Old People and Buffets

[alchemy]

You're a single, childless guy well under 60; what are you doing hanging around buffet places enough to make these observations?

I have a lot of relatives that love buffets

 

[Bugman]

I don't know Al. I had lunch at a Lubys last week and saw all age ranges. It had been years since I had eaten at one, but when I lived in Austin the first time years ago I ate there a lot and it was the same then. In fact, the one I stopped at last week was the same one I went to years ago, because I was in that part of town a lot on business.

When it comes to older folks, I suspect it's as much a place for them to get togeather with friends and chew the fat, if you will. 😉

 

[milagros317]

It's really simple. Old people on limited incomes need to eat two or three days' worth of food for one fixed price, so we go to a buffet and stay for three or four hours.

 

[hotdog]

Around my way the buffets have a container of Fixodent near the salad dressings and a good variety of Stella D'oro cookies. I have always assumed that's what brought them in.

 

[MrMacphisto]

Here, the buffets tend to be frequented by all age groups, but they lean toward the Walmart crowd....

 

[Master Baiter]

The price has been mentioned. It's economical.

But, I also think it's the type of food.
Old peeps love comfort food: Meatloaf, Fried Chicken, Pot Roast, Beef Stew, Ham, Casseroles, dozens of salads, soups, deserts, etc.

Plus they can go together and gab away for hours and no one seems to care.

 

[Mitchell]

To disspell the theory about old people and buffets: I went to the chinese buffet today. Sitting across from me, was a hot blonde, maybe 30, wearing sandals, who had great looking feet, and a bf or hubby. As for the other people there, yes, there were a couple of "old people", but also, younger to middle age people, like myself, in business clothes.

Another reason I don't believe in the old person stereotype for buffets. From what I've seen, at times older people can tend to eat less than younger ones. Therefore, they might not get as much value for their money as younger people do. When I go to the chinese buffet, I eat.. nine plates of food, literally. Four portions of chicken and brocoli, wonton soup, egg rollls, dumplings, shrimp, and dessert. (Yes, I know I'm a pig, but it's the one place I let myself go to eat like one).

All of my friends who are in their 30s and 40s love buffets as well, which is why I just don't believe the stereotype about old people and buffets.

Mitch

 

[Bugman]

It's really simple. Old people on limited incomes need to eat two or three days' worth of food for one fixed price, so we go to a buffet and stay for three or four hours.

I know you. You are just a cheap sob. 😛

 

[Angel77]

It's really simple. Old people on limited incomes need to eat two or three days' worth of food for one fixed price, so we go to a buffet and stay for three or four hours.

Lol! I've worked in restaurants and I can attest to that.

And also working in restaurants, I've seen the "behind the scenes" deals in some of the kitchens. Some days I think I would have went for the buffet germs.

It's also another reason that made me realize that if I was ever going to complain about my food, I should do it nicely. Good thing I'm pretty much happy with whatever I get. 😛

 

[Knox The Hatter]

Plus they can go together and gab away for hours and no one seems to care.

That describes the McDonalds around the corner from me. Most of the tables feature local retirees, at all hours of the day, just gabbing away.

We don't have many buffets in my neighborhood. More pizzerias and sub shops than you could possibly imagine, but only two buffets, both Chinese. One seems to be more ridiculously expensive than the other. Go figure.

In MY alternate universe, there's a buffet for Kosher deli. Stations with pastrami and corned beef and every delicacy under the sun, with all kinds of sides and stacks of rye bread to make sandwiches, with a salad and relish bar, and a half sour bar, and fridge cases filled with Dr. Brown's soda.

My alternate universe is a nice place.

 

[Mitchell]

Knox, what do you call "expensive" for a chinese buffet? Here in Lancaster, it's about 8 bucks for lunch, and 12 for dinner.

Your alternate universe buffet sounds nice. I'd love if there was a kosher buffet. I don't know that I've ever seen one, though, unless I didn't pay attention.

Mitch

 

[TklDuo-Ann]

ANY eatery with "reasonable" prices that also happens to be located near a senior housing complex is bound to get crowds of seniors in there.

 

[Flatfoot]

It's also another reason that made me realize that if I was ever going to complain about my food, I should do it nicely. Good thing I'm pretty much happy with whatever I get. 😛

I'm the same way. If I need to complain about my food, I never get pissy. There's no reason to get cranky about fixable problems. Plus, people respond better to courtesy than hellfire and brimstone.

