Posted on 01/27/2020 5:20:07 PM PST by DUMBGRUNT
Like most restaurants, buffets operate on extremely thin margins: For every $20 in revenue, $19 might go toward overhead, leaving $1 (5%) in net profit.
Larry’s got a reputation around town for being a gourmand. He’s got an appetite that puts Homer Simpson to shame — and on this particular day, he’s ready to do some serious damage.
Larry pays his $20 and proceeds to eat 5 servings of steak and chicken, far more than the average customer.
The cost of this food to the buffet amounts to $16.90. This means that after factoring in other expenses, Larry has handed the restaurant a loss of -$8.50.
While the restaurant loses $8.50 on Larry, it makes $3.70 from the under-eater and still takes in its steady $1 margin on the average eater.
. Over the years, buffets have made headlines for kicking out guests who eat too much:
A 6’6″, 350-pound Wisconsin man was removed from a buffet after downing 12 fried fish fillets (and subsequently arrested for protesting outside). A German triathlete was asked to prematurely leave an $18.95 buffet after consuming 100 plates of sushi. A woman was booted from a Golden Corral for eating all the brownies, then attempting to smuggle home extras in her purse.
(Excerpt) Read more at thehustle.co ...
The quality at our local Golden Corral is much higher than a decade ago. We go 1-4PM for the senior price with free beverages. It’s about $18 for two with tax and tip. Actually 20% less, because we use gift cards from Sam’s we got $100 for $80. If we show up after 3 I might get steak off the dinner that starts at 4pm.
Curious as to which Western Sizzlin. The one Near me is great, but others not so much.
Back in the 70’s, we went on vacation to Pennsylvania Dutch country. There was an all you could eat restaurant, not a buffet, named Good ‘N’ Plenty. The tables were set for 20 people, and they sat whoever was next in line until the table was filled. They served the food family style. Three meats, vegetables, potatoes, breads, brought out on platters and in bowls that were passed around the table.
I’ll have some of the yella and don’t get cheap on me...
Yes. When I was in the USN as a 19 year old, I got into a shrimp eating contest at an all you can eat place in Florida. I loved shrimp, but...laying on my back in the bed of a compact Datsun pickup truck, it was awful.
Like you...too much, way too much. I didn’t eat shrimp for years after that, and it made me angry that I would be so stupid as to destroy something I had a great liking for.
It was so useless.
A month after I had my first date with my now wife, she invited me to her parents house. They were Italian, and did the whole feast of the seven fishes, more food and desserts than you can imagine, and they kept forcing stuff on me...I wanted to be polite and make a good impression, so I tried to eat a little of everything they pushed at me. It was awful. That was the last time, and after that I simply politely declined.
Never again. I stopped thinking all-you-can-eat places were a great thing
A persistence side effect is, to this day, when I go to a party at someone’s house where there is a huge amount of food, I completely lose my appetite. On the downside of that, more than once I had too much to drink without food to counterbalance it, and it has taken nearly my whole life to get the point I could handle that kind of situation.
Sigh. I would never want to go through being a young person again unless I could take my older brain back with me...even though I wouldn’t mind having that body and ability to play sports again...pretty much all I can do now is walk and ride a bike, and I am happy for that.
But overeating for the sake of it? Like you said...NEVERMORE.
I have to say-I used to have a major love affair with Howard Johnson’s fried clams.
I have always loved fried clams, but...there is something about the big, squishy, gooey bellies that turns me off. Just does. Gives me kind of indigestion.
I am a clam strip guy.
So, back in the late Seventies and early Eighties, Howard Johnsons used to have an all-you-can-eat fried clam strips every Thursday night.
I would order, and say “I don’t want a salad. I don’t want any French Fries or baked potato. I don’t want any Cole slaw. And I definitely don’t want any bread. All I want are the clam strips on a plate, and that’s it!”
So...I was able to enjoy the clam strips without overdoing it, but...get enough that I really avoided wishing I had more!
That was as close as an all-you-can-eat thing I would do...
LOL!
I didn’t have Chinese food for a long time after that. LOL
Jasper, TN.
I even asked the checkout lady a detail about the steaks, and she laughed and said the best person to answer that is the man immediately behind you in line.
He was their butcher in for a late lunch and he helped me choose.
Our waitress told us all their food is made from scratch, which would explain the great taste of everything and of the sheer number of people in line.
The decor needed a lot of updates, but the food and staff were great.
What do you mean a heart/lung machine?
And what virus?
50 more pages?
Car accident?
I am saddened by the grief in your life even though you don’t seem to let it get to you at all.
It gets to me. Don’t like to see good people suffer.
I was on disability for about 6 years after head injury.
Having a head injury and getting documents together and seeing doctors and talking to claims people is AWFUL while you’re sick as heck, so i sympathize and empathize.
I’m very much better. Some side effects linger. No biggie :)
I know your disability is permanent and after the cavalier attitude you took toward probable pneumonia, I don’t know if you’re just tough or crazy!!!
Or both.
TAKE CARE of yourself.
I, sir, am BOTH. Maso. Whip me, beat me, make me write bad checks. A glutton for punishment. If an asteroid were to hit the earth and I was at ground zero, I would literally turn around, drop trou, and moon it as the Cosmic Flames of Destruction licked at my ass. It is I, against all odds, and against the world. Defiant to the last.
LOL - I take it you’ve never been in a restaurant kitchen...
I like that attitude!!
With MORE all-you-can-eat places we would then have to invest in MINI-cranes to haul all those fat-a**es out of their booth and into their car. Could be very expensive.
Worse: my Chinese friend says that when you eat at a Chinese restaurant you must sit in the MIDDLE of the room. That way you won't see the cockroaches climbing the walls.
“The Frying Dutchman...Aye Aye Captain!”
With extra tentacles, my good man ...
we go to buffets here at home and in vegas....surprisingly, we do not overeat....I go for meat first, I get filled up quickly, and seldom have dessert.....I mean I would LIKE TO eat more...everything looks good....but when you’re full, you’re full....
Had some folks move to town from LA, some years back. Wanted to raise their kids in a better place...coastal Oregon. They opened a business where kids could come and play, and parents could eat and watch TV. Their LA attitudes had them thinking the clientele could stand to lose a few pounds. One of their employees said that was fine, but if you want to stay in business, you better fire up some garlic and butter on the grill and vent the fan to the street. They’re still there. Haven’t been in there in a while, but the mozzarella and jalapeño poppers were pretty good.
A guy I went to high school with worked at the local Shakey’s. They had the raised walkway outside the window where all the kids would press their faces against the glass and watch pizzas being made. There was one little smartass that was making faces or knocking on the glass, generally being a nuisance while my friend was working. The kid was evidently trying to provoke him, so he took a little piece of dough and winged it at his head. He glass stopped the dough, but the kid recoiled and flipped backwards over the handrail. Big laugh.
Wow! The Boston Sea Party is a name that brings back memories! I think your Python analogy hits it perfectly though! I remember eating there, and then getting home and paying a looooong visit to the restroom. Never again!
I’ve enjoyed more than a few Indian buffet lunches in my day.
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