Friday, February 24, 2012

Do Low Priced Buffets Mean Poor Quality?

We have had several commenters lately insist that if the meal does not cost over $20 -$25 per person, the food is of poor quality AND it has been stated 0r implied that if you eat there you will get sick. So I decided that I would set aside other articles that I have in the works, and write an article about buffets, quality, and risk.

If you use price as a determination of quality and a factor in risk of getting sick eating at a restaurant, then do not eat at most of the buffets that you will find reviewed on this site. About 95% of the buffets that I review on this site are priced at under $20. The range in prices of buffets on this site for the most part cost between $10.99 and $17.99 with most closer to the $10.99 price. There are a number of very good buffets that I have been to and written about that were even lower in price - as low as $4.99. Of course, I do go to and review buffets that cost more than this range in price - but it is rare and for us and many of our readers, we cannot afford to dine at restaurants with a meal price of over $20 on any regular basis. For us, these are reserved for special occasions or when traveling to try a buffet that looks promising and will be a something special to include in the vacation. No, if it is not in the lower price range of $11 to $18 (with the $18 almost as rare) we are not going regularly - and we (my wife and I) eat at buffets often more than once a week. That stated, I have very rarely gotten sick at any of these buffets. When I have, I have shared that with the readers here. I also have learned what will trigger indigestion, and for me that is overly spicy foods and I avoid those foods in my selections from a buffet.

I have had food poisoning several times in my life - and these instances were not from buffets that were lower priced. In fact, the two worse cases that I had were after eating at very expensive menu restaurants. And while I have felt ill after a couple of buffet meals over the years, my wife has been there dining with me and she has not gotten sick. So, it was something that I choose and she did not, something that did not agree with me, but did agree with her, or it was just my luck to get that one bad piece of whatever in the serving tray. None of these instances required that I seek medical attention and all were over within several to 24 hours. No, it is not by any means a pleasant experience, but I would not blame the quality of the food based upon the price.

Many of my readers tell me that they are looking for a good place - a buffet - to take a family to that they can afford. When I have reviewed or reported on buffets with high prices, comments and emails often come that the price is way beyond what they could go to. And I completely understand that. Many eat at fast food restaurants because that is what they can afford and do so every day. The chain buffets are often an extension of the idea of a fast food restaurant and provide families with meals at affordable prices. Without the low price buffet, a sit down meal at a restaurant for some would happen on only rare and special occasions. And they go and enjoy themselves, without any feeling of illness following. A family of four at $25 a person makes dining out an impossibility other than for only the rarest of occasions.

Some may equate price with quality. Some will pay three times for what something is worth because the name on the label is one that they have been told is a sign of quality and distinction. It is not really a surprise to me that people will say "I would never eat at a buffet because the food is not of good quality!" These are the same type of people who would say, "I would never eat at a restaurant that was not in Zaggets." These are also some of the same type of people who say. "I would never eat in a buffet because of the type of people that you find eating there." Oh yes, I have heard that one more than once.

Am I saying that the food purchased by buffets is always top quality - of course not. But the food purchased by reputable buffets is food that is perfectly fine, edible, and enjoyable. There are excellent restaurant buffets that are not chains that many enjoy that I have reviewed on this site that also have menu options - and those restaurants are well respected in their communities - and no price on the menu for a full meal is even near $20. Locals and visitors eat at these restaurants every day - come back often - and don't get sick.

Restaurants where I am located are, in general, very high priced. They are over-priced. Some are proud of it. They run ads in the newspaper - "Three Course Lunch $25.99!" Surveys have shown that restaurants here are the highest priced in the nation - some even higher than New York City - and the prices there are ridiculous. Serving portions are also small. Is the quality any better at these restaurants because they put a high price tag on their so-called "ambiance" and their location? No, these restaurants want a certain clientele and they price accordingly - and that clientele is likely not the same people who are going to be happy going to even the best buffet.

So I will continue to recommend buffets at all price ranges, tell you the good and the bad, and warn about anything that needs to be warned about. I will always look for value - and let you know when the price is high, if you are getting value for that price. Money today is hard earned and for many, every dollar spent must be spent on value. And even people with limited means, want to go out to eat. I will help them do that - along with everyone - else by helping you all find where to go for a good buffet meal.

13 comments:

ML said...

excellent, you hit everything on the head

Bill W. said...

I have read every post in the IKEA article and this one. I read this blog regularly, and all the posts, and enjoy it immensely. I spent over 40 years working for several national chain restaurants in various capacities. I was even a "mystery shopper" -- I dined in them, paid the bill, and took notes for home office managment. I have also been in back-of-house management and managed several large kitchen and prep operations. The only thing that I will say about all of this is that there are two issues: "getting sick" at a restaurant, and "poor quality." They are very different. I agree with the writer of this blog that you will 'probably' seldom get sick at many AYCE's, buffets, or even fast food restaurants these days. The local health depts. can be thanked for that to some extent. However, 'quality' is being cut, in both menu and buffet restaurants, due to high food prices (just like we all see in the grocery stores). The readers who wrote in about the under-$20 buffets are half right. They are wrong if they say you will get 'sick' -- you probably won't. Food handling, sanitary practices and temperature control are generally decent these days. However, they are correct on the quality issue. The lower-priced buffets/AYCE's are using lower-quality meats and fillers, etc. and sometimes injecting oils, sweeteners, sucrosimines, etc. into meats to make lesser quality meat more flavorful. Their foods also tend to have more hormonals. I just wanted to give you all a 'reality check' on this--you probably will not get sick at a lower-priced buffet (although it can happen). Just be aware that generally, the quality of what you are eating will be lower. It's just economics.

