'Hearty' eater says buffet banned him

Source

HOUMA, La. - A 6-foot-3, 265-pound man says a restaurant overcharged him for his trips to the buffet line, then banned him and a relative because they're hearty eaters. A spokesman for the restaurant denies the claim.

Ricky Labit, a disabled offshore worker, said he had been a regular for eight months at the Manchuria Restaurant in Houma, eating there as often as three times a week.

On his most recent visit, he said, a waitress gave him and his wife's cousin, 44-year-old Michael Borrelli, a bill for $46.40, roughly double the buffet price for two adults.

"She says, 'Y'all fat, and y'all eat too much,'" Labit said.

Thoughts?

I don't think I've ever been at a buffet where an additional cost is added to the bill if one consumes the pricier food items. I'm a big fan of crab legs (just ask DolphinChicaDDD!) and there have been times I'd get a small salad plate and then I'd make several trips for crab legs. I've never paid more than the standard price/person plus tax.

I don't recall anyone ever monitoring my trips to the buffet line, either. I don't know how big this place is, but I wouldn't be surprised if the man and his cousin were targeted because of their frequent trips there.

The end of the article states:

"Food is for eating, not toys for your child," reads a sign posted on a wall in typewritten text. A handwritten addition reads "Or 20% added."

I understand the importance of not wasting food, but adding 20% if it does go to waste? Ridiculous.

If the limited-English speaking owner was so concerned about how much food was being consumed, then perhaps she's in the wrong kind of business?

[PhiGam]

Bush is addressing the nation about this tonight, after I hear what he has to say I'll form my opinion.

[DSTCHAOS]

I definitely understand the restaurant's approach.

Perhaps they should have a sign beside the "children sign" that says something to the effect of limiting customers' portions or visits to the buffet if there is a problem of overconsumption or food being discarded.

On a nonlegal note, dude needs to step away from the buffet and be concerned with his health.

[texas*princess]

I'm going to briefly ignore the fact that we are probably the most overweight nation in the world and say the following:

1) I would think as far as buffets go, most restaurants should be pretty well off because even though most are advertised as "all you can eat", I would guesstimate that most people who do choose to go to those places don't eat 5 full plates. Most people make 1-2 trips to the buffet line... which sort of evens out with those that eat a lot more. I could be naiive, but do the majority of people seriously go to gorge and eat until their pants don't fit anymore? I'd hope not. I think the light eaters sort of even out with the heavy eaters. (For all you super crazy fact-checkers, please note I did not say this is a fact, I am guesstimating, which means I do not have a source to quote, nor have I conducted a real life reasearch on how much people eat at buffets. It is my guess. If you have scientific evidence to prove that most adults and children go to CiCi's Pizza to eat until they can no longer move, feel free to post it and prove my GUESS wrong. If you have a different opinion on the majority of people's eating habits at buffets, feel free to express it. Thank you!)

2) I can sort of understand the restaurant's POV about wasting food because if one family there has 4 kids and they are throwing spaghetti and shrimp around the building, not only do the restaurant workers have to clean the mess, they have to cook more food for the patrons that are actually eating the food. If the owners want that as a rule of their own establishment they are free to do so, as long as it's posted so that people are aware of their policy and they are not surprised when they get the bill. If people see the policy and choose not to eat there because of it, they have the choice to leave.

3) With that being said, I don't think the restaurant should have charged the men for eating more UNLESS they had a policy in place that was visible before the men were charged. For example, if they had a "only 2 servings of crab legs per person, add'l plates $x extra" policy that the men were aware of, then I think that would have been OK, because then they would have been aware that anything more than that amount would cause them to incur additional charges. If the buffet was advertised as an "all you can eat" buffet, then I'd say they were wrong to charge those men more because if they can eat 10 plates of crab legs then more power to them.... the buffet was advertised as an all you can eat buffet.

(In my eyes, this would be no different than any other restaurant charging patrons for changing the side dish that comes with a meal or for additional salads, etc, but those charges are out there - usually on their menus - for us to know that if we choose to change our side it's going to cost us $2 extra)

So... that's what I think

[AKA_Monet]

There's a public health concern. Once the food is taken off the tray and put on a plate, it cannot be put back if uneaten or untouched. Infection is rapid...

Now, if it were me, there is false advertising. They are in the restaurant business with a buffet line. They either plan how much product to pass or they just turn customers away. Judging what they eat with food restrictions is NOT their call. It needs to be made and committed to by the person and their healthcare providers, nutritionists and fitness instructors. If folks truly want to adjust their eating habits, the marketplace ought not decide otherwise we lose civility.

