Dining as a tourist in US? (buffets etc)

Could anyone give a short description of dining habits for tourists in
the US? We are planning to visit Utah, Arizona and Las Vegas very soon
but we haven't ever been to the US and don't know dining traditions in
this country.

For instance, I've heard about the "buffet" concept. It's absolutely
not customary where I live. I understand it the following way: you pay
a certain amount for yourself and then may proceed to a table with food
where you can take as much as you want and are able to eat, carry it to
a separate area, and then eat. Tips are not customary (if they are,
whom should I tip?).

I also wonder whether the self-service model is widely known in the US:
you enter an area surrounded by tables with sort-of-bartenders; meat
dishes on one table, veg dishes on another table etc; you choose
several meals from different tables, then go to cashier, pay and go to
a separate are to eat. Tips are not customary (if the are, whom should
I tip?).

I think the restaurant model in the US is not much different from
Europe. Tips - 15 percent of the bill.

I would be glad to read your comments!

On 2006-06-11 12:50:50 -0400, "Fiance" said:

Could anyone give a short description of dining habits for tourists in
the US? We are planning to visit Utah, Arizona and Las Vegas very soon
but we haven't ever been to the US and don't know dining traditions in
this country.

For instance, I've heard about the "buffet" concept. It's absolutely
not customary where I live. I understand it the following way: you pay
a certain amount for yourself and then may proceed to a table

More likely, several tables.

with food
where you can take as much as you want and are able to eat, carry it to
a separate area, and then eat. Tips are not customary (if they are,
whom should I tip?).

I also wonder whether the self-service model is widely known in the US:
you enter an area surrounded by tables with sort-of-bartenders; meat
dishes on one table, veg dishes on another table etc; you choose
several meals from different tables, then go to cashier, pay and go to
a separate are to eat.

Sounds like a cafeteria.

Tips are not customary (if the are, whom should
I tip?).

I think the restaurant model in the US is not much different from
Europe. Tips - 15 percent of the bill.

I would be glad to read your comments!

what about tipping - do you tip in a buffet or cafeteria? (there seems
to be no people to tip as no one is approaching you)

"Fiance" wrote in message
ups.com...
what about tipping - do you tip in a buffet or cafeteria? (there seems
to be no people to tip as no one is approaching you)

You'll get drink service with a buffet meal, and the server will also take
care of your table (remove dishes when you go back for seconds, etc). Leave
a few dollars for the service, not necessarily a percentage of the total.

The second type of place you describe is a cafeteria, and tips are not
necessary.

15% in a restaurant is probably the minimum tip these days, but it's fine if
you're pleased with the service.

Btw, the buffet concept is very common throughout the world, at least in
hotels that include breakfast. I would think it very uncommon to have wait
service for an included breakfast.

Keith

In article ,
k wrote:
You'll get drink service with a buffet meal

Not always. At Home Town / Old Country, you get your own drinks.

"Fiance" wrote in news:1150044650.568473.234930
@h76g2000cwa.googlegroups.com:
For instance, I've heard about the "buffet" concept. It's absolutely
not customary where I live. I understand it the following way: you pay
a certain amount for yourself and then may proceed to a table with food
where you can take as much as you want and are able to eat, carry it to
a separate area, and then eat. Tips are not customary (if they are,
whom should I tip?).

That's pretty much the way it works. There may be a waiter or waitress who
brings you drinks and takes away dirty dishes. You can tip that person a
dollar per person or so. Quality of these places varies a lot. There are
some fancier buffets in some areas, especially Las Vegas.

I also wonder whether the self-service model is widely known in the US:

In the US, these are called cafeterias. You find in high-volume tourist
areas like national parks and amusement parks. Quality is often mediocre,
but prices are low to moderate.

Ken raše:
In the US, these are called cafeterias. You find in high-volume tourist
areas like national parks and amusement parks. Quality is often mediocre,
but prices are low to moderate.

Thanks, but how do you, as a tourist, locate a cafeteria or buffet when
you come into a town? Of course, they don't have websites

Is there any website with recommendations on locating them, similar to
www.tripadvisor.com for hotels?

On 11 Jun 2006 10:26:54 -0700, "Fiance" wrote:

Ken raše:
In the US, these are called cafeterias. You find in high-volume tourist
areas like national parks and amusement parks. Quality is often mediocre,
but prices are low to moderate.

Thanks, but how do you, as a tourist, locate a cafeteria or buffet when
you come into a town? Of course, they don't have websites

Is there any website with recommendations on locating them, similar to
www.tripadvisor.com for hotels?

Don't know of anything like trip advisor. There is a site

www.chowhound.com

where people recommend and discuss restaurants in many U.S.
cities. Most entries for New York City, San Francisco Bay area but
in their search field you could enter Las Vegas or name of other city
and see what comes up.

The site is not the easiest to use -- I see it is now becoming part
of CNet and will be getting new software to make navigating and
searching far easier.

You can also post a query for the city you are going to visit and
ask for recommendations -- just be clear about what kind of food
you are looking for.

On Sun, 11 Jun 2006 17:53:01 GMT, Rita wrote:

On 11 Jun 2006 10:26:54 -0700, "Fiance" wrote:

Ken raše:
In the US, these are called cafeterias. You find in high-volume tourist
areas like national parks and amusement parks. Quality is often mediocre,
but prices are low to moderate.

Thanks, but how do you, as a tourist, locate a cafeteria or buffet when
you come into a town? Of course, they don't have websites

I agree with those who have suggested that you generally stay away
from buffets and patronize establishments (restaurants, diners) that
cook to order.

Is there any website with recommendations on locating them, similar to
www.tripadvisor.com for hotels?

Don't know of anything like trip advisor. There is a site

www.chowhound.com

where people recommend and discuss restaurants in many U.S.
cities. Most entries for New York City, San Francisco Bay area but
in their search field you could enter Las Vegas or name of other city
and see what comes up.

The site is not the easiest to use -- I see it is now becoming part
of CNet and will be getting new software to make navigating and
searching far easier.
[snip]

That's possible, and I look forward to seeing what CNet may do to
improve the user interface.

You can also try www.egullet.org. You may not be able to search
effectively unless you register, but otherwise, the user interface is
easier, though you might find more information that's relevant to you
on Chowhound.

That said, I think that the eGullet threads on road trips will help
you to develop a sense of what you might want to look for and how to
recognize a place that will probably serve quality cheap road food.
Here are the search results for a bunch of threads on eGullet with
"road" in the title:

http://forums.egullet.org/index.php?...&highlite=road

The threads started by Daniel are terrific, with copious photos and
descriptions. He also states how he looks for road food. One of the
sources he's found most useful is:

http://www.hollyeats.com/

I hope you enjoy your trip!

Michael

If you would like to send a private email to me, please take out the NOTRASH. Please do not email me something which you also posted.

Thanks, but how do you, as a tourist, locate a cafeteria or buffet when
you come into a town? Of course, they don't have websites

---------------------------------

Usually they'll say "Bufffet" in big letters on their sign

Keep in mind, unless you're a huge eater you may not save a huge amount at a
buffet meal. For example, an entree at a chain restaurant such as Denny's
or Applebees might be ten or twelve dollars, wheras a buffet place might
charge fifteen dollars per person. When all is said and done the prices
might come out at about the same, but you'll have gotten better food at the
non-buffet location. Most American restaurant portions are huge, so you
won't go hungry.

Cheers,
Geoff Glave
Vancouver, Canada