Oh wow - their different websites don't all list the same location info. I found the Pittsburg location's website and they don't list any other states but California. But I wonder if there are still others out there.
Interesting read! Even tourist places like Orlando and Vegas that traditionally featured buffets seem to be phasing them out. Disney just opened a new Toy Story themed restaurant that’s all you can eat, but is served as large family style plates brought to the table. And it’s not a new trend for them either- they were moving this way before the pandemic at a lot of places.
That's really interesting - I've been watching those old-fashioned family-style places disappear as well. In particular, Lancaster County no longer has a single one. Ohio Amish County was also once famous for these and a cursory search seemed to tell me they're gone there too. It's interesting to see one of them popping up in a trendier setting.
I have noticed that while the buffet format is disappearing, all-you-can-eat is still popular in other formats. When I was a kid there were restaurants called "Sushi Buffet" and similar names all over the place, for example. Today they're practically all gone, and the AYCE sushi places have you order off a menu and they make it all to order. (It's better, but I still miss the excitement of immediately serving myself.)
I forgot about the Lancaster family style places you had written about! I've only been to Lancaster once and it was last summer, so I've never experienced them.
there's been a Hokkaido buffet in Pittsburgh for at least the past decade. New construction building too!
Oh wow - their different websites don't all list the same location info. I found the Pittsburg location's website and they don't list any other states but California. But I wonder if there are still others out there.
Interesting read! Even tourist places like Orlando and Vegas that traditionally featured buffets seem to be phasing them out. Disney just opened a new Toy Story themed restaurant that’s all you can eat, but is served as large family style plates brought to the table. And it’s not a new trend for them either- they were moving this way before the pandemic at a lot of places.
If you’re interested, there’s some food/menu photos here: https://www.disneytouristblog.com/roundup-rodeo-bbq-restaurant-toy-story-land-photo-tour/
That's really interesting - I've been watching those old-fashioned family-style places disappear as well. In particular, Lancaster County no longer has a single one. Ohio Amish County was also once famous for these and a cursory search seemed to tell me they're gone there too. It's interesting to see one of them popping up in a trendier setting.
I have noticed that while the buffet format is disappearing, all-you-can-eat is still popular in other formats. When I was a kid there were restaurants called "Sushi Buffet" and similar names all over the place, for example. Today they're practically all gone, and the AYCE sushi places have you order off a menu and they make it all to order. (It's better, but I still miss the excitement of immediately serving myself.)
I forgot about the Lancaster family style places you had written about! I've only been to Lancaster once and it was last summer, so I've never experienced them.