Table and Restaurant manners

We just love going to a buffet restaurant if the food is good of course.

The downside of visiting a busy buffet is that often kids are running around. I can’t tell how many times I barely managed to avoid a collision and spilling food on the floor. And it’s not just the kids displaying lack of caution; quite a few adults make surprising moves as well. Even turning around quickly may cause an embarrassing situation.

While this doesn’t really bother me, there is something that annoys me to no end. There are always some individuals who load up their plates to the max, like they think the place may be sold out any minute now. And after balancing the pile to the table they take a few bites and discover that they don’t really like it. The plate gets pushed to the side and they go for something else. 
That kind of behavior I consider to be extremely rude and inconsiderate. Why not take a little from everything you like to try and go back for more if you enjoy it.

“Well, we’re paying for it,” they will say. No, you’re not. You are paying for the food you eat, not for the food you waste. I have seen a few places that have posted a sign to that effect, perfectly reasonable in my opinion. Wasting food like that is costing the restaurant money and does not help to keep prices low. 

And wasting food in general is totally unacceptable in my book.

Now I won’t even mention all those people who are short on table manners. I was taught to chew with my mouth closed and not to talk with my mouth full. It is basic etiquette that is lost on many eaters these days. Have you seen the ones who put their arm around the plate like they are afraid that someone will try to take it from them? And of course, every now and then there is this individual who is loud and obnoxious in attempt to spoil the dining experience for others.

I always thought that having a meal together is not just about food, it is also social thing. A while ago my wife and I went to a nice place and shortly after we arrived a family of 3 sat down next to us. All three of them pulled out the cell phone and all the way through their meal they didn’t speak to or looked at each other. They took bites between texting and couldn’t keep their eyes off the screen. I wonder if the even appreciated the food. However, people’s addiction to cell phones is food for another story.

Over the years I have been to hundreds of restaurants and with a few exceptions I always had a good meal and acceptable service. I’m making this statement to let you know that I’m certainly not a notorious complainer. And I’m not a picky eater either. 
But I do want good value for my money.