle, or raise your hand like a school child to get your server's attention.
Servers are called servers and not servants for a reason. We’re past the days of ownership! They’re also not your pet dog that you want to fetch the remote for you...or the ketchup. Doing any of these things to get their attention is just plain disrespectful. If you see that they’re clearly busy with something else then gain some patience and wait. If it’s so urgent, walk up to them or nicely say their name as they pass by.
4. “A million dollars.”
Server: “Is there anything else I can get for you at the moment?”
Customer: “A million dollars.”
Trust me, we’ve heard this a million dollars and that laugh toward it was fake. Wouldn’t we all like a million dollars? Would server's be servers if they had a million dollars?
5. Don’t stack your plate a mile high with food.
You know that saying about your eyes being bigger than your stomach? It is so easy to waste food at a buffet. It is better to get what you know you will eat little by little to minimize the amount of food you throw away. Parents, stop filling your kids plates with pounds of macaroni and cheese and spaghetti, you know they won’t eat it.
6. Don’t expect your server to come to your table every two minutes.
With eating little by little in mind, don’t expect the server to come every 2 minutes to clear the five plates you produced in that time. They have other tables and jobs too.
7. Don’t get snappy with the cashier for following policy for coupons.
Most coupons cannot get used with a senior meal, cannot be used together or more than once on the same bill, and cannot be used on holidays. Don’t get mad and ask to speak to a manager when it’s all said on the coupon itself. The manager will do nothing for you then.
8. “I could eat at (insert restaurant name) for that price.”
True, but is that other restaurant all-you-can-eat? You will get one plate of food, maybe with a soup or small salad, for the same price. That doesn’t even include the dessert or beverage.
