Getting your Money's Worth At the Buffet!

(cross-post from the Main-Board) OK, I saw a mention of this in a post a few days ago, "Buffet! What a Waste!" and wanted to share an alternative view… Yes, I’m bringing up a dreaded topic- "The BUFFET!" NO Joke here…. Just a Re-Post….. _-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_ Getting your Money’s Worth At the Buffet! Not a rant about Restaurant Cards, But Seriously- "What has Worked for Me!" I have a local Chinese restaurant That has an "All you CARE to Eat" Buffet Daily. The Lunch hours price? (college town pricing) $5.50 but they don’t offer the "Create Your Own" Mongolian Bar-B-Que option or custom Sushi Bar. In the Evenings they do as well as "Special" Items. And the Cost is $8.00. With "Drink" these jump up to $6.70 something for Lunch, $9.50 something for Diner. (I have gone there in the evening, But usually only by day. Me? No Drink ever, so that knocks 1$ off the price. I typically have Lunch there for $7.00 total After leaving approx. $1.50 for Tip. (Generous or Adequate for a $6.00 serve yourself Buffet) Just like the rest of my eating Now, It all comes down to "Food Choices." The easy "META-RULE" that will work For nearly all food choices now- "Only choose the most Expensive (per ounce/lb) Foods." And add to that- Foods, which take time/skill to eat. My "Goal" at this Buffet, I figure this way. For the $6.00, It is Extraordinary to pay only $2.00 Towards the Place Setting, Silverware use, Cooking, Ambience, Air-conditioning, etc… So I attempt to get $4.00 worth of food. Follow? Yes? I usually can get at least $6.00 worth With out Even Trying. I go for the Low-Fat Protein First And that "just happens" To coincide with The more expensive items on the buffet. Obviously Prices will vary across the nation But based on my old restaurant Kitchen work in college, And the Info I’ve "dug out of" One of my under-grads who works there, These prices are fairly close. My favorite choices marked with an asterisk or 2. (*) (**) My "Avoids" marked with a (~) Examples- * Cured Smoked King Salmon - Approx. $19.00 lb. ..............(Only on Weekend Nights) ** King Crab Legs - Approx. $18.00 lb. (Very Slow to eat) * Jumbo Prawns/Shrimp - Approx. $15.00 lb. ..............("Un-Shelled" Slower to eat) (Only on Weekend Nights) Pepper Crusted Prime Rib - - Approx. $14.50 lb. ..............(Sunday Lunch and Evening) * Pickled Ginger - Approx. $14.00 lb. ..............(Aids Digestion, reduces Gas!) * Sea Scallops - Approx. $13.50 lb. ..............(Slow to chew) ** Steamed Razor Clams - Approx. $13.00 lb. ..............(Take Longer to Eat) * Steamed Oysters- Approx. $12.00 lb. ..............(Take Longer to Eat) * King Salmon - Approx. $10.50 lb. * Sushi Grade Tuna - Approx. $10.00 lb. Halibut - Approx. $9.00 lb. Red/Sockeye Salmon - Approx. $7.50 lb. Silver Salmon - Approx. $7.00 lb. * Bulk Nuts (non-peanuts) - Approx. $6.75 lb. Common block Cheese ..............(Cheddar, Swiss, Colby, etc) - Approx. $5.50 lb. * Medium to Small Shrimp - Approx. $5.00 lb. ..............("Un-Shelled" Slower to eat) * Spicy Steamed Tilapia Fish - Approx. $5.00 lb. Five Spiced Ham – ..............(Averaging Actual Ham and Processed) - Approx. $5.00 lb. * Steamed Local Crawfish - Approx. $5.00 lb. ..............("Un-Shelled" Very Slow to eat) Beef (Roast or Tips) - Approx. $ 4.00 lb. * Asian Style Ribs (Cooked, Bone in)- - Approx. $4.00 lb. ..............(Double the price for not eating the Bone) Chicken Tenders (Real, not Processed/Minced) - Approx. $ 3.00 lb. Cod Fillets (as in Fish and chips) - Approx. $3.00 lb. "Moo-Goo-Gai-Pan" - Approx. $2.50 lb. Meatballs/Pot-Stickers/Meat Dumplings - Approx. $2.50 lb. ~ (ick!) Faux Seafood Salad ..............(imitation crabmeat) - Approx. $2.00 lb. ** Lychee Nuts ..............(Rough outer skin to peel-takes more time) - Approx. $2.00 lb. * Fresh Strawberries - - Approx. $1.75 lb. ~ Breaded (Sweet and Sour anything "chunks"– General) ..............