Personally, I do not trust buffets. I do not think that food is safe from contamination. I strongly dislike them with a passion. I always have eyes bigger than my stomach. That is how I am. If I pay for the base price for the buffet that advertises "all you can eat", I have the right to eat what I want for as long as I pay for it.

That is my opinion.

[honeychile]

I've heard of this happening twice:

1) Two rock climber friends of my brothers went to an "all you can eat" buffet after a major climb. If you know serious rock climbers, then you know that they're practically anorexic prior to a climb, then go hog wild afterwards. Anyhow, they went into the restaurant and were asked to leave after their 17th trip to the buffet. They weren't even getting the high ticket items - it was the lettuce & other things they wouldn't have eaten prior to a climb. The last I heard, they settled out of court.

2) Two extremely obese men I know (friends of friends) went to a Chinese "all you can eat" buffet. The owner kept looking at his watch, then looking at these two guys. Finally, he stormed over and yelled, "Four hours! You go NOW!" They laugh about it now, but I'm sure that they were humiliated.

Correction which I should have made before about #2: I was told that it happened to my two friends, but they were taking advantage of my naivety. If you saw these two men, you would have believed it happened, too. I only found out that it had happened after the abuse heaped on me at the last post - with apologies from those who did it.

My own take: "All you can eat" is NOT a dare, it's an option, and you need to keep that in mind. I have been out in a group with the two big men (both weigh over 300#) and have said those exact words. It's a great place to try things you don't recognize, to see if you like them - but take a taste, not a full portion of each. If you like one, go back for more, but not four hours worth! And if the food's tepid, think real hard before eating thereat all.

As for restaurant owners, if they advertise "all you can eat" without specific clarification (I'm thinking of a place in Baltimore that states "$2.00 extra for crab legs"), then they should be prepared to serve it up. No double standards. No one forced them to advertise "all you can eat" - which is how the first example I gave ended settled out of court!

[carnation]

I read on CNN about a year ago that a woman and her kids were banned from a buffet restaurant because every time they came in, they'd all pile food onto plate after plate, which they would them throw away.

[DolphinChicaDDD]

Originally Posted by OTW

Source

I don't think I've ever been at a buffet where an additional cost is added to the bill if one consumes the pricier food items. I'm a big fan of crab legs (just ask DolphinChicaDDD!) and there have been times I'd get a small salad plate and then I'd make several trips for crab legs. I've never paid more than the standard price/person plus tax.

Is it sad that when I read this article earlier, I thought immediately about the Bowl O' Butter? That and when we were in Vegas for the Boy's birthday, one of his friends ate a mound of shrimp. I'd say at least 50 shrimp.

Anyway, my thoughts on the article is I can understand the point of the owners. If you have someone come in 3Xs a week and eat tons of food, your profit is going to go down. But the other thought that comes into my mind is the provision that most places have, "Management reserves the right to refuse service to anyone for any reason." If the management was that concerned with the customer eating too much, refuse service. Or at least explain what is going to happen up front.

[RushLeader08]

why doesnt someone tell these men to stop eating instead of charging extra?
just send them out the door straight to their own doctors office! and they should make them walk there!! maybe the could work off those extra pounds.

[cuteASAbug]

so then they could all be beautiful like you?

[icelandelf]

Originally Posted by RushLeader08

why doesnt someone tell these men to stop eating instead of charging extra?
just send them out the door straight to their own doctors office! and they should make them walk there!! maybe the could work off those extra pounds.

[AKA_Monet]

Originally Posted by honeychile

2) Finally, he stormed over and yelled, "Four hours! You go NOW!"

LOL... Isn't that a Richard Pryor skit?

[sageofages]

Originally Posted by carnation

I read on CNN about a year ago that a woman and her kids were banned from a buffet restaurant because every time they came in, they'd all pile food onto plate after plate, which they would them throw away.

that restaurant is here in Des Moines. I go there often, the food is decent, the place is SPOTLESS!

The family that was banned was a disaster on feet! The owners finally had enough of them wasting so much food and make a huge mess. I really don't blame them for banning the family at all.

[Kevlar281]

$3.99 all you can eat? I'm gonna stuff my face to a funky beat.

[PeppyGPhiB]

I don't like most buffets, but there is a restaurant in Seattle called Salty's that has the most kick-ass weekend brunch buffet. A whole wall lined with tables of crab legs, salmon, shrimp, etc., plus all kinds and varieties of traditional breakfast foods (egg dishes, french toast, bacon/sausage, etc.), plus a whole corner of dessert stuff. Additionally they have meat carving stations and custom-made crepes and omelettes. It's an insane amount of food, but it's really, really good. When my boyfriend's parents came into town this summer we took them there and my bf and his dad each had FIVE plates of food. They just wanted to try everything!

Oh, and when you sit down, they have a small bag of homemade tiny doughnuts waiting on the table.