Asian buffet restaurants are kind of like IHOP as far as I'm concerned: you need to go there every few years to remind yourself of why you don't go there more often. The idea always sounds so good ... and the reality always disappoints.
We had a coupon for the new World Gourmet restaurant in town, so we went there after church on Sunday. (The link is to the one in California, but it looks like the same thing.) You can't say they don't have variety: I wouldn't go so far as to say world, but there was what I'd call standard American fare in addition to the Asian food. But as usual, the quality just wasn't there, nor can you expect it with all that quantity and variety.
Still, the selection was nice, the honey chicken was especially good, and—when I made a point to be the first one in line when the new batch came out—so were the French fries. Whenever I'm in a place like that, I think of a football-playing friend of Heather's in high school: he could really have done it all justice. Me? I took what I liked, and for once didn't eat too much. Someone has to make up for the football players.
I don't like to go to buffet places either. Partly because I can't believe the food is going to be as good and partly because it gives me the heebie jeebies. Somehow it doesn't strike me as sanitary as a restaurant where you are served.
The contradiction, though, is that I like going to restaurants that are regular restaurants, but that may have a buffet. It's a bit of a treat even. But a place that is strictly buffet turns me off.
Also, breakfast buffets are great!
Oh, yes. Alice & Bill used to take us to Shoney's breakfast buffet whenever we'd come to visit. What a treat!
I know what you mean about sanitation in such places. I alternated between liberal use of hand sanitizer and figuring it's probably good for the immune system to get a workout now and then. However, I suspect that in regular restaurants we just don't see the unsanitary practices. Watching an employee head right back to the kitchen after using the bathroom without stopping to wash her hands was what sold me on getting the hepatitis A vaccine.