- Approx. $1.75 lb. Seedless Grapes - Approx. $1.75 lb. * Mixed Steamed Vegetables - Approx. $1.75 lb. ~ American (Processed Cheese-Food) Bulk/Block - Approx. $1.50 lb. Grape/Cherry Tomatoes- Approx. 1.50 lb. * Snow Peas - - Approx. $1.50 lb. Fresh Tomatoes (Bulk Price) - Approx. $1.25 lb. * Fresh Peppers (Bulk Price) - Approx. $1.25 lb. Fresh Vegetables (In General) - Approx. $1.25 lb. Chicken (Fried on Bone) - Approx. $0.75 lb. ~ (ick) Breaded Processed ..............(from Minced) Shrimp- Approx. $0.70 lb. -before cooking. ~ Chicken or Pork Dishes Battered/Fried/Sauced- Approx. $0.70 lb. ~ Breaded Fish Sticks- Approx. $0.65 lb. -before cooking. ~ Egg Rolls (With Shrimp-bits) - $0.65 lb. ~ Egg Rolls (No Meat) - $0.60 lb. ~ Pizza Rolls (Bulk price) - Approx. $0.04 each -$0.60 lb. -before cooking. Chicken Wings - Approx. $ 0.50 lb. ~ Egg Foo Yung - - Approx. $0.45 lb. * Steamed Cabbage - Approx. $0.40 lb. ~~~ Tater Tots (Bulk Price) – Approx./Average- $0.40 lb. ~~~ Bulk Mac & Cheese- Approx. - $0.40 lb. ~~ Fried Potatoes (General Bulk) - Approx. $0.35 lb. -before cooking. ~~ Bulk Noodles (general) – Approx./Average- $0.35 lb. Hot and Sour Soup - Approx./Average - $0.35 lb. ~~ Wontons (Fried Crisp) - Approx./Average- $0.30 per pound ~~ Bulk Rice (Cooked/Steamed) – Approx./Average- $0.15 lb. ~~ Mashed Potatoes (from instant) – Approx./Average- $0.20 lb. ~~ "Chinese Doughnuts" - Approx. $0.20 lb. Egg Drop Soup - Approx. $0.15 lb. (Soothing but not "filling") Watermelon (Bulk Price) - Approx. $0.15 lb. Bulk Restaurant Pudding- Approx. $0.10 lb. Sweet and Sour Sauce - Approx. $0.05 lb. Wonton Soup - Approx. $0.05 lb. Bulk Restaurant Jell-O- Approx. $0.02 lb. I tend to average out at $12.50 per lb. Choice When the items are combined. And I typically eat about 8 to 10 ounces, Up to a full pound depending on time and food density How heavily I hit the King Crab Legs, And Shellfish Giving me about $8.50 worth Of Low fat Protein First, then usually a little Veggies and a Lychee Nut or 2 and A few Walnuts for "dessert." Now-a-days, I More than Get "My Money’s Worth." But I think about my Past- Started by Ordering a large Sweet Tea, Filled my plate with Rice or Noodles, Then smother it in Breaded, Fried, Sauced Chicken Bits, Couple of Egg Rolls, With lots of Sweet and Sour Sauce Hit the "Non-Asian Items" Such as a Bowl of Tater-Tots, Fried "Potato Logs," and a handful of pizza rolls. Go back for some more rice With Sweet Sauce and pork over it And a couple of pieces of Fried Chicken. Finish off with 3 "Chinese Doughnuts" With plenty of pudding to dip them in. Probably 4 to 5 Pounds of Food And an Over Priced Beverage. But at an Average of around $0.45 per lb. Even if I could eat 8 lbs. of food at that rate, ($3.60 worth of actual food) I was still not "Getting my Money’s Worth!" Now not every Buffet Has the same ingredients obviously, But the Same "META-RULE" Applies. Go for the MOST EXPENSIVE Items, (With the exception of Cheese Cake,) and They will normally be Higher in Protein, Lower in Fats, Carbs and Calories. If you find an Asian Buffet, That doesn’t have the King Crab Legs, Keep looking. Many Do. Eating Healthy, Is the Only way to Actually "Get your Money’s Worth." Why would I want To use a "Restaurant Card" Now? Before, I was making them a huge profit, Now, I’m sure they Shudder When they see me coming for my 8 to 10 Choice ounces! Take a look at a Buffet with new eyes! It CAN BE one of the most Cost-Effective Meals out there. Best Wishes- Dx

Another tip: try paying by the pound.  I have only been to a buffet twice since surgery.  At one of those places, they allow you to fill a takeout dish at $6.00 a pound (minimum 1-pound charge).  So I got a pound in a takeout dish and paid up front, sat down with my family and ate 1/3 of it, and took the rest home.  I left small tip for the waiter since he brought me water.  There were absolutely no problems from doing this. And of course, I avoided cheap ingredients.  Not super expensive, mostly chicken, but I didn't waste weight on rice.

I find the costco sample displays the perfect buffet and it is free and it fills me up now. Before it was just a warmup