Bill W. said...

I forgot to mention, that the lower-priced buffets, AYCE's (and menu restaurants) will tend to use much more salt. Salt is used in the restaurant business as a very cheap way to improve flavor. So besides sugar, hormones, etc., you may want to keep in mind that your meal will 'tend' to have more sodium in an under-$20 AYCE restaurant. Will that get you sick? Of course not. But we all should be informed and aware of these kinds of issues and what is in our food.

Writer said...

In regard to salt - this is true and when there is too much salt used I always let you know, but I have been to buffets priced at almost $30 per person where way too much salt was used in preparation.

As to quality - there is no denying that you are not getting the finest cuts of meats and the best produce at SOME buffets - with a low meal cost. If we look at chain buffets, for the most part this holds true. However, there are buffets in farming areas where the produce is very fresh and the quality of the food is as good as most restaurants in the area. Price is also relative to location. Take a $14 buffet meal in Lancaster, PA and bring that restaurant to metro NY and the price for exactly the same food, same quality, same everything, will be twice or three times that $14.00.

Janet said...

I agree with Writer 100%. The Pennsylvania buffets are top quality. It's the national chains under $20 that are not. You will get great quantity there with the nationals, but not quality. As long as you are aware of that. I am on a low-sodium low-sugar regimen (dr.'s orders) so I have to be careful.

One other point. I do agree with Bill W. on this one. When I lived in California, I worked in restaurants for over 14 years. The cheaper restaurants used a TON of salt and white sugar. It was of course ridiculousy cheap to do so and both enhanced the flavors of lower-quality cuts of meat, poultry, fish, sauces, gravies, etc. This was in local and chain buffets, AYCE's, menu restaurants, ethnic, American, etc. They all did that. The higher-end places that I worked at tended to keep the salt and sugar down (not all, but most). Just my experience.

Ann said...

The idea in many higher-end restaurants is that they want the customers to be able to taste the various flavors and nuances of the food, so they don't want salt, sugar, MSG, etc. to interfere with that. The lower-end is a different story, and the two readers are correct in most of what they say. MSG is another very common ingredient presently at the low end. I also tend to agree that you probably won't get sick at the lower-priced AYCE's. But you will almost definitely ingest more oils, salts and sugars. By the way, I have been teaching culinary students for 23 yrs. here in southern California and we enjoy your blog.

RemixedCat said...

There is a local omelette place around here that everyone seems to love that serves meh food at high prices. they have no reason to be that expensive. there is no atmosphere and it's often dubbed as an overprices waffle house knockoff. there is nothing on the menu lower then 6 bucks. if you want something else but a burger prepare to pay around 12 bucks or more for one small item and fries.

same with this local place called "the pizza place" they charge 20 bucks on average and an average pizza. that's just a basic pep-n-cheese, nothing specialty. if you want a specialty pizza prepare to pay about 30 bucks. again, no atmosphere to pay for, it's a average looking place that isn't fancy, and people even say the staff is rude so you're not paying for great service either.

so just becuase it's expensive doesn't mean it's good.

Poms said...

Re: the last comment, just because it's expensive doesn't mean that it's good, however, if it's REALLY CHEAP it probably isn't great quality. No one is giving anything away these days, small independents or big national chains. This especially applies to AYCE's and buffets in major east and west coast metro areas. I have seen some very reasonable, good quality buffets in more rural or non-coastal areas. They may be the exception. But $9-$15 AYCE's on the east coast, for example, usually aren't the best quality except for Amish.

Writer said...

With all of this concern about "quality", I am guessing that none of you eat at McDonald's, Burger King, Wendy's, Red Lobster, Fridays, Outback, Applebees, Olive Garden, and the rest of the chains. These are where 95% of America eats. Add to these OCB and its various incarnations and Golden Corral, and other low priced buffets. No one forces anyone to go to any of these. Many do. Some don't. Many can't afford anything else and are perfectly happy with their opportunity to dine out - and as has been clearly discussed and stated in the comments - they don't get sick! There are also a lot of seniors who don't cook for themselves and go to inexpensive buffets because it gives them an opportunity to be around people and have a variety of foods that they would not get at home. Some do this every day. For those of you as concerned about quality as you seem to be, only eat at home or eat at very expensive restaurants where maybe you are getting the quality that you believe your money is buying you. Enough said...

Jean said...

We are 2 seniors on a very fixed budget. We like to eat out, but we are concerned about what we eat. We avoid fast food or what seems to be low-quality restaurants. What we do is we eat out half the time, but spend twice as much. This way, we get to dine out but at a moderate (not high) price level. Seems to work for us. We could eat out more often, but we would have to sacrifice quality.

Anonymous said...

It is so humorous talking food quality and comparing buffets to sit down restaurants.

I can tell you for a fact that Golden Corral uses real Idaho Potatoes for their mashed potatoes. No.1 sweet potatoes for their sweet potato casserole (yes they are scratch made too). Their baby backs are the same you will find in Chili's, Logan's Roadhouse, Cheddar's and Walt Disney World. They don't buy frozen steaks like Applebee's, and they grind their beef for burgers, meatloaf and salisbury steaks from fresh never frozen USDA choice chuck everyday in every store.

Unfortunately there are food snobs out there that are too good to dine with people who consider $10-$11 for dinner a treat and not slumming.

Writer said...

Thank you for the info about Golden Corral!

Well said!

Scharles said...

very true about the frozen food at Applebee's. I worked there and can attest to that. Blocks of ice, most of it.