Do Buffets scare y'all?

[awhite35]

I've never really thought about it before but today when I was putting cheese on my food in the dining hall, I started thinking about how sanitary it was. I dug down into the cheese to get it out so I felt like it hadn't been touched by the tongs as much. But still. I'm quite scared as wary now. Do y'all ever feel this way about food that everyone touches with tongs and such?

[ewilkins]

Quite honestly I've eaten at many buffets and never gotten sick however, they really aren't the most sanitary. My mother went through chemotherapy several years ago and was instructed by her doc to NOT eat at buffets due to her compromised immune system. I mean, the tongs aren't the only issue. The food sits out for who knows how long, people sneeze and cough in the area, etc. Personally they've never really freaked me out too much because I have eaten at them and sometimes I still do but I tend to only do so when other options are slim.

[hairyfairy]

Buffets, no thanks!

[wendyt3570]

Oh God! I have not been to a buffet in probably 15 years! The thought of dirty fingers, people sneezing and coughing, things being warm too long.... Can't force myself to even try to eat at one!

[AoD]

Well, some of them do. But not all. I would never, EVER, eat at a salad bar. And I avoid huge buffets. But I will go to one indian buffet that I know well, it's small and clean and the food is kept warm enough to kill viruses. So I'm not too worried about that one. But in general I avoid them and I avoid any food that might cause food poisoning like pasta salads, seafood, etc.

[gumdropper1]

I'm trying to lose weight, so I avoid buffets, but I've never had a bad experience emet wise eating at one. And there was a time when I would go cuckoo for Cocoa Puffs at a buffet. Doug

[AoD]

Was it a buffet that had cocoa puffs on it? A breakfast buffet. hahahahahahhahahha Sorry could not resist.

Oh my God, I had totally forgotten about breakfast buffets! Those are awesome. Unlimited bacon, sausages, biscuits, scrambled eggs... *drool*

[cheymcg]

I usually try to avoid buffets. I would never go to buffets like the golden corral or old country buffet. Recently though I was with some family at the casino in our area and we ate the buffet. It was expensive at 25 dollars per person. I ate foods I was comfortable with but it was really yummy and seemed pretty nice to me. Normally though I say NO BUFFETS haha

[gumdropper1]

^ But watch out for restaurants at Indian casinos, which are not subject to inspection by the regular food inspectors.

[cheymcg]

The one we have isnt on a reservation. I live in Spokane WA. Not sure about the inspections at the casino but it seemed nice. They did serve crab legs and lots of sea food.

[jennjt]

No buffets for me... It's more of a psychological thing, though, I think-- my emet got really bad again a little over a year ago; one of my first bad panic attacks that happened "this go around" was after eating at a salad bar. My stomach really can't handle salads and green veggies (IBS), but I love them, so I tried it anyway. Didn't go too well. Food triggered IBS, which triggered terrible panic attack

[Erica1649]

I actually enjoy a buffet every now and then. But only if I know the place looks clean.

[RosieRoo]

I don't typically buffet because I can't eat my moneys' worth in food. Last time I was at a buffet it was probably two or three years ago, never got sick from one, neither have my family members. My Dad isn't a big fan of it because he doesn't like food that sits out under heat lamps all day. The one thing close to a buffet that I use all the time is the food bar in Wegmans (kinda fancy grocery store in the NY/PA area). They make some of the most delicious stuff, never gotten me sick, it's always kept hot or cold depending on the kind of food and there's a real fast turnaround, food is being scooped out faster than it can get filled up most days, so it hasn't sat there long either. Other than the to-go foods at Wegmans, no buffets here that I ever go to. Except an occasional brunch thing for Mothers' day, which is KILL YOU filling and so delicious.

[asianeko]

I do buffets all the time! Pizza Hut's lunch buffet is a staple, it's less than $15 for my bf and I to eat, drink, and tip. I've never, ever, ever gotten sick from it

[jmoore10]

No, I dont like buffets. I had an unpleasant experience after eating at a Chinese food one.
My ex husband and I went to one with his parents for Mothers Day one year. It was my first Mothers Day and to say I had higher expectations was an understatement. My emet wasn't as bad then as it is now and I agreed to go cause didn't want to appear ungrateful. Anyhow, shortly after eating I felt super queasy, cold sweats, shaking, the whole nine yards. I never did v, but I felt like I was on the verge of it for several hours til it finally subsided.
I don't think it was fp per se-I think it was maybe the msg or some kind of seasoning that didn't agree with me cause I've had several issues with various Asian restaurants, including tepenyaki. It sucks cause I really love Asian food, but have to be super careful when I do eat it
Jennifer

[ruhligv]

I avoid buffets like the plague.

[joeylynn]

I avoid buffets like the plague.

DITTO -- just a take no chances kinda girl....Plus if anyone got sick besides myself I'd FREAK OUT....bad enough when it's me but a whole nother story when it's someone else in my house!!!

ICK!!! Not a fan of homestyle either - LOL

[ashley26]

I try to avoid buffets. It just really doesn't seem sanitary because you don't know how long they leave the food out there,especially salad bars and most people aren't very clean and don't care about others and will use their hands and cough and whatever else!

[Murder-my-soul]

Hate to say this, but there was a buffet at our Pizza Hut and that's where I picked up my sv*... I avoid them. But never had one from buffets the 13 years prior to that event.

I don't like eating out anywhere but buffets are just a big no no for me. It's not too sanitary.

[DeadxxInside92]

I love buffets. I love food. Buffets=copious plates of food to satiate my rhinoceros sized gullet. My mouth is watering now...thanks guys.

[livepink]

hate to say this, but I got sick TWICE from eating at Hometown Buffet, once when I was 5 and once when I was 7.. ughhhh shudder. It was the best news when I heard it closed down last month!