Do you prefer buffets or cafeterias? (shrimp, chinese, vegetable, clams)
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I am sure I will be in the minority here but I despise buffets on so many levels but the primary one being, when I eat out I want to be served. I take no pleasure in paying to serve myself.
Most buffets like cafeterias serve food of mediocre quality, but... few are still great, and actually in every buffet person can find something "ok" to eat.
I don't mind to self serve - I don't have to be served every time I go out to eat , at least I can pick and choose the items, and determine on the size of my plate. I can try different things which works great when I am trying a new items of an unknown ethnic cuisine.
Not long ago, I went to try Jamaican food. I never had it before and I was anxious to taste different dishes, learn their names and find out what I am liking and what not. For me, there was no better way to do that.
Some people go to an ethnic restaurant, order one dish a la carte and decide that they don't like that cuisine. They might miss other great dishes they would love but never tried.
When I go to the buffet, I usually go at a peak time. It's crowded, I know, but the dishes are the freshest, filled up fast and out not long enough to be touched, sneezed on or other gross things described by others. I grab on those that just came out fresh.
Regular buffets are not my favorite places to go.
Could not agree more with Dens. Buffets save leftovers and serve them as new and their cough rail can't be big enough for me. I want one of those things around my coffin when my time is up....only time I ever got deathly ill was after eating at a buffet...
We don't have any cafeterias where I live, unless you go to like, a public school, or a hospital - and no one would call any of that stuff "food"
We have buffets, but I don't go to them. I can't really eat all that much in one sitting, so "all you can eat" ends up being a waste of money for me. We -do- have "all you can eat" buffets available at some of the sit-down restaurants I go to (a couple of Indian restaurants, and a particular mexican restaurant). But even then, I order off the menu and don't do the buffet. The best part about ordering off the menu, is that you can take home whatever you can't finish. With a buffet, whatever you leave on your plate gets thrown away; you're not allowed to take it home. I can't stand wasting food. I can't stand watching people heap several pounds of food on their plates just because they can, and leave most of it for the trash can.
I wish you had a "neither" or "other", but since you didn't, I didn't vote. But that's my opinion: neither.
Could not agree more with Dens. Buffets save leftovers and serve them as new and their cough rail can't be big enough for me. I want one of those things around my coffin when my time is up....only time I ever got deathly ill was after eating at a buffet...
A popular national chain buffet in the city where we lived in Illinois got closed down by the health department because they were keeping scrambled eggs, hash browns, and other food from one day and mixing in with fresh food the next day.
I just wonder if that happens more often than we know.
I prefer the cafeteria as generally, the portions are large enough that $10-12 fills me up quite well.
As for institutional cafeterias, I have been in some great ones in corporate headquarters, hospitals and even some universities. The ones that are bad are the ones that are highly subsidized and where the operated is NOT profit oriented.
When it comes to buffets, I really like them when it is a cuisine that I am NOT familiar with - Indian, sushi, etc. You have the opportunity to try 15-20 dishes to see what you really like. Personally, I hate going to a restaurant, spending $15-20 for an entree that I dislike after two or three bites. And since my tastes run to the bizarre - duck tongues are pretty good - I liek the ability to try hundreds of new things.
We don't have any cafeterias where I live, unless you go to like, a public school, or a hospital - and no one would call any of that stuff "food"
We have buffets, but I don't go to them. I can't really eat all that much in one sitting, so "all you can eat" ends up being a waste of money for me. We -do- have "all you can eat" buffets available at some of the sit-down restaurants I go to (a couple of Indian restaurants, and a particular mexican restaurant). But even then, I order off the menu and don't do the buffet. The best part about ordering off the menu, is that you can take home whatever you can't finish. With a buffet, whatever you leave on your plate gets thrown away; you're not allowed to take it home. I can't stand wasting food. I can't stand watching people heap several pounds of food on their plates just because they can, and leave most of it for the trash can.
I wish you had a "neither" or "other", but since you didn't, I didn't vote. But that's my opinion: neither.
We have some good cafeterias here, with really excellent home style cooking. I love the vegetables, and the veggie plate is a popular option where you can choose any three of the veggies and fresh baked bread or rolls. The pie and other desserts are also excellent.
There is also baked macaroni and cheese, pot pies, and other down-home type choices.
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, at least I can pick and choose the items, and determine on the size of my plate. I can try different things which works great when I am trying a new items of an unknown ethnic cuisine. 
