'Hearty' eater says buffet banned him

[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!