One time, I got an entire meal at Red Lobster for free, and I didn't even HAVE to complain. Twice, the waiter put our order in, and came back to apologize when it somehow got lost, and my wife and I didn't even notice the passage of time. We were just yakkin' at each other, and the waiter eventually brought the manager to us to "rectify" a situation that wasn't there. Best $50 meal ever!

 

[Deuce]

Having a daughter there great and cheap with a large selection of food, I don't see old folks when we go at least twice a week. Maybe you need to wait till after 5PM and then go and you'll see more the working people then since most of them are in bed by 8PM lol

 

[Flatfoot]

Also, try visiting a Golden Corral in a military town during the one day a year that they offer free dinner to active-duty military and their families (I think around Veteran's Day.). Younger and older people will be wrapping around the building as if it was iPhone release day inside.

 

[General Zod]

It's really simple. Old people on limited incomes need to eat two or three days' worth of food for one fixed price, so we go to a buffet and stay for three or four hours.

Does anyone yell in a bad Chinese accent........YOU HERE FOUR HOUR!!! YOU GO NOW!!!!!!!! I wonder if anyone will get that 😛


This trucker loves a good buffet.Some truck stops have great ones. There is a TA truck stop in New Jersey that even has hard ice cream as part of the buffet.

Sometimes it is a wonder I can walk out to my truck after eating a buffet. 😀

 

[Angel77]

Does anyone yell in a bad Chinese accent........YOU HERE FOUR HOUR!!! YOU GO NOW!!!!!!!! I wonder if anyone will get that 😛


This trucker loves a good buffet.Some truck stops have great ones. There is a TA truck stop in New Jersey that even has hard ice cream as part of the buffet.

Sometimes it is a wonder I can walk out to my truck after eating a buffet. 😀

Ooh ice cream! 😀

I was watching a show on the Travel Channel the other day Zod and thought of you! It was an hour-long show on the country's best truck stops. One of them even had a dentist! I don't know if you watch that channel or not but it was a really neat show!

 

[General Zod]

Ooh ice cream! 😀

I was watching a show on the Travel Channel the other day Zod and thought of you! It was an hour-long show on the country's best truck stops. One of them even had a dentist! I don't know if you watch that channel or not but it was a really neat show!

I have seen that show.Usually the Flying J chain has soft serve ice cream on the buffet. Back in the fall of 2006,I had to use a dentist at a truck stop in Salt Lake City ,Utah. 😀

 

[TangerineTicklee]

Does anyone yell in a bad Chinese accent........YOU HERE FOUR HOUR!!! YOU GO NOW!!!!!!!! I wonder if anyone will get that 😛


This trucker loves a good buffet.Some truck stops have great ones. There is a TA truck stop in New Jersey that even has hard ice cream as part of the buffet.

Sometimes it is a wonder I can walk out to my truck after eating a buffet. 😀

John Pinette. 😎

For the record, KFC's macaroni and cheese is the best public macaroni and cheese I have had in my entire life. No other mac-n'-cheese comes close.

 

[Flatfoot]

Ooh ice cream! 😀

I was watching a show on the Travel Channel the other day Zod and thought of you! It was an hour-long show on the country's best truck stops. One of them even had a dentist! I don't know if you watch that channel or not but it was a really neat show!

A dentist??? That's awesome! I was just impressed to find out that truck stops have showers!

 

[Angel77]

John Pinette. 😎

For the record, KFC's macaroni and cheese is the best public macaroni and cheese I have had in my entire life. No other mac-n'-cheese comes close.

And the best coleslaw!

A dentist??? That's awesome! I was just impressed to find out that truck stops have showers!

It was really cool to see! The dentist said that he gets so many customers that he was able to close his normal 9-5 office.

 

[General Zod]

A dentist??? That's awesome! I was just impressed to find out that truck stops have showers!

There are a few that don't 🙁 I hate taking hippy baths 😛

 

[TangerineTicklee]

And the best coleslaw!



It was really cool to see! The dentist said that he gets so many customers that he was able to close his normal 9-5 office.

And the best smashed taters!

 

[Flatfoot]

There are a few that don't 🙁 I hate taking hippy baths 😛

A hippy bath? Is that with baby wipes? I always called those "***** baths". 😀

 

[Angel77]

And the best smashed taters!

Yes! And they still fry their apple pies.

And they have the best pot pies.

Damn it. Now I'm hungry for KFC. 😛