Difference Between Buffet System and A-La-Carte: Here’s What You Need to Know
Tucking into a Buffet system is fun, but a-la-carte gives you the option to choose what you would like to have to eat. The war between the buffet system and a-la-carte is fairly old now. But we are back at it!
Both are two different styles of serving food to customers or guests. However, in a wedding setting, you can either be served dinner on your plate or go for the buffet option. It is up to the hosts. But when choosing a restaurant, you have to think about both choices and then decide on either one.
Well, you would be tempted to select the best buffet restaurant in Hyderabad, The idea of sitting down and gulping piping hot biryani with sumptuous tangy raita. Blissful! And then heading towards the dessert section and having hot gulab jamuns with vanilla ice cream. We are drooling already.
But the question is – How are buffet restaurants different from a-la-carte? Let’s find out through this post.
The Concept of the Buffet System
Buffet system is a system of serving meals in big containers. But nobody comes to your table to serve you the food, but you can go to the area where all the food is kept in a structured manner. It begins with starters, and then you head to the main course. Finally, you can have dessert. The good part about a buffet system is you can choose your course. Nobody will force salad on you if you don’t feel like it. You can eat rice, roti, a paneer main dish, and some extra dal. Nobody judges you on how much you can eat.
Most people like buffet systems because they can see what they can eat at a restaurant. When new to the restaurant, you can check the buffet menu and decide whether to try everything the place offers or stick with the usual chilly chicken and fried rice.
Some people may not like it thinking they are not big eaters. But if you are going out with your family, everyone can choose what they want to eat rather than being forced to have soup, salads, and certain kinds of gravies.
If you are on a diet and your better half wants to eat well, they could opt for a buffet, and you could order a salad. Better still, you can enjoy the buffet because some healthy items are always on the menu.
What is an A-la-carte System?
The a-la-carte system is a French word. The meaning is ‘according to the menu.’ Let’s say you want some of your favorite items; you will pick the dish from the menu and place an order.
Mostly, the buffet systems have a fixed price, but a-la-carte gets a little more expensive, considering you are not getting all the food items at a fixed price. Each item’s price is different. You can pay a price for a buffet and enjoy the food.
Customers are given a printed menu. Sometimes, you will get a QR codes to access the digital menu. You can place the order and get some drinks too on the side. But yes, you will pay for the dishes separately, so you must be mindful of your budget.
When going for a first date or a special family dinner, people like to sit down and order things they like. But there is no other joy of having a buffet at a bustling restaurant with a lavish spread. You can enjoy the buffet restaurant much more when hungry and don’t want to exceed the budget.
Buffets cater to the tastes of different people. If you like rasgulla, and we like brownies – our needs will be catered to because buffet restaurants have a variety. That’s why people prefer buffets because they want to have the best of what the restaurant has to offer.
Before you step into a buffet restaurant, you will know how much money you will spend because there is a fixed price. Isn’t that great for someone who believes in eating well and budgeting it?
Summing Up
Buffet-style restaurants serve the food at food stations on a long table. Guests view the dishes and then choose what they would like to have. Go for starters first, and then move to the main course. Desserts are always enticing, so save some space in your tummy.
You need to choose a buffet restaurant that serves different cuisines because that’s what the whole family enjoys to the fullest.
Weekends get crowded at buffet restaurants, so book a table before you go there. And yes, always check the ratings and reviews. It always